Behavioral Health Associate

Overview:

Acadia Healthcare is a leading provider of behavioral healthcare services across the United States. Acadia operates a growing network of 250 plus behavioral healthcare facilities with approximately 11,100 beds in 39 states and Puerto Rico. With more than 23,000 employees serving approximately 75,000 patients daily, Acadia is the largest stand-alone behavioral health company in the U.S.

Acadia Healthcare's purpose is to Lead Care with Light and our mission is to be a world-class organization that sets the standard for excellence in the treatment of mental health and addiction concerns. We strive to maintain our standing as a thought leader in the behavioral healthcare industry, providing treatment that is synonymous with compassion and innovation.

We are looking for fulltime day shift Behavioral Health Associates (BHAs) in Greenville, NC.

Acadia Healthcare and ECU Health Behavioral Health Hospital have partnered to establish a state-of-the-art, two-story, 144-bed behavioral health hospital in Greenville, NC. This new facility will help meet the urgent need for accessible, high-quality psychiatric care in the region, expanding capacity to support patients with diverse mental health needs. Set to open in late 2025, the hospital—located just under a mile from ECU Health Medical Center—will offer a full range of inpatient and intensive outpatient services. Additionally, it will host GME and residency programs in psychiatry and internal medicine for ECU Health's Brody School of Medicine, advancing medical education and training in behavioral health. Adults, seniors, children, and adolescents facing acute mental health challenges, including anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, PTSD, and co-occurring disorders, will have access to specialized treatment and support at this center of excellence.

What would you do in this role?

Our BHAs are responsible for providing personal care services to patients at the facility under the direction of clinical or nursing leadership.

Responsibilities:

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Ensure the well being of patients and provide a positive, supportive and structured environment, under direction of charge nurse or supervisor.
• Patient safety is addressed through required rounds completed timely. Patient room is clean and uncluttered. Observation may be assigned every 15 minutes, within reach of patient and/or 1:1 patient care.
• Obtain patient's vital signs, height and weight as assigned. Ensure documentation of information.
• Identify self to patient and visitors promptly and respond to patient requests quickly.

• Engage with patient in activities and interactions designed to encourage achievement of treatment goals.

• Respond to distressed patient in a non-threatening manner and attempt to understand the source of distress.

• Applies de-escalation techniques to help manage patient's emotions, behavior and participation in treatment and assist with seclusion and restraint when necessary.
• As part of the multidisciplinary team provide safety and increase coping skills of patient and assist in developing strategies for helping patients to be as independent as possible.
• Collaborate with other staff in working with the population of the facility to treat, rehabilitate and return patient to the community.

• Monitor behavioral improvements and reinforce these behaviors. Report changes and responses to treatment by communicating with team. Significant changes are reported to nurse immediately.

• Reinforce skills patients learn from nurses, physicians, therapist that promote improved physical and mental wellness.

• Lead or co-lead individual or group sessions as part of specific recreational or therapeutic procedures.

• May participate in rehabilitation and treatment programs as well as teach strategies to promote patient wellness and independence.

• May oversee or assist patients with activities of daily living, including toileting, bathing, dressing, grooming, oral hygiene, meals, snacks, hydration and changing bed linens.

• Deliver care based on the priority of needs and available resources to the specific service population of the facility.

• May help with admissions and discharges.

• Assist in providing guidance and direction to other staff members, including training of new staff.

• May provide transportation for patient or coordinate transportation with appropriate staff member.
• Quality of work exhibited through accuracy, neatness, and timeliness of work completed.
• Adherence to work schedule and overall attendance.
• Demonstrate a positive, empathetic and professional attitude towards customers always. When patient needs are not met, acknowledge and work to resolve complaints. Recognize that patient safety is a top priority.

OTHER FUNCTIONS:

• Perform other functions and tasks as assigned.

Qualifications:

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE/SKILL REQUIREMENTS:

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• One or more years' experience working with the specific population of the facility preferred.
• 6 months experience performing the duties of a BHA2 preferred.

LICENSES/DESIGNATIONS/CERTIFICATIONS:

• CPR and de-escalation and restraint certification required (training available upon hire and offered by facility).
• First aid may be required based on state or facility requirements.

While this job description is intended to be an accurate reflection of the requirements of the job, management reserves the right to add or remove duties from particular jobs when circumstances (e.g. emergencies, changes in workload, rush jobs or technological developments) dictate.

We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment regardless of an individual's characteristics protected by applicable state, federal and local laws.

AHGROW