Behavioral Health Associate

Who is Comprehensive Healthcare?

Comprehensive Healthcare provides innovative behavioral health and integrated healthcare services to clients of all ages. We take pride in our creative and collaborative work environment and in delivering clinically excellent, trauma-informed, recovery-oriented services.

What are we looking for in a Behavioral Health Associate?

Behavioral Health Associates provide care, support, and a safe living environment for individuals residing within our 24-hour inpatient and residential facilities. Behavioral Health Associates provide supportive counseling and skills development through individual or group sessions to assist clients with stabilizing symptoms and learning illness management skills. This position is part of an interdisciplinary team that provides individualized, trauma-informed treatment in collaboration with the client’s natural support systems to help ensure a smooth transition to community outpatient treatment. This role is best suited to someone who communicates effectively, remaining supportive and empathetic during challenging situations, and who values teamwork and collaboration in working toward the goal of improving the lives of the individuals we serve. A general understanding of behavioral health issues is helpful. These positions have a set work schedule, including shift differentials for evening and overnight hours (extra $1/hr for 6pm-midnight and $1.50/hr for midnight-6am).

This position is part of our Waypoint facility in Walla Walla, which offers crisis stabilization and residential treatment for individuals 18 years of age and older. This 16-bed facility is staffed 24 hours a day and offers a safe and supportive environment for residents to develop skills for long-term maintenance and control over their health. Each resident collaborates with the treatment team to develop an individualized care plan to outline goals and progress, help coordinate follow-up care, and ensure continued improvement after completing treatment at Waypoint.

This position has a schedule of Monday through Friday 10:00 PM - 6:00 AM

Essential Responsibilities, Competencies and Measurable Behaviors

Behavioral Health Groups:

• Conducts behavioral health groups following Comprehensive Healthcare's guidelines and policies.
• Leads groups using effective group facilitation skills that promote participation and interaction among group members.
• Utilizes group process to develop insight, practice skills, and motivate client for change.
• Follows lesson plan or curriculum and connects presented material to individual treatment plan goals.

Children, Young and Young Adult Services:

• Demonstrates and utilizes knowledge of development in children, youth and young adults.
• Demonstrates and utilizes knowledge and understanding of behavioral health problems in children, youth, and young adults.
• Demonstrates and utilizes knowledge of and ability to work with issues of confidentiality, consent and capacity.
• Demonstrates the ability to collaborated and coordinate with family, parents, caregivers and community and natural supports.
• Communicates effectively with children and youth of differing ages and developmental level.

Crisis Evaluation/ Intervention:

• Utilizes appropriate crisis intervention techniques for client stabilization.
• Accurately screens for risk to self, others, property and the presence of grave disability and makes appropriate referrals.
• Documents and reports and/or notifies as required by law.
• Applies QPRT (Question, persuade, Refer or Treat) Principles in assessing risk and in safety and treatment planning.
• Develops and documents appropriate safety plans.
• Demonstrates the ability to conduct screenings, admissions and discharges as part of an integrated detox treatment plan.
• Accurately collects vitals including blood pressure, heart rate, body temperature, respiration rate and breathalyzer and urine specimen. Accurately administers and interprets intoxication and withdrawal monitoring scales.
• Appropriately monitors the stabilization of clients including mental health and emotional dysregulations and coordinates care as directed by supervisor and mental health professional.

Geriatric Services:

• Demonstrates and utilizes knowledge of normal aging process and age related changes.
• Demonstrates an understanding of neurocognitive disorders and their impacts on functioning
• Demonstrates awareness of how medical issues can affect mental status.

Medication Self- Administration Management:

• Demonstrates ability to minimize distractions while observing medication self-administration.
• Demonstrates ability to locate and adhere to medication management policies and procedures.
• Demonstrates ability to maintain cleanliness and hygiene.
• Demonstrates ability to provide education, support and instructions during medication self-administration.
• Practices the Five Rights of Medication Administration; Right Patient, Right Medication, Right Dose, Right Route and Right Time.
• Demonstrates ability to order/ re-order medications.
• Demonstrates ability to document medication self-administration in Medication Administration Record (MAR).
• Conducts and documents ongoing assessment of medication adherence, medication effectiveness, and side effects of medications reporting information to appropriate supervisor(s) and/or physicians as applicable.
• Demonstrates ability to locate and complete Medication Error Reports according to policy.
• Demonstrates ability to store and/ or dispose of medications according to policy.
• Conducts and documents ongoing assessment of clients understanding of need for medication and provides education as applicable.

Program Screening:

• Conducts in program screening processes according to program guidelines.
• Collects all pertinent clinical information.
• Facilitates effective and professional communication during screening and intake processes.
• Documents screenings and admission decisions as appropriate.

Resident and Client Care:

• Provides supervision and support to clients consistent with the program plan and client care plan.
• Reports complaints to concerns related to client abuse, neglect, exploitation to the Residential Program licensing entity.
• Prepares and serves nutritious and palatable meals and snacks in accordance with the Washington State Administrative Code (WAC).
• Ensures a clean and safe living environment by performing cleaning and laundry duties required for the up keep of the facility.
• Safely transports clients to appointments in personal or agency vehicles as authorized.
• Coordinates care with the client's medical providers.
• Trains and monitors clients in such areas as self-care, interpersonal and social skills, use of leisure time, recreational opportunities, form completion, community resources, impulse control, behavior management and other practical living skills.
• Stabilizes crisis situations by engaging appropriate services to maintain the least restrictive environment possible while assuring the safety and wellbeing of others.

Seclusion and Restraints:

• Adheres to policies and procedures regarding use and application of seclusion and restraints to ensure safety for clients and staff.
• Adheres to techniques and approach to managing violent and aggressive behavior as per the facility's crisis intervention training modality.
• Documents specific client behaviors and staff interventions leading to safe use of seclusion and / or restraint, according to policies and facility protocols.
• Demonstrates proficiency in the use of skills in accordance with agency approved crisis intervention and de-escalation techniques such as those taught in PROACT and Psychiatric Emergency Response Team (PERT) training.

Service Notes:

• Completes all required service notes according to Comprehensive Healthcare's guidelines, policies and procedures regarding format, content and timeliness.
• Language used in service notes is respectful, clear, descriptive, concise and client-centered.
• Service notes accurately depict treatment modalities and interventions provided within the clinician's scope of practice and according to treatment plan.
• Service notes accurately reflect and depict client status and progress consistent with assessment and reassessment data, problem statements and treatment plan goals and objectives.

Symptom and Medication Response Monitoring:

• Conducts and documents ongoing assessment of client symptoms and their response to prescribed medications.
• Provides support and education to encourage clients to take medications as prescribed.
• Promotes illness self-management skills to assist clients with medication adherence, identifying warning signs and symptoms, and symptom management skills.
• Monitors medication side effects and facilitates access to, and communication with, medical staff as needed.

Qualifications:

• High school diploma or GED
• Previous related experience preferred
• Must be willing to comply with N95 respirator requirements, including the removal of facial hair for initial fit testing and throughout employment when donning N95 respirators is clinically indicated
• Must be eligible for registration as Agency Affiliated Counselor
• Must have valid driver's license and vehicle liability insurance
• In compliance with state and federal law, Comprehensive Healthcare requires all candidates to complete a post-offer, pre-employment drug screen and background check. Please refer to WAC 388-113-0020 through 388-113-0030 for information on criminal convictions and pending charges that automatically disqualify an individual from working for Comprehensive Healthcare. Please refer to RCW 49.44.240 for information on pre-employment drug screening

It is the policy of Comprehensive Healthcare to ensure that employees are provided the equipment necessary to protect their health from respiratory disease in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. Respirators, training, and medical evaluations are provided at no cost to the employee during normal working hours. The medical evaluation will determine the employee’s ability to use a respirator and is required prior to completing fit testing of the respirator. Fit testing will be performed using the same make, model, style, and size of respirator that will be used by the employee when at work. A respirator is designed to achieve a very close facial fit and very efficient filtration of airborne particles. The edges of the respirator are designed to form a seal around the nose and mouth. To achieve this, employees must (a) arrive for fit testing clean shaven around the sealing surface of the mask; (s) have nothing to eat or drink other than plain water for 20 minutes prior to the appointment; and (3) have not smoked, vaped, or chewed gum for 20 minutes prior to the appointment.

What Comprehensive Healthcare Can Offer You

Training and Development

• A variety of career opportunities in a wide range of settings with room for mobility and promotion
• Regular training opportunities including support, supervision, and consultation in implementing evidence-based services and programs

Innovative Program & Services

• A strong reputation for providing quality, evidence-based services within a collaborative multi-disciplinary team environment
• Innovative, forward-looking leadership that seeks to thrive in an ever-changing healthcare environment
• Joint Commission-accredited organization committed to continuous quality improvement
• Established partnerships with major research universities and other community and healthcare providers to implement cutting-edge treatment programs and services

Excellent Benefits

• Competitive salaries within our communities and industry
• Healthcare coverage for employee and qualified family members
• Generous vacation, paid holiday and sick leave policies
• Access to Employee Assistance Program services
• Agency-funded retirement plan with contributions equal to 5% of compensation
• Additional retirement investment opportunities with a 50% investment match of up to 4% of compensation
• Agency-funded life and disability insurance program
• Tuition reimbursement program to support employees pursuing additional education
• Employer-funded student loan repayment assistance

Equal Opportunity Employer Comprehensive Healthcare is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based on race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, veteran status, disability status, or any other basis prohibited by federal, state, or local law. We value the diverse perspectives and strengths that our employees bring to the workplace and we encourage individuals from underrepresented groups to apply for our positions. The Human Resources department provides accommodations and assistance to complete the application and interview process; please contact us to make arrangements.