Residential Behavioral Health Specialist 1

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITES:

The Residential Behavioral Health Specialist I provides functional milieu engagement, recovery support, life-skills coaching, safety rounds, and incident reporting in a residential SUD/MH program. This tier co-facilitates structured activities, documents objective observations in the EMR, and escalates clinical concerns to AP/QP/LP staff.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITITES:

• Conduct access control, safety rounds, and hazard checks; promptly escalate risks/emergencies to supervisory staff.

• Use de-escalation and crisis techniques per training; complete incident reports and follow chain-of-custody procedures when applicable.

• Coach residents in ADLs/IADLs (hygiene, room care, meal prep, time management, budgeting, transportation readiness).

• Co-facilitate non-clinical groups and recovery-focused activities using approved materials.

• Support transportation readiness and accompany residents to appointments/activities as assigned.

• Participate in shift handoffs and communicate objective observations to the treatment team.

Document & Compliance

• Complete objective, behavior-based notes in the EMR within required timelines (generally within 24 hours for billable encounters).

• Maintain confidentiality under HIPAA/42 CFR Part 2 and program policy.

• Document incidents immediately per incident reporting policy.

Qualifications:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education/Experience

• Must possess at a minimum High School Diploma/GED
• Experience in residential / SUD / MH settings preferred

Required Skills/Abilities

• At least 21 years of age
• Valid driver’s license and acceptable driving record
• Ability to work varied shifts
• Strong verbal de-escalation, customer service, and milieu engagement skills

ADDITIONAL TRAINING AND REQUIREMENTS:

• Nonviolent Crisis Intervention (CPI/NCI) and de-escalation.

• CPR/First Aid; Blood-borne Pathogens; Infection Control.

• HIPAA/Client Rights; Incident Reporting; Workplace Violence Prevention.

• Obtain IAHSS Basic (unarmed healthcare security) within 90 days of hire.

PERFORMANCE METRICS (KPIs):

• Timeliness and quality of documentation (objective, complete, within program timelines – typically within 24 hours for billable encounters).
• Effective de-escalation and incident response; accuracy of incident reports.
• Resident engagement in groups/activities and observable skill acquisition.
• Quality of handoffs and inter-disciplinary communication.
• Compliance with HIPAA/42 CFR Part 2 and program policy; audit readiness.