Behavioral Health Specialist

About the role

The Behavioral Health Specialist provides direct patient care, safety, supervision, and management of children and adolescents with identified behavioral health needs in diverse environments such as emergency services, medical units, and behavioral health programs. This role works under the direction of a licensed professional to implement behavioral treatment plans and collaborates with clinical professionals to ensure a safe, supportive, and trauma-informed environment.

Responsibilities

• Provides direct patient care and management of children and adolescents, ensuring a positive, supportive, and structured environment.
• Intervenes and escalates safety concerns through appropriate channels.
• Assists new hires during onboarding and mentors less experienced team members to develop competencies and skills.
• Maintains therapeutic rapport, unconditional positive regard, and a non-punitive approach with patients regardless of behaviors.
• Leads, monitors, and collaborates on educational and therapeutic milieu groups for patients per unit expectations.
• Implements individual treatment plans and monitors treatment progress.
• Maintains accurate and timely clinical records consistent with regulatory standards, including documentation of patient progress, 15-minute patient checks, and milieu management.
• Maintains competency in crisis prevention training and verbal de-escalation skills.
• Responds as part of the Behavioral Assistance Response Team, as applicable.
• Manages and maintains the safety of the therapeutic environment for multiple hospitalized inpatient or partial hospitalized psychiatric patients simultaneously.
• Observes and records patient behaviors and activities in accordance with the unit-based clinical model.

Requirements

• Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Social Work, Human Services, Biology, or Neuroscience.
• Four years of relevant experience may substitute for the bachelor’s degree.
• Basic Life Support (BLS/CPR) certification.
• Must obtain de-escalation training certification offered by CHCO within 90 days of hire.

Pay

Hourly pay range: $22.20 to $33.30, dependent on relevant experience.

Benefits

• Competitive base pay and incentives.
• Paid time off.
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Company-provided life and disability insurance.
• Paid parental leave.
• 403b employer match (retirement savings).
• Robust wellness program.
• Access to professional development tools, including an education benefit.
• Annual employee bonus program based on organizational performance (paid the following April if goals are met).
• Annual base pay increases based on performance.