Behavioral Health Specialist (Full Time, BEN)

What You'll Do

The Behavioral Health Specialist (BHS) is a vital member of the interdisciplinary care team who helps create a safe, secure, welcoming, and therapeutic environment. This position has frequent direct interaction with individuals and plays an important role in shaping their experience from admission through discharge. Working in a high-acuity, fast-paced setting, the Behavioral Health Specialist provides compassionate and respectful support to individuals experiencing acute behavioral health symptoms, substance use concerns, homelessness, and other complex needs.

Individual Support and Experience

• Welcomes individuals and provides compassionate, respectful, and nonjudgmental support from admission through discharge.
• Supports safe admissions, transfers, and discharges and assists individuals with meals, clothing, comfort items, and other daily needs.
• Builds therapeutic rapport while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries and supporting the organization's "No Wrong Door" approach.

Safety, Observation, and Crisis Response

• Conducts safety screenings and inventories, searches, documents, and secures individual belongings according to established procedures.
• Maintains required levels of observation and accurately documents observations within established timeframes.
• Recognizes and promptly communicates changes in behavior, condition, risk, or environmental safety to the interdisciplinary team.
• Uses therapeutic communication, trauma-informed practices, redirection, and approved de-escalation techniques.
• Participates in approved restraints, seclusion, or other safety interventions, when necessary, permitted, and appropriately trained.
• Responds to emergencies and performs CPR, Safe Clinch, and other approved emergency-response techniques within the scope of training.

Clinical and Interdisciplinary Support

• Effectively and positively communicates and collaborates with nurses, providers, clinicians, peer and recovery support professionals, and other care team members.
• Participates in shift handoffs, team huddles, and care coordination activities.
• Obtains and documents vital signs and promptly reports concerning results to the responsible nurse or medical provider.
• Performs approved clinical support activities, which may include blood alcohol, urine drug, and pregnancy testing, when permitted and trained.
• Supports individual care and safety plans and safely escorts, moves, or transports individuals as needed.

Documentation and Compliance

• Documents observations, services, interventions, and significant interactions accurately and timely in the Electronic Health Record (EHR).
• Maintains confidentiality and follows established clinical, safety, security, and infection-prevention procedures.
• Completes required training, certifications, competencies, and meetings within established timeframes.
• Attends court-ordered hearings when subpoenaed and provides factual testimony consistent with documented observations.

Facility and Team Support

• Helps maintain a clean, safe, organized, and therapeutic care environment.
• Supports routine unit needs, including food service, linens, and laundering individual clothing when needed.
• Responds flexibly to changing facility needs and supports colleagues across assigned care areas.

What You'll Bring

• High school diploma or equivalent
• At least one (1) year of experience in behavioral health, healthcare, human services, customer service, hospitality, corrections, emergency services, residential care, or another direct service environment
• Basic computer skills and ability to accurately document information in an Electronic Health Record (EHR)
• Ability to communicate effectively with individuals, families, coworkers, and members of the interdisciplinary team
• Ability to complete required training and maintain required competencies, including CPR, crisis prevention/de-escalation, Safe Clinch/restraint training, and other facility required safety procedures
• Ability to meet the physical requirements of the position, including responding quickly to emergencies, assisting with physical interventions when trained, and lifting/moving individuals or equipment as required
• Must be able to pass company required background checks including a physical, TB, and drug screening
• The Company has a mandatory vaccination policy. All successful applicants must be fully vaccinated, including showing proper documentation, or otherwise be exempt pursuant to the Company's exemption process prior to their start date as a condition of employment
• Arizona Level 1 Fingerprint Clearance Card

Physical Requirements

• Safely perform physical interventions (e.g., standing, pivoting, reaching, kneeling, lowering to the floor, and supporting another person's weight)
• Lift, push, pull, or carry up to 50 lbs. occasionally
• Tolerate prolonged walking, standing, and observation in a fast-paced environment
• Work with individuals who may exhibit agitation, aggression, or unpredictable behavior

It would be great if you had

• Experience in behavioral health, healthcare, crisis services, substance use treatment, residential care, emergency services, or another high-acuity service environment
• Completion of CNA or Patient Care Tech program
• Completion of BHS certification
• Experience de-escalating difficult situations, responding to conflict, redirecting behavior, or supporting individuals under stress
• Current CPR/BLS certification, crisis prevention/de-escalation certification, peer support certification, behavioral health technician credential, certified nursing assistant credential, or other relevant certification