Lead, Behavioral Health Technician

About the role

Oceans Behavioral Hospital Lufkin is dedicated to helping adults and seniors manage mental health challenges through various inpatient and outpatient treatments. The Lead Behavioral Health Technician (Lead BHT) plays a crucial role in supporting the nursing staff and overseeing other technicians.

Responsibilities

• Continually monitors and supports compliance with unit rules.
• Demonstrates the ability to employ de-escalation and therapeutic interventions as needed.
• Responsible for managing the patient environment and overseeing unit safety checks.
• Makes self available to staff; provides regular performance feedback; develops subordinates' skills and encourages growth.
• Trains and precepts new Mental Health Technicians.
• Complies with standard and universal precautions and infection control policies.
• Implements patient care activities under the direction and supervision of licensed nursing personnel.
• Performs vital signs, weights, ADL, nutritional monitoring, and communicates findings to the nurse.
• Affords assistance with laundry, meals, bathroom functions, and maintaining belongings as needed.
• Affords assistance to at-risk and physically challenged patients with mobility needs.
• Individualizes all patient care activities to the age-specific, disability, and cultural sensitivity needs of the patient.
• Communicates and documents patient observation.
• Documents significant occurrences, observed behavior, vital signs, nutrition intake, and patient observation findings on assigned patients and as requested by the registered nurse, according to policy.
• Communicates outcome of assigned tasks to nursing staff.
• Communicates follow-up on patient care responsibilities; incomplete assignments, ongoing activities, and current patient needs to relevant staff to assure continuity of care.

Requirements

• High school graduate or equivalent required.
• At least two (2) years’ experience working with psychiatric patients in an inpatient setting desired.
• Must be able to read, write and follow verbal and written instruction.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Must work well with diverse populations.
• Must be able to utilize Age, Disability and Cultural Specific knowledge in working with specialized populations to best communicate with those clients.
• Must be in good physical and mental health as evidenced by a warm empathetic attitude, respect for dignity, worth and potentiality of clients and hold a high sense of personal integrity.
• Must be able to work under close supervision.
• Must successfully complete Basic Life Savings (BLS) course and an Oceans approved behavioral de-escalation program.