Support Staff and Behavioral Health Technicians: Who They Are, and Why They Matter.

Support Staff and Behavioral Health Technicians: Who They Are, and Why They Matter.

Support Staff. Behavioral Health Technicians. Peer Support Specialists.  These titles are used interchangeably at different substance use or behavioral health organizations.  Often these are considered “entry level positions,” but we believe they are some of our most critical employees! Let’s talk about this role: what it entails, the challenges, career growth opportunities, and more.  We’ll also explore why Surfside believes this role needs/deserves extensive supervision.

What Does Support Staff or a Behavioral Health Technician Do?

The inner workings of this role will vary based on the agency’s priorities, level of care, and daily schedule. At Surfside, our Support Staff offer true wraparound support.  Our participants spend time with an off-site clinical team at our separate outpatient facility, but there are 24-hours in a day… participants need oversight, support, and accountability for all those “non-clinical” hours of the day.  Support Staff provides transportation, supervision, monitors outings, and participates in afternoon activity alongside our participants.  Most importantly, they offer kindness, support, and perspective during challenging moments – often late at night or over the weekend.  

In an inpatient setting, like an inpatient detox, Support Staff may provide room checks, bag searches, and supervision during meal times, smoke breaks or 12-step meetings.  Overall, the role involves offering oversight and navigating conflict.

Why is this Position So Important?

The Support Staff or Behavioral Health Technician role is so important for folks in recovery from SUD or mental illness.  Here are a just a few reasons why:

• They are often inspirational, modeling support and kindness when a person is feeling quite low. Many folks share that a late night chat during a smoke break gave them the comfort they needed to remain on the path to recovery,
• As an Entry Level role, it provides insight about a career in Behavioral Health.  There are usually very few educational requirements for this position, which means someone can “test” whether this is a field they are passionate about before investing in further education.  It also provides the opportunity for someone to gain meaningful experience while discovering that they do not want to continue working in the behavioral health space.
• They see what others can’t. They see the good, but they also notice behaviors when people are feeling low, stressed, or overwhelmed.  This information is passed along to their clinician or treatment provider so that it can be appropriately addressed.

How Does Surfside Supervise the Support Staff?

At Surfside, we know that this role can be daunting.  The Support Staff team works early mornings, late nights, weekends… you name it.  We mitigate burnout as much as possible, so they can consistently show up with love and patience.  Behavioral Health and Addiction Recovery are not for the faint of heart!

Therapists, Social Workers and CADC/CADC-Interns are required to take certain ethics courses.  These are requirements for licensure or certification to ensure client safety.  For a role like Support Staff or Behavioral Health Technician, there is no educational requirement or licensing board.  As a result, we hammer home ethics, healthy boundaries, and safety.  For example, no Surfside employees are permitted to sponsor participants in our program.  

Supervision for our Support Staff happens weekly, in the same format that a clinician would receive clinical supervision.  This teaches our employees that their role with us is valid and valuable.  It also gives them a sense of what true, legitimate supervision will look like if they pursue higher education in behavioral health or social work. 

The bottom line? Our Support Staff is the lifeblood of our organization.  Nearly everyone in Leadership began in a Support Staff role with us.  These folks change lives!