Behavioral Health Technician– Psychiatry Services

General Description of the Position

The Behavioral Health Technician – Outpatient provides comprehensive administrative, medical-support, behavioral-health, patient-engagement, and care-coordination services within Tatum Psychology Employment Group's outpatient and psychiatric programs.

This position provides front and back office support, assists with patient check-in and flow, supports clinical staff, documents patient information, measures and records vital signs, assists with telepsychiatry appointments, and provides a safe, structured, and supportive environment for patients.

The position may provide supportive observation during child and adolescent psychiatric visits and behavioral-health programming under the direction and supervision of licensed clinical staff.

The position also supports coordination of patient care by facilitating communication among patients, clinical staff, providers, community partners, and other appropriate stakeholders.

This includes receiving, coordinating, tracking, and fulfilling patient referrals to internal and external services, following up on referral status, documenting referral activity, and helping ensure that referrals are completed or appropriately escalated when barriers arise.

The position does not independently provide medical, nursing, or therapeutic services outside the employee's training, credentials, scope of practice, and direction from qualified clinical staff.

Essential Functions

Patient Engagement & Support

• Welcome and check in patients, building rapport with patients and families.
• Support patients during psychiatric visits, including child and adolescent appointments, as directed by clinical staff.
• Observe patient behavior and engagement, and promptly communicate concerns to clinical staff.
• Assist with patient transitions, reinforce program expectations and safety procedures, and support de-escalation under clinical staff direction.

Medical & Clinical Support

• Measure and accurately record vital signs and other assigned patient information as needed.
• Prepare and coordinate telepsychiatry appointments.
• Perform clinical-support duties within assigned responsibilities, training, and applicable scope of practice.

Referral Coordination & Fulfillment

• Receive, review, and route referrals to appropriate providers, programs, or community resources.
• Coordinate referral appointments, authorizations, records, and required information.
• Communicate with patients, families, providers, managed-care representatives, and community partners to support access to services.
• Track and document referrals through scheduling, service connection, and completion, as applicable.
• Follow up on outstanding referrals and report delays, missing information, or barriers to appropriate staff.
• Maintains confidentiality of all referral-related information in accordance with HIPAA and company policy.

Program Operations & Patient Flow

• Coordinates patient movement between appointments, sessions, groups, and activities.
• Supports scheduling logistics and patient flow.
• Provides front desk, telephone, clerical, and administrative support as needed.
• Assists with maintaining efficient daily operations of outpatient and psychiatric services.

Documentation & Communication

• Manages and supports patient scheduling and appointment coordination.
• Completes clerical, data-entry, documentation, and administrative duties as assigned.
• Supports telepsychiatry scheduling and appointment preparation.
• Maintains accurate patient records and related documentation.
• Communicates appointment changes, referral updates, and other relevant information to appropriate staff.
• Works with the billing team to bill for services.
• Safety, Compliance & Confidentiality
• Maintains awareness of patient safety and environmental risks.
• Follow company policies, safety protocols, incident-reporting procedures, Joint Commission standards, and applicable DHCS requirements.
• Promptly report safety risks, incidents, unusual behavior, or changes in patient status.
• Protect patient and referral information in accordance with HIPAA and company policy.
• Maintain professional boundaries in all patient interactions and communications.

Professional Conduct & Team Collaboration

• Demonstrates professionalism, ethical behavior, accountability, and appropriate boundaries.
• Works collaboratively with clinical staff, program leadership, patients, families, providers, managed-care organizations, and community partners.
• Demonstrates respect for diverse cultures, perspectives, abilities, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Participates in required training and professional development.
• Supports a culture of respect, inclusion, teamwork, and accountability.

Additional Functions

• Performs other duties as may be assigned.
• Follows and supports TPEG policies and procedures.
• Works collaboratively and cooperatively with internal and external partners.

Represents TPEG, Inc. by embodying the mission, vision, and values of the organization.

Travels occasionally during the workday and on occasional overnight stays. Compensation for mileage, food, and lodging is provided in accordance with company policy.

• Maintains regular attendance and punctuality regarding work responsibilities and deadlines.
• Displays creativity and initiative in recommending new tactics and strategies.
• Expands and updates job knowledge through educational opportunities and professional learning.

Performs duties in other functional areas to cover absences, provide relief, equalize peak work periods, or balance workload as needed.

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications

• EDUCATION: High School Diploma, GED, or equivalent.
• BEHAVIORAL HEALTH EXPERIENCE: Experience in health care, mental/behavioral health, psychiatric services, or a group-home setting preferred.
• Strong organizational, communication, documentation, and patient-support skills.
• Demonstrated ability to engage professionally with patients, colleagues, providers, and community partners.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise sound judgment, integrity, confidentiality, tact, and diplomacy.
• Demonstrated ability to organize time and resources while managing multiple tasks.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Proficiency in word processing, database, and/or spreadsheet applications.
• Valid Driver's License and clean driving record.
• Physical and mental attributes sufficient to perform the essential functions of the position.

Preferred Qualifications

Previous experience working in a mental health, psychiatric, behavioral health, or substance-use treatment facility.

• Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Psychology, or a related field.
• Experience with referral coordination, care coordination, or community-resource navigation.
• Experience coordinating services with managed-care organizations, healthcare providers, and community partners.
• Proficient in English.
• Strong written and verbal communicator.
• Medical Assistant Experience

Working Conditions

Work settings may include offices, outpatient program sites, psychiatric/clinical settings, and stakeholder locations.

Travel modes may include company or personal transportation.

Position may involve interaction with patients across a variety of ages, abilities, behavioral-health needs, and backgrounds.

Physical Job TASK Requirements

The physical requirements of the position include sedentary work with occasional walking and standing and the ability to perform the physical functions necessary to support assigned patient-care, administrative, and program responsibilities. The position may require occasional lifting, carrying, bending, reaching, driving, sitting, standing, walking, and other physical activities as identified in the applicable physical job task requirements.

Mental Job TASK Requirements

The Position Requires the Ability To

• Complete routine and repetitive tasks with simple instructions.
• Follow detailed procedures with multiple potential variables.
• Accurately interpret behaviors and nonverbal communication and act appropriately within assigned responsibilities.
• Demonstrate logical and deductive thinking.
• Provide creative and innovative solutions to job-related problems.
• Perform basic calculations and work with percentages, charts, graphs, and statistics as required.
• Read and understand policies and written materials.
• Follow verbal and demonstrated instructions.
• Explain directions and accurately transfer information between forms and systems.
• Complete routine correspondence and compose correspondence independently.
• Read and interpret technical material relevant to assigned responsibilities.
• Speak and understand English.
• Prepare reports and documents.
• Communicate effectively with individuals and small groups.
• Participate effectively in meetings and group settings.