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Bon Secours Mercy Health
Petersburg, Virginia

Behavioral Health Specialist (BHS) (BHT) - Southside Medical Center

Behavioral Health TechFull-Time

Listed compensation

$18.11-$27.17/hr

Listing transparency2 of 6 stated

Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations and weekend coverage.

Employment & setting
Full-Time
Call expectations
Not specified
Weekends
Not specified
Posted 1h ago · Verified live

Job Description

Thank you for considering a career at Bon Secours!

Scheduled Weekly Hours

36

Work Shift

  • Evenings/Nights (United States of America)
  • Bon Secours

About us

As a faith-based and patient-focused organization, Bon Secours exists to enhance the health and well-being of all people in mind, body and spirit through exceptional patient care. Success in this goal requires a culture of compassion, collaboration, excellence and respect. Bon Secours seeks people that are committed to our values of compassion, human dignity, integrity, service and stewardship to create an environment where associates want to work and help communities thrive.

Behavioral Health Specialist (BHS) (BHT) - Southside Medical Center - Days

Job Summary

The Behavioral Health Specialist provides direct patient care under the supervision of a designated healthcare professional in accordance with federal, state, and local regulations, and within policies, procedures, and guidelines of Bon Secours Mercy Health (BSMH).

Essential Functions

Ensures quality patient care, provides vital sign measurement, maintains patient hygiene, assists with mobility, and supports unit-based specialty duties.

  • Acts as liaison between the patient and nurse to report changes and share pertinent information.
  • Provides accurate, precise, timely documentation when applicable for patient care.
  • Completes patient rounding, 15-minute patient checks, and patient safety companion services as assigned.
  • Collects patient data and completes patient screenings as applicable.
  • Participates in continued education and in-service training.

This document is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills, duties, requirements, or working conditions associated with the job. Employees may be required to perform other job-related duties as required by their supervisor, subject to reasonable accommodation.

Education

  • High School Diploma/GED (required)
  • Bachelor’s Degree, related field (preferred)

Licensing & Certifications

Basic Life Support (BLS) American Health Association (preferred upon hire, must obtain from approved source prior to direct patient care)

  • State Tested Nursing Aide (STNA) (preferred)
  • Certified Nursing Aide (CNA) (preferred)
  • Registered Social Work Assistant (SWA) (preferred)
  • Chemical Dependency Counselor Assistant (CDCA) (preferred)
  • Counselor in Training (preferred)
  • Human Services-Board Certified Practitioner (HS- BCP) (preferred)
  • American Association of Psychiatric Technicians (AAPT) (preferred)

Education

  • High School Diploma/GED (required)
  • Bachelor’s Degree, related field (preferred)

Experience

1 year of experience in a mental health or health care setting (preferred)

Range

  • Minimum: $18.11
  • Maximum: $27.17
  • Bon Secours is an equal opportunity employer.

As a Bon Secours associate, you’re part of a Mission that matters. We support your well-being – personally and professionally. Our benefits are built to grow with you and meet your unique needs, every step of the way.

What we offer

Competitive pay, incentives, referral bonuses and 403(b) with employer contributions (when eligible)

Medical, dental, vision, prescription coverage, HSA/FSA options, life insurances, mental health resources and discounts

  • Paid time off, parental and FMLA leave, short- and long-term disability, backup care for children and elders
  • Tuition assistance, professional development and continuing education support
  • Benefits may vary based on the market and employment status.

Department

Adult Mental Health - Southside RMC - Petersburg

It is our policy to abide by all Federal and State laws, as well as, the requirements of 41 CFR 60-1.4(a), 60-300.5(a) and 60-741.5(a). Accordingly, all applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, genetic information, or protected veteran status, and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability. If you’d like to view a copy of the affirmative action plan or policy statement for Mercy Health– Youngstown, Ohio or Bon Secours – Franklin, Virginia; Petersburg, Virginia; and Emporia, Virginia, which are Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer, please email recruitment@mercy.com. If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request a reasonable accommodation as part of the employment selection process, please contact The Talent Acquisition Team at recruitment@mercy.com.

Key Responsibilities

The Behavioral Health Specialist provides direct patient care, including monitoring vital signs, assisting with hygiene and mobility, and conducting patient rounds. They act as a liaison between patients and nursing staff while maintaining accurate documentation and safety protocols.

Requirements

Candidates must have a High School Diploma or GED, with a Bachelor's degree in a related field preferred. One year of experience in a mental health or healthcare setting is preferred, along with relevant certifications like BLS, CNA, or STNA.

Qualifications

Education
Bachelor degree

Certifications

BLS (preferred)Board Certification (preferred)

Key Skills

Mobility assistanceData collectionCommunicationMental health support

Behavioral Health Career Context

Of the 40 active Behavioral Health listings this role was benchmarked against, 43% have no call, 50% require no weekends.

Behavioral Health pay on WeekdayDoc is down 1.3% vs. the prior quarter (through Aug 2026).

The cost-of-living index for Virginia is 101.1 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$47k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $47k in an average-cost state. 61.1% of Virginia clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Top Behavioral Health Tech Jobs

23 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution23 jobs · 14 employers

10
<$45k
9
$45k-50k
2
$52k
2
$59k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks15 jobs · 14 employers

401k / retirement match
100% this job
CME allowance
40% this job
Sign-on bonus
7%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Behavioral Health Technician at Hill (83693)

Centurion Health · Galesburg, Illinois

$26.91-$28.58/hr
#2

Behavioral Health Technician (83534)

Centurion Health · Pontiac, Illinois

$26.91-$28.58/hr
#3

Behavioral Health Technician - Bachelor's Degree in Psychology (83704)

$25/hr
#4

Behavioral Health Associate I

$20-$25/hr
+ 21 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

1.5/ 10
Listing-based score

Living in Petersburg

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$251k
Typical market rent
$1,350/mo
Residents’ average commute
26 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
97.9
State income tax
Up to 5.8%
Sources & methodology

Sources: Zillow home values (Aug 2026), Zillow market rents (Aug 2026), U.S. Census ACS 2024 five-year.

BEA 2024 · Richmond, VA metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

City-level figures. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.

Bon Secours Mercy Health logo

About Bon Secours Mercy Health

Hospitals and Health Care
Cincinnati, Ohio
10,000+ employees

Benefits & Perks

Competitive pay
Incentives
Referral bonuses
403(b) with employer contributions
Medical, dental, vision, prescription coverage
HSA/FSA options
Life insurances
Mental health resources