BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ASSOCIATE

Behavioral Health Associate – Crisis Intervention
Jamaica Hospital Medical Center | Queens, NY

Make a Difference Where It Matters Most.

Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, a leader in patient-centered care and one of New York’s busiest community teaching hospitals, is seeking dedicated and compassionate Behavioral Health Associates (BHA) to join our Behavioral Health Services team.

Ranked among the 2024 Best Hospitals in America and recognized with the Healthgrades America’s 100 Best Hospitals Award, Jamaica Hospital provides top-quality care to one of the most diverse communities in the nation. Our Behavioral Health team is expanding to meet growing community needs, and we invite you to be part of this critical mission.

About the Role
As a Behavioral Health Associate, you will play a vital role in supporting patients experiencing psychological crises. Working under the direction of a Registered Nurse (RN) and/or physician, and alongside an interdisciplinary team, you will perform crisis interventions, therapeutic observations, patient supervision, and assist in implementing behavioral health protocols, including the safe use of seclusion and restraints when clinically necessary.

This is a frontline, crisis-intervention role where your ability to remain calm, think critically, and act compassionately will have a direct impact on patient safety, recovery, and overall quality of care.

Key Responsibilities

• Utilize crisis and de-escalation techniques to support patients in acute distress.
• Assist in the safe application and removal of restraints and seclusion when required, ensuring patient dignity and well-being.
• Identify environmental and patient triggers of agitation and communicate findings to the treatment team.
• Conduct one-to-one therapeutic observations, patient checks, and video surveillance as assigned.
• Escort patients on and off facility premises, ensuring safety and compliance with hospital protocols.
• Monitor and control patient, family, visitor, and staff traffic within Behavioral Health Services.
• Perform patient property checks at admission and discharge, documenting and securing belongings appropriately.
• Participate in quality assurance, team meetings, and ongoing training to maintain competency.
• Ensure compliance with hospital, corporate, and regulatory policies (including CMS Patients’ Rights regulations).

Tagged as: BHA, psychiatric