Title: Behavioral Technician-Harvest Mall (Nursing Department)
State Role Title: Direct Service Associate III
Hiring Range: Minimum salary $43,980 to Maximum salary $61,305
Pay Band: 3
Agency: Dept Behavioral Health/Develop
Location: Western State Hospital
Agency Website: https://dbhds.virginia.gov/facilities/wsh/
Recruitment Type: Agency Employee Only - A
Job Duties
Western State Hospital (WSH) is a state-of-the-art psychiatric facility that has been operating since 1828 under the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services. WSH is a 302-bed Joint Commission-accredited hospital situated in the scenic Shenandoah Valley, just 30 minutes from major university towns. It is affiliated with the University of Virginia's Department of Psychiatric Medicine and serves as a training ground for professionals from various colleges and universities in nursing, social work, psychology, and activity therapy.
Western State Hospital (WSH) is now recruiting for a 1st shift Behavioral Technician to join our Nursing Department and support patient care and programming within the Psychosocial Treatment Mall/Learning Center.
The Behavioral Technician provides direct patient care and support as part of an interdisciplinary treatment team, helping to promote a safe, secure, therapeutic, and recovery-focused environment for adult psychiatric patients.
The Behavioral Technician assists with the coordination and daily operation of Learning Center activities, including supporting staff assignments, communicating safety concerns, implementing individualized treatment plans, and providing one-on-one interventions during psychosocial rehabilitation programming. This position serves as a positive role model for other direct care staff by consistently applying recovery-oriented and trauma-informed care principles.
Direct patient care responsibilities include observing and reporting patient behaviors and physical and emotional well-being; completing required documentation and safety checks; obtaining and documenting vital signs; assisting with hygiene, clothing, nutrition, snacks, and fresh-air breaks; monitoring medication lines; maintaining accountability of sharps; collecting specimens as directed; and escorting patients to other areas of the hospital.
The Behavioral Technician also plays an important role in milieu management and patient safety, including recognizing and appropriately responding to behavioral emergencies, utilizing TOVA principles, responding to panic alarms, reporting unsafe practices or concerns to nursing staff, and helping maintain a clean and safe patient-care environment.
Successful candidates must demonstrate effective and respectful communication, teamwork, reliability, and the ability to follow established procedures and the chain of command. Employees must be willing to accept deployment to other areas of the hospital as needed and demonstrate flexibility in their work schedule to support safe staffing and patient-care needs.
This position is required to complete all mandatory training, annual competencies, in-services, and continuing education requirements.
This is an essential, non-exempt Nursing Department position in a 24-hour, 7-day-a-week psychiatric hospital and requires direct interaction with the patient population.
Benefits of Working at Western State Hospital:
• Career advancement opportunities
• Professional Skills Incentive available
• Flexible scheduling to maintain a work-life balance
• Choice of 11 different insurance packages, including health, dental, and vision
• Two retirement savings plans to help secure your financial future
• 24/7 security on site
• Shift and weekend differentials for select positions
• Paid sick and personal time off
• Loan repayment options for clinical positions
• State employee discount program for various products and services, including movie tickets, special events, cell phone plans, Kings Dominion, and other entertainment and travel options
• Tuition reimbursement available
• Three weeks of dedicated paid training
• Paid vacation time
• Paid life insurance
• Twelve paid holidays
Minimum Qualifications
• Ability to provide direct psychiatric patient care under the supervision of licensed staff
• Ability to effectively communicate with staff and psychiatric patients
• Ability to work in a secure and locked environment with individuals who are experiencing acute symptoms of mental illness and/or additional forensic/legal involvement
• Able to follow instructions and report observations/behaviors of psychiatric patients to licensed staff in a timely manner by describing observations verbally, in written, or electronically
• Demonstrate knowledge of recovery/trauma informed care
• Appropriately intervene in crisis or problem situations
• Has skills in providing direction and assistance to psychiatric patients in activities of daily living
• Willing to learn basic knowledge of developmental and psychiatric disorders along with human behavior, age-specific needs, and personality development
• Willing to learn basic treatment measures to promote mental health appropriate to the adult, developmentally disabled or impaired, and/or geriatric populations
• Vision and hearing adequate to recognize and respond to hazardous situation and ensure safety at facility
• Ability to work effectively with staff in a team approach
• Ability to perform infection prevention and control practices and appropriately apply standards in daily activities
• Ability to perform repetitious walking and/or standing, bending, lifting and reaching over to position/restrain/transfer/transport and/or escort individuals, and provide assistance with activities of daily living
• Ability to work overtime due to staffing emergencies in a 24 hour 7 day per week psychiatric hospital which at times may mean working a 16-hour shift if and when necessary
• Complete all annual competency training to include TOVA III with physical restraints
• Complete and maintain Basic Life Support (BLS) certification for Healthcare Providers with the American Heart Association
• Has basic computer skills
• If CNA, maintain certification in good standing with the Virginia State Board of Nursing
Additional Considerations
- Experience as a lead worker or other supervisory experience in a related field preferred
- Previous healthcare experience preferred especially with individuals with severe mental illness, intellectual/developmental disabilities, or in the medical field
- Current Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) and/or previous psychiatric experience preferred
- Demonstrated consistent work history preferred
- Some knowledge of program activities including recreation, leisure skills, communication, vocational, and educational programming preferred
- Veteran or Veteran Spouse
- Bilingual
Special Instructions
You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position.
Application Requirements: Applications and résumés for this position are accepted electronically through the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Electronic Recruitment System only. Interview decisions will be based solely on the information provided in your electronic application and/or résumé. Please ensure you clearly and specifically detail all relevant work experience; we will not make assumptions about your qualifications.
Background Investigation: All applicants are subject to an extensive background investigation and a pre-employment drug screening. This investigation may include fingerprint checks (State Police, FBI), local agency checks, Department of Social Services/Child Protective Services checks, employment verification, and verification of education relevant to the position.
Under Virginia Code §§ 37.2-314 and 37.2-408.1, the Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Services (DBHDS) cannot employ or utilize as volunteers, individuals convicted of specific ("barrier") crimes or those with pending "barrier" charges.
Reasonable Accommodations: Reasonable accommodations are available to individuals with disabilities during the application and/or interview process in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you require assistance or accommodation, please notify Human Resources at (540) 332-8300 during business hours (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.).
Equal Opportunity: The Commonwealth of Virginia is committed to conducting all aspects of human resource management without regard to race (or traits historically associated with race, including hair texture, hair type, and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists), sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, veteran status, political affiliation, disability, genetic information, and pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions.* There shall be no retaliation against anyone making allegations of violations of this policy.
Veteran Preference: DBHDS is a Virginia Values Veterans (V3) certified employer and provides hiring preference to qualified veterans and service members. We strongly encourage veterans, active members of the Virginia National Guard, and U.S. Military Reserve members to apply to the state application and respond accordingly.
Contact Information
Name: Elizabeth Weber
Phone: 540-332-8056
Email: elizabeth.weber@dbhds.virginia.gov
In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.
Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.