Behavioral Health Associate

​You would be responsible for providing personal care services to patients at the facility under the direction of clinical or nursing leadership. Demonstrate a positive, empathetic and professional attitude towards customers always. When patient needs are not met, acknowledge and work to resolve complaints. Recognize that patient safety is a top priority.

Methodist Health System, the region’s most established not-for-profit provider, has partnered with Acadia Healthcare, the nation’s largest standalone behavioral health company, to open a new 96-bed inpatient behavioral health hospital in Council Bluffs, Iowa. This marks Acadia’s first acute psychiatric facility in Iowa, expanding much-needed access to behavioral health services across Southwest Iowa and the Greater Omaha area.  Just minutes from downtown Omaha, Council Bluffs blends small-town charm with city convenience—offering affordable living, great schools, and a strong sense of community—making it an ideal location for this important new facility.

Scheduled to open in June 2026, Methodist Jennie Edmundson Behavioral Health Hospital will offer a full continuum of inpatient and outpatient care for adults, seniors, and youth, including programs for mood disorders, dual diagnosis, geriatric psychiatry, child & adolescent care, PHP/IOP, and ECT. The facility will play a vital role in addressing the region’s significant behavioral health bed shortage.

Acadia Healthcare is a leading provider of behavioral healthcare services across the United States. Acadia operates a growing network of 253 plus behavioral healthcare facilities with approximately 11,200 beds in 38 states and Puerto Rico. With more than 23,500 employees serving approximately 75,000 patients daily, Acadia is the largest stand-alone behavioral health company in the U.S.

Acadia Healthcare’s purpose is to Lead Care With Light and our mission is to be a world-class organization that sets the standard for excellence in the treatment of mental health and addiction concerns. We strive to maintain our standing as a thought leader in the behavioral healthcare industry, providing treatment that is synonymous with compassion and innovation. 

• Demonstrate a sense of urgency related to the importance of patient safety and provide excellent customer services. 
• ​Ensure the well-being of patients and provide a positive, supportive and structured environment. 
• ​Responsible for conducting safety checks and ensuring that supervision is conducted at 15 minute intervals, as noted in special precautions, or in accordance with individualized supervision guidelines as needed.  
• ​Document timely, accurate and appropriate clinical information in patient's medical record.  
• ​Assist in providing a safe, secure and comfortable environment for patients, significant others and staff. 

• ​Interact routinely with patients, observe behaviors and communicate significant observations to nursing staff. 
• ​May oversee or assist patients with activities of daily living, including toileting, bathing, dressing, grooming, oral hygiene, meals, snacks, hydration and changing bed linens.   
• ​May obtain patient's vital signs, height and weight as assigned and document in patient record.  
• ​Facilitate patient educational-rehabilitative groups which cover a variety of topics including social skills, coping skills, anger management and independent living skills. 
• ​Engage patients in activities and interactions designed to encourage achievement of treatment goals.  

• ​Complete and maintain required documentation.  Assist with follow-up and paperwork as required on incidents and events that may take place in the facility.   
• ​May provide transportation for patient or coordinate transportation with appropriate staff member. 
• ​Demonstrate a positive, empathetic and professional attitude towards customers always.  When patient needs are not met, acknowledge and work to resolve complaints.  Recognize that patient safety is a top priority. 

· Perform other functions and tasks as assigned.

· High school diploma or equivalent required.

· Six months or more experience working with the specific population of the facility preferred.

· CPR and de-escalation and restraint certification required (training available upon hire and offered by facility).

· First aid may be required based on state or facility requirements.

While this job description is intended to be an accurate reflection of the requirements of the job, management reserves the right to add or remove duties from particular jobs when circumstances (e.g. emergencies, changes in workload, rush jobs or technological developments) dictate.

We are committed to providing equal  employment opportunities to all applicants for employment regardless of an individual’s characteristics protected by applicable state, federal and local laws.

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