Behavioral Health CNA

Make a Difference Every Day

Are you a compassionate Certified Nursing Assistant with a passion for supporting residents' emotional well-being and quality of life? We are seeking a dedicated Behavioral Health CNA to join our team and serve as a key advocate for residents living with dementia, mental health diagnoses, behavioral health needs, and psychosocial challenges.

In this unique role, you will combine hands-on resident care with behavioral health coordination, helping to create a supportive, person-centered environment that promotes dignity, engagement, independence, and overall well-being. Working alongside nursing, social services, therapy, activities, psychiatric providers, physicians, and families, you will help enhance residents' quality of life through compassionate care, proactive intervention, and meaningful connections.

What You'll Do

Resident Care & Support

• Provide high-quality CNA care in accordance with individualized care plans.
• Assist residents with daily activities including bathing, dressing, grooming, dining, mobility, and personal care.
• Observe and report changes in physical, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral status.
• Promote resident dignity, independence, and person-centered care.

Behavioral Health & Dementia Care Coordination

• Monitor residents with behavioral health needs, dementia, depression, anxiety, trauma histories, or other psychosocial concerns.
• Assist with behavior tracking, documentation, and observation programs.
• Support implementation of individualized behavioral interventions and non-pharmacological approaches.
• Promote dementia care best practices, therapeutic communication, de-escalation techniques, and resident engagement.
• Identify behavioral trends and communicate concerns to the interdisciplinary team.

Psychiatric Services & Interdisciplinary Collaboration

• Coordinate psychiatric and behavioral health appointments and follow-up services.
• Facilitate communication between psychiatric providers, physicians, nursing, social services, residents, and families.
• Assist with monitoring and documenting behavioral health outcomes and recommendations.
• Participate in care plan meetings, behavioral reviews, psychiatric rounds, and interdisciplinary meetings.

Resident & Family Engagement

• Encourage participation in social, recreational, spiritual, and therapeutic activities.
• Provide emotional support during periods of illness, adjustment, grief, or transition.
• Help foster a welcoming, supportive environment for residents and families.

Staff Education & Quality Improvement

• Serve as a behavioral health resource for direct care staff.
• Assist with education related to dementia care, trauma-informed care, behavioral symptom management, and person-centered practices.
• Support quality improvement initiatives and regulatory compliance efforts related to behavioral health and quality of life.

Qualifications

Required

• Current Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certification in good standing.
• High School Diploma or GED.
• Minimum of one year of experience in long-term care, skilled nursing, memory care, behavioral health, or a related healthcare setting.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.

Preferred

• Experience working with residents living with dementia, depression, anxiety, serious mental illness, or behavioral health diagnoses.
• Training in Dementia Care, Mental Health First Aid, CPI (Crisis Prevention Intervention), Trauma-Informed Care, or Behavioral Health Support.
• Previous leadership, mentoring, or coordinator experience.

What Makes You Successful

• Passion for improving resident quality of life.
• Strong observation, documentation, and communication skills.
• Ability to remain calm and supportive during challenging situations.
• Knowledge of person-centered care and behavioral health support practices.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with interdisciplinary teams, residents, and families.