What are the responsibilities and job description for the Residential Behavioral Health Practitioner position at Career Opportunities?
Come join our life-changing team building hope, resilience, and well-being as a Residential Behavioral Health Practitioner in a Youth Residential Treatment Facility!
We are offering a generous retention bonus of $1,000 based on performance!
Shift Details: FT - 8-hour shifts, 40 hours/week - All shifts. One weekday from 8:30am-11:30am for team meetings required.
Schedule:
- AM Shift: 6:30am-2:30pm
- Mid Shift: 11:00am-7:00pm
- PM Shift: 2:00pm-10:00pm
- Overnights Shift: 10:00pm-8:00am
Compensation: $24.50/hr starting, plus $1/hr shift differential for evening shift
Location: Avanti - 10300 Flanders St NE, Blaine, MN 55449
About the job:
Provide clinically informed, trauma-responsive therapeutic care to youth in a residential setting. Actively implement treatment interventions, support emotional and behavioral regulation, and contribute to a safe, structure, and person-centered milieu under the direction of Licensed Mental Health Professionals.
Essentials:
Therapeutic Intervention & Treatment Support
- Implement individualized treatment plan interventions during routines, groups, and resident distress.
- Coach youth in coping, regulation, and skills use aligned with programming and evidence-based practices.
- Observe and report treatment responses, progress, and barriers.
Evening Treatment Delivery
- Facilitate therapeutic programming and treatment activities during after-school and evening hours.
- Support youth in applying treatment goals during recreation, meals, peer interactions, and evening routines.
- Provide individualized coaching focused on emotional regulation, distress tolerance, problem-solving, and interpersonal effectiveness.
- Assist youth in processing daily experiences, treatment challenges, and successes.
- Support therapeutic bedtime routines that promote stabilization and healthy sleep habits.
Therapeutic Milieu & Program Facilitation
- Create and maintain a structured, trauma-informed environment.
- Lead or co-facilitate therapeutic and skill-building groups.
- Model healthy communication, boundaries, and relational engagement.
- Lead trauma-informed de-escalation during escalations.
- Assess triggers and contributing clinical factors.
Family & Caregiver Support
- Support youth participation in family contact and therapeutic communication with caregivers.
- Reinforce treatment goals during family interactions.
- Observe and document family interaction patterns relevant to treatment planning.
- Collaborate with clinical staff regarding family engagement needs and recommendations.
Risk Assessment & Stabilization
- Monitor youth for changes in emotional, behavioral, and mental health functioning.
- Participate in safety planning and stabilization efforts as directed by licensed clinicians.
- Support implementation of individualized behavior support and safety plans.
- Communicate safety concerns promptly to supervisors and clinical team members.
Documentation & Team Collaboration
- Complete required documentation, such as daily logs, progress notes, group notes, behavior tracking, and incident reports in accordance with agency policy and timelines.
- Communicate updates clearly during shift changes and report observations or concerns promptly to supervisors.
- Participate in treatment team meetings, consultations, and supervision.
Shift Support & Mentorship
- Serve as the main therapeutic resource during assigned shifts.
- Provide real-time modeling and informal guidance and coaching to Residential Counselors.
- Promote fidelity to trauma-informed and evidence-based treatment practices.
- Assist supervisors in maintaining treatment consistency across staff and programming.
- All other duties as assigned.
Job Highlights:
- Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance
- 403(b) Retirement Plan
- HSA & FSA Programs
- Employer Paid Life Insurance and Long-Term Disability
- Paid Time Off (Vacation, Holiday & Sick Days)
- Leadership Development Opportunities
Required Qualifications:
- Must meet Minnesota Behavioral Health Practitioner criteria per MN Statute 245I.04, including one of the following:
- Completed college coursework in behavioral sciences or a related field and at least 2,000 hours of supervised experience providing services to youth with mental health needs. OR
- At least 4,000 hours of supervised experience providing direct services to youth with mental health needs. OR
- A Master's or other Graduate Degree in behavioral sciences or a related field.
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- Ability to work effectively in an emotionally demanding environment, demonstrating calm, self-regulation, and professionalism when supporting youth with complex needs and behaviors.
About Us:
Volunteers of America Minnesota is a nonprofit health and human services organization that annually serves more than 25,000 children, adolescents and their families, older adults, students, persons with disabilities and special needs, and adults completing incarceration. Since 1896, we have helped people gain self-reliance, dignity, and hope.
Take pride in helping others and join us today!
At VOA, we celebrate sharing, encouraging and embracing diversity. Equal employment opportunities are available to all without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, age, physical and mental disability, marital status, parental status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, military and veteran status, and any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We believe that blending individual strengths and unique personal differences nurtures and supports our organizations’ shared commitment to our mission and creates an inclusive and diverse environment where everyone feels valued and has the opportunity to do their personal best.