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Behavioral Health Aide
Published
Competency-Based Apprenticeship
Industries
O*Net Code
29-2053.00
Rapids Code
0569CB
Req. Hours
0
State
DC
Created
Jul 16, 2021
Updated
Jul 16, 2021
Competency-Based Skills
31 skill sets | 155 total skills
Working With Others: Communicates Effectively
Engages in active and reflective listening
Speaks clearly and slowly enough to be understood
Uses non-judgmental words and behaviors
Communicates directly with the client’s family & significant others (with client consent)
Uses “person centered/person first” language
Uses technical language correctly, including clinical terminology
Working With Others: Builds Positive Relationships
Demonstrates warmth, empathy, and genuineness
Shows respect and concern for others through words and actions
Focuses on and respects the concerns and preferences of the client and family
Provides support and encouragement to clients
Collaborates with providers and clients to complete tasks and solve problems
Maintains appropriate boundaries in all relationships
Screening & Assessment: Gathers Information Using Multiple Sources
Obtains information from providers knowledgeable of the client and family
Collects demographic, psychological, social, and medical information through interviews of the client and family
Summarizes all information verbally or in writing
Demonstrates sound judgment in evaluating and using the information collected
Screening & Assessment: Uses Screening and Diagnostic Tools
Assists clients in completing screening tools on substance use and mental health conditions
Scores and interprets the results of screening tools correctly
Screening & Assessment: Assesses and Identifies Strengths and Needs
Assesses and Identifies Strengths and Needs
Assesses clients’ preferred method of communication and language barriers
Identifies client and family strengths and resources
Identifies client and family goals
Assesses clients’ motivation and readiness to participate in services
Identifies client problems, mental health and substance use conditions, and stressors
Identifies signs of abuse and neglect
Assesses level of risk for harm to self or others
Determines whether additional assessment is required and arranges if necessary
BHA II, III, BHP only. Assesses physical and psychological risk associated with acute intoxication, overdose, withdrawal, detoxification, and co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders
BHA II, III, BHP only. Applies the criteria in the current version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders (DSM) in assessing clients’ behavioral health conditions
BHA II, III, BHP only. Applies the ASAM criteria to guide treatment planning and recommend a level of care
Planning Services: Identifies Recommended Goals & Services
Identifies recommended short-term and longer-term service goals
Identifies service options based on experience & research
Evaluates eligibility and insurance coverage or ability to pay for recommended services
Planning Services: Supports Client & Family Member Decision-making in Developing the Plan of Care
Communicates outcome of the screening & assessment to the client & family
Assists the client & family in understanding the client’s conditions and effects
Discusses recommended goals and services with client & family & alternate options
Assists client in communicating his or her needs to others
Negotiates and finalizes a plan of care with the client & family based on their preferences
Planning Services: Assists Clients in Developing Personal Plans
Assists the client in developing a crisis plan for future episodes of illness
Supports the client in developing wellness & recovery plans
Providing Services: Coordinates Care
Arranges for assistance, if needed, with language translation or literacy
Implements the plan of care (e.g., begins services, makes referrals)
Monitors client’s condition, behavior, and progress on a continuous basis
Recognizes when progress has slowed, addresses barriers, and works to motivate the client
Evaluates progress and reviews and revises the plan of care on a regular basis
Encourages client participation in services and reaches out when the client is not engaged
Participates in developing, coordinating, and monitoring a discharge plan
Establishes working relationships & coordinates care with other providers and teams in the BHA’s agency
Establishes working relationships & coordinates care with other providers in other agencies
Assists in establishing routine and formal working relationships with other agencies.
Providing Services: Assists with Medication Management
Reviews the list of the client’s medications and their effects and side effects
Supports client and family education about medication effects and side effects
Coaches the client on strategies for taking medications as prescribed
Coaches the family on strategies for supporting the client in taking medications
Supports the client’s participation in medical appointments, medical monitoring, and lab testing.
Assists the client in monitoring and reporting medication effects and side effects to the medical prescriber
Providing Services: Provides Individual Counseling
Provides emotional support, encouragement, and reassurance
Helps the client define the problem by telling their story, discussing their situation, and challenging his or her current perspective, when warranted.
Helps the client set goals by discussing the possibilities and assisting the client to select and commit to new goals
Helps the client take action through problem-solving, education and training, reflecting on past experiences and patterns, creating an action plan, contracting, and providing feedback
Providing Services: Manages Crises
Recognizes behavioral health crises and early warning signs of crises
Assists in deescalating problems in their early phase
Reports crises and seeks assistance from a supervisor or licensed behavioral health professional
Seeks assistance, as needed, from Village Public Safety Officers, other first responders, or community members
Assists in implementing the response to an individual, family, and community crises
Communicates with the family and others about the crisis and the response
Assists with notifications and investigations of reportable events (e.g., abuse, domestic violence, assaults, neglect, deaths)
Provides support to those effected by the crisis and assist them in accessing supportive services
Assists the client and family in obtaining services related to the crisis (e.g., domestic violence shelter; emergency foster care).
Participates in debriefing meetings to discuss the crisis and the response
Providing Services: Provides Family Counseling - BHA II, III, BHP only
Assesses family norms and roles (in nuclear and extended families, clans, biological and non-biological families
Uses genograms and sociograms to assess and work with families
Identifies family dynamics, functional and dysfunctional units, and barriers to communication
Identifies the impact within the family of an individual with a mental health or substance use condition and accommodations made by the family for the individual
Identifies the impact on family functioning of stressors (e.g., medical illness, separation, divorce, abuse, financial concerns, housing issues, legal trouble)
Engages members of the family in constructive problem-solving
Assists the family in improving its functioning
Providing Services: Provides Group Counseling - BHA II, III, BHP only
Identifies the functions, limitations, and risks of different types of groups (educational, psycho-educational, self-help, support, activity, skill development, therapeutic)
Identifies appropriate members for the different types of groups
Orients new members to groups addressing the purpose, rules, boundaries, levels of self-disclosure
Runs groups effectively, providing adequate structure, encouraging member interaction, and maintaining safety
Assists clients in ending participation in a group or transitioning to another group
Manages the ending of groups
Linking to Community Resources: Identifies Recommended Resources
Maintains information on a range of community resources (e.g., service, medical, financial, housing, spiritual, volunteer)
Maintains information on traditional support & intervention resources (Elders, traditional healers)
Identifies recommended resources and traditional supports for the client and family based on need and eligibility
Identifies resources outside of the community that may need to be brought into the community
Linking to Community Resources: Supports client & family decision-making in selecting resources
Discusses resource recommendations & options with the client & family
Motivates the client & family to access and use resources
Negotiates a plan with the client & family about accessing resources based on their preferences
Linking to Community Resources: Connects individuals and families to community resources
Makes a referral and actively connects the client or family to selected resources
Ensures that the referral was accepted and client or family is receiving services
Makes an alternate referral if the initial referral was unsuccessful
Draws on individuals in the community to offer support to the client & family
Community Education & Advocacy: Provides Education
Educates clients, families, and the community about behavioral health conditions and their prevention and treatment
Provides information to destigmatize people with mental health and substance use conditions
Community Education & Advocacy: Participates in Prevention Activities
Uses community gatherings to encourage healthy behaviors
Serves in community workgroups focused on prevention and early intervention with behavioral health conditions
Works with community leaders to develop supports for individuals and families at risk
Engages and provides support to individuals and families at risk
Educates clients and families about strategies for improving physical and mental health
Assists in assessing community needs and readiness for prevention and early interventions activities
Community Education & Advocacy: Provides Advocacy
Provides information to clients and families about their rights and responsibilities
Supports individual and family goals and wishes within the agency and with other organizations
Arranges access for clients and families to service planning meetings
Refers clients and families to peer and family support activities and advocacy organizations
Cultural Competency & Individualizing Care: Delivers Culturally Relevant Services
Recognizes and adapts to different cultures, including the varied Alaska Native tribes and communities.
Recognizes and respects diversity, differences, and cultural traditions.
Assesses and manages ones own personal biases.
Is aware of the traditions of the community.
Demonstrates awareness of and sensitivity to the client's degree of involvement in their traditions, values, and community
Adapts services to the unique characteristics and preferences of the client and family
Applies knowledge of gender, sexual orientation, life span development, financial status, religion, disability, and intergenerational differences in delivering services
Promotes empowerment as a goal by fostering client and family decision-making, problem-solving, and self-determination.
Effectively discusses cultural issues and differences with clients
Uses cultural views of health and family when assisting in providing services
Utilizes cultural resources and traditional practices when providing services (e.g., storytelling, talking circles, and deferring to elders)
Identifies and addresses issues of difference to reduce conflict between individuals and groups
Cultural Competency & Individualizing Care: Obtains Consultation on Cultural Issues
Routinely considers and discusses cultural issues in supervision and team meetings
Consults with elders or traditional healers in the community
Documenting: Completes Required Documentation
Completes all required documentation (e.g., screening & assessment, intake, service plans, progress notes, discharge summaries)
Produces documentation that is objective, accurate, and legible with correct language, grammar, and spelling
Completes documentation in a timely manner
Documenting: Responds to Client Requests to View Records
Reviews client documentation with clients when they request to do so and when approved by the agency
Demonstrates sensitivity when assisting clients in understanding their documentation during a records review
Professional & Ethical Practice: Fulfills Responsibilities and Commitments
Minimizes absences, arrives on time, and completes a full work day
Completes assigned duties in a timely way and follows through on instructions received, reasonable requests, and promises made
Acts professional in interactions with the client, family, community and other professionals
Works within the limits of assigned duties and role
Recognizes personal limits of knowledge and skills
Seeks additional supervision or consultation when uncertain about what to do or concerned about the performance of others
Professional & Ethical Practice: Practices Ethically
Complies with the BHA Code of Ethics
Complies with laws, regulations, and agency policies
Manages effectively personal and professional boundaries with clients, families, and the community
Models appropriate personal and professional behavior
Respects client and family rights
Professional & Ethical Practice: Obtains Client Consent
Provides information and obtains informed consent
Complies with special rules and procedures related to consent for: involuntary commitment; mandated reporting; minors; or individuals unable to consent, under guardianship, or subject to a court order
Professional & Ethical Practice: Maintains Confidentiality and Privacy
Complies with laws, regulations, and agency policies regarding confidentiality and privacy (e.g., HIPAA, Federal Privacy Act, 42 C.F.R, Part 2)
Complies with the procedures regarding disclosure of confidential information (e.g., mandated reporting, duty to warm, client authorized releases of information)
Maintains the physical security of confidential information (electronic and hard copy)
Educates clients and families about confidentiality, privacy, and their limits
Assists clients with decisions and process to release confidential information
Maintains the confidences and privacy of clients and families, even when not required by law, regulation or policy
Protects client and family anonymity when providing information for statistical information and research
Assists in ensuring that other individuals providing services comply with the laws, regulations, and policy on confidentiality and privacy
Professional & Ethical Practice: Manages Stress and Maintains Personal Health
Recognizes signs of personal stress
Uses self-care strategies to manage stress, maintain health, and prevent burnout
Professional Development: Seeks Opportunities to Improve Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Sets personal goals for professional development
Participates in employer sponsored training and other continuing education activities
Adopts best practices learned through continuing education
Professional Development: Uses Supervision Effectively
Participates routinely and constructively in supervision
Uses supervision, peer consultation, and self-evaluation
to enhance self-awareness and improve professional performance
Uses formal evaluations to improve professional performance and the quality of services provided
Technical Instruction
Behavioral Health Aide Level One - 180 req. hrs
General Orientation
Orientation to Village-based Behavioral Health Services
Ethics & Consent
Confidentiality & Privacy
Intro to Behavioral Health
Intro to Counseling
Intro to Documentation
Survey of Community Resources & Case Management
Working with Diverse Populations
Intro to Group Counseling
Crisis Intervention
HIV/AIDS & Blood-Borne Pathogens
Community Approach to Promoting Behavioral Health
Family Systems I
Recovery, Health, Wellness, & Balance
