Behavioral Health Technician
Compensation
Pay not listed
The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed
Ask the employer about the pay range, call expectations, weekend coverage and time off.
Job Description
Behavioral Health Technician | Highland Hospital | Charleston, West Virginia
About the Job
PURPOSE STATEMENT:
The Behavioral Health Associate I works under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse as an integral part of the multidisciplinary treatment team and is responsible for monitoring and reporting of patient behaviors; providing continuous patient care, supervision, interaction, and role modeling; assisting in patient data collection, recording, and maintenance; and responding in crisis situations and medical emergencies as needed.
Roles and Responsibilities
Ensures the wellbeing of patients and provides a safe, positive, supportive, and structured environment, under direction of charge nurse or supervisor. Maintains a constant awareness and supervision of patients.
Assists clients with activities of daily living, such as toileting, bathing, dressing, grooming, oral hygiene, meals, snacks, hydration and changing bed linens.
Conducts safety checks, ensuring that supervision is conducted at intervals in accordance with individualized supervision guidelines.
- Checks patients for contraband and manages the patient’s valuables and belongings.
- Interacts routinely with patients, observes behaviors and communicates significant observations to supervisor.
- Engages with patient in activities and interactions designed to encourage achievement of treatment goals.
Facilitates patient educational-rehabilitative groups which cover a variety of topics including social skills, coping skills and independent living skills.
Takes and records vital signs properly and communicates significant changes in patient’s condition to the clinical team.
Charts in patient records timely, accurately, and appropriately.
Applies de-escalation techniques to help manage patient’s emotions, behavior and participation in treatment and assists with seclusion and restraints when necessary.
Assists with unit cleaning, organization of new admits charts, discharge process, filing, etc. Initiates patient/employee incident reports.
Provides transfer or transportation for patients or coordinates transportation with appropriate staff members as required.
Receives report from previous shift to utilize information in planning shifts; give accurate and thorough report to oncoming shift.
Education/Experience/Skill Requirements
- High school graduate or equivalent required.
- Six months or more experience working with the specific population of the facility preferred.
Knowledge of common psychiatric disorders and/or dual diagnosis and various treatment modalities of the population served 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.
WORK LOCATION: This position is onsite and is not a remote position.
Supervisory Requirements
This position is an Individual Contributor.
Why Highland Hospital? Highland Hospital offers a comprehensive benefit plan and a competitive salary commensurate with experience and qualifications. Qualified candidates should apply by submitting a resume. Highland Hospital is an EOE.
Veterans and military spouses are highly encouraged to apply. Summit BHC is dedicated to serving Veterans with specialized programming at our treatment centers across the country. We recognize and value the unique strengths of the military community in supporting our mission to serve those who have served.
Key Responsibilities
Monitor and supervise patients, support daily living needs, observe and report behavioral or medical changes, and maintain accurate patient records. Promote treatment goals through structured activities and groups, use de-escalation techniques, respond to emergencies, and assist with unit operations and patient transfers.
Requirements
A high school diploma or equivalent is required, and six months or more of experience with the facility’s specific patient population is preferred. Knowledge of psychiatric disorders, dual diagnosis, and treatment modalities is preferred; CPR and de-escalation and restraint certification are required, with training available upon hire.
Qualifications
- Education
- Professional certificate or licensure
Key Skills
Behavioral Health Career Context
Of the 50 active Behavioral Health listings this role was benchmarked against, 74% have no call, 52% require no weekends.
Behavioral Health pay on WeekdayDoc is up 8.4% vs. the prior quarter (through Oct 2026).
| Measure | This job | Market |
|---|---|---|
| Work-life score | 4.5 / 10 · above average in behavioral health | ranked against 1,195 Behavioral Health listingslisting-based score, 0–10 |
| Listed pay | not listed | Behavioral Health median $57k (middle half $46k–$71k)18 comparable listings, Nov 2026 |
| Cost of living | New York index 107.9 | US average = 100BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) |
| Behavioral Health listings in New York | 9 active | —live on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026 |
| All behavioral health listings in New York | 15 active | 1,595 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026 |
| Work setting | on-site | peers: 74% no call · 52% no weekends50 benchmarked listings |
| Sign-on & loan repayment | not stated | US healthcare professional listings (all specialties): 4% state a sign-on bonus (median $3k) · 12% offer loan repayment1,000 active listings, Nov 2026 |
| New Behavioral Health listings | 861 in the last 30 days | 503 the 30 days before (+71%)U.S., first seen on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026 |
| Behavioral Health pay trend (all specialties) | +8.4% vs prior quarter | —through Oct 2026 |
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