Job Title: Lead Behavioral Health Technician (BHTII)

Location: Naples, Florida

Company: David Lawrence Centers for Behavioral Health

Job Type: Full-Time Hourly/Non-exempt 

Schedule: 10-hour shifts Sunday through Wednesday 7:00am to 5:00pm.

Hiring Incentives: Offering a sign-on bonus, immediate PTO accrual, comprehensive medical/dental/vision benefits, 401(k) with employer match, and professional development/tuition assistance.

Job Summary:

Provides direct support to behavioral health clients by maintaining safety, monitoring behaviors, assisting with daily care, documenting observations, and helping manage crises, while working closely with clinical staff to support treatment plans. The Lead also supports daily operations by working alongside staff, assisting with scheduling and assignments, and providing guidance and oversight on the floor when the Supervisor is not present.

Key Responsibilities:

• Assist with daily schedule assignments and ensure appropriate coverage and task distribution.
• Oversee floor operations in the absence of the Supervisor and serve as the primary point of contact for staff.
• Work collaboratively with team members, performing the same duties to promote teamwork and consistency.
• Support and guide staff when questions, concerns, or unexpected situations arise.
• Provide direction and assistance to ensure smooth operations, staff support, and adherence to established procedures.
• Foster a cooperative environment where team members help one another while ensuring leadership support is available as needed.
• Oversees and participates in client care processes by ensuring a safe and therapeutic milieu, being appropriately visible on the unit in assigned safety zones, supporting the unit rules by communicating program rules and expectations respectfully and consistently with clients and setting appropriate therapeutic boundaries.
• Implements consistent observation of client safety needs and ongoing behaviors, offers customer and client-centered services and interventions, and redirects behaviors in a therapeutic and consistent manner. Reports behavioral changes or concerns to nurses timely, and to appropriate team members. Participates in shift reports when/as indicated.
• Demonstrates ability to quickly master the effective and accurate completion of client admission, orientation, search and seizure, urine drug screening, client ongoing monitoring, special precautions, 1:1, and discharge process.
• Oversees and implements daily client care services and maintaining ongoing safety needs independently, demonstrating moderate to advanced skills, including but not limited to: encouraging and facilitating client daily showers and self-care, assisting with inventory of personal effects, facilitating safety plans, cleaning/disinfection of beds and rooms between admissions and discharges, distribution of meals, noting percentage of meal intake, supporting ongoing hydration, timely 15-minute checks,/special precaution checks, accurate vital signs, observing and documenting hours of sleep, managing visitation, wanding and safety checks for contraband, and accurate and appropriate report of observations and/or safety concerns.
• Is actively engaged and collaborating with clients, as well as working closely with other BHT nurses, clinicians, and providers on the shift level to ensure the client's treatment is consistent with the licensed provider's assessments, and that treatment team recommendations /communication is proactive and via a team approach.
• Able to multi-task and understand/implement program policies and procedures. This includes assisting actively in maintaining the unit schedule by engaging and gathering clients to participate in their psychiatric evaluations, bringing clients to the provider office, reminding, and encouraging clients to participate in daily activities per the unit schedule, getting involved in supporting rehab and allied therapy groups, supporting a calm and respectful environment, and by ensuring fresh air breaks are taken. training,
• Ensures that client specific and general unit laundry is completed timely and follows infection control standards.
• Engages clients via supportive and empathetic communication, actively listens, and addresses client needs proactively, in a non-judgmental and professional manner, and can diffuse and intervene in crisis situations using DLC (David Lawrence Centers) de-escalation and crisis training techniques.
• Respects the unique expression of clients, demonstrates appropriate symptom tolerance, while also setting appropriate limits and boundaries.
• Maintains professional and ethical boundaries with clients and co-workers as per DLC Handbook and policy.
• Under direction and authority from nursing staff, and whenever possible, after attempting the use of verbal skills, utilizes appropriate DLC-approved techniques and methods for Assist and Support and/or Seclusion and Restraint.
• Guides and mentors other less experienced BHT staff which includes role modeling, teaching by example, and supporting newer and less experienced BHTs (Behavioral Health Technicians) in completing tasks.
• Can identify problematic issues and/or risk in a proactive manner to the nurse and treatment team members in support of a safe and structured unit.
• Demonstrates the ability to recognize when a client is in distress early on, intervenes verbally, and offers appropriate alternatives, support, and assistance, to minimize incidents.

Qualifications:

• High School Diploma /GED
• Relevant direct service work experience in mental health, group homes, and prison or detention centers or similar preferred.
• Demonstrate ability to relate to a wide variety of co-workers, clientele and public.
• Demonstrate adaptability to varying and emergency work conditions.
• At least 1 year of prior experience in a similar inpatient and/or residential setting providing client/patient care.
• Moderate to advanced skills and competencies associated with the job description tasks such as crisis intervention, behavioral observation, communication skills, understanding of boundaries, safety principles, caring for individuals with mental health and/or substance use disorders.
• Microsoft Office 365 skills (Including Teams/Video Conferencing) and Electronic Medical Records experience = Strongly Preferred
• Staying compliant on all training and immunizations.
• Ability to pass Level II DCF Mental Health Fingerprinting (General Information can be found HERE), Drug Screen and Local Criminal Check

Physical Requirements:

This position requires a mix of physical activities throughout the workday. Duties involve periods of standing, sitting, and walking, often across various areas of the site. The role also includes tasks that may require bending, reaching, and other physical movements. Candidates must be able to occasionally lift and carry items weighing up to 50 pounds. A reasonable level of physical stamina and mobility is necessary to successfully perform the essential functions of this role.