Behavioral Health Specialist I

Summary:

Under the direction of Clinical Nurse Manager (Inpatient)/Program Director (Partial) and Unit Charge RN the Behavioral Health Specialist I (BHS I) is responsible for providing care and safety to children and adolescents as a member of the interdisciplinary treatment team. The BHS I is responsible for input into the formulation of the day-to-day schedule and structure of a therapeutic milieu and the implementation observation and documentation of this program under the direction of a Registered Nurse.

Scheduling:

3pm-1130pm alternating weekends required holidays as assigned

Responsibilities:

A. Participates in maintaining a safe and therapeutic environment .

-Actively engages with assigned children throughout shift.

-Participates in the development and operationalization of the milieu care plan for assigned patients according to established department and unit-based procedure/policy.

-Maintains and documents level of patient observation as ordered by the physician/charge RN each shift.

-Provides support to visiting parents as well as information according to treatment team request.

-Supervises assigned children in daily routines and actively assists with activities of daily living and basic hygiene needs.

-Identifies reports and resolves potential/actual problems on the unit.

-Demonstrates appropriate critical incident follow-up skills by timely verbal reporting to charge RN and documentation in medical record. Completes other documentation (i.e. incident reports intakes etc. as applicable). Participates in restraint debriefings.

-Carries out daily assignment as delegated by Charge RN and reports back prior to change of shift.

-Intervenes in disruptive milieu or destructive to self/other patient situations providing timely therapeutic intervention(s) to children in distress.

-Maintains appropriate boundaries.

B. Adheres to Hospital Departmental and Program policies and procedures .

Attends peer review and staff meetings as assigned.

Maintains current certification in crisis management.

Maintains current CPR certification.

Maintains current OSHA ERS Safety Certifications

Attends unit/hospital staff development as assigned.

C. Actively participates in the patient care planning process under the direction of the primary/charge RN.

- Works to support initial therapeutic alliance with patient and family on admission.Assists with the separation process and performs other duties necessary to provide a smooth transition to the hospital environment.

-Within the 8-hour shift documents objective observations within a shift note and shares observations with assigned RN.

-Reviews milieu care plan and problem list on a daily basis and suggests revisions based on observations.

-Communicates individual patient milieu care plans in an ongoing manner to other unit staff including liaison with other interdisciplinary treatment providers.

-Actively participates in treatment team rounds patient-specific discussions and hand-off shift report as assigned.

-Accurately documents significant patient/family observations/milieu care on the Kardex and medical records in a timely fashion.

-Offers information and knowledge acquired through experience to other staff via formal/ informal staff development forums.

-Is able to adapt care styleto meet needs of various children/adolescents.

D. Supports and contributes to the development of care plans/behavioral management.

-Assists and teaches patients in activities of daily living and personal hygiene based upon patients abilities.

-Co-leads community meeting/milieu meeting/social skill group.

-Co-leads other program specific groups such as activity or recreation.

-Demonstrates ability to set consistent and supportive therapeutic limits within guidelines of hospital unit and department standards.

-Follows behavioral programs specific to the needs of the patient in collaboration with the assigned RN and treatment team.

-Organizes unit activities.

-Coordinates supervises and actively participates in childrens activities such as physical & social development activities.Arranges for transportation of materials if required.

-Participates in teaching visits/family and parent training as assigned.

-Consistently models to patient/families appropriate and therapeutic interpersonal staff/patient interactions.

-Co-leads therapy groups with a clinician.

-Supports and actively participates in recreation therapy programs.

-Handles crisis situations in a safe effective manner utilizing the least restrictive safe patient care alternative.

-Takes the initiative to seek formal/informal supervision incorporating suggestions for improvement/changes in job performance.

-Performs other related duties as required assigned or directed by Charge RN.

-While an individual is hired to work on a particular program they may at times be asked to perform comparable duties in other clinical settings throughout the hospital system as program needs arise.

Other information:

BASIC KNOWLEDGE:

Baccalaureate Degree in a Human Service field preferred. Other education and experience considered and may be substituted for educational requirements at the discretion of the Hiring Manager. Must demonstrate aptitude and willingness to learn role related skills.

Demonstrated knowledge and skills necessary to provide care to patients throughout the life span with consideration of aging processes human development stages and cultural patterns in each step of the care process.

Bradley Hospital Safety Care Certification:

Employees in this position work in a psychiatric setting under stressful conditions associated with care of psychiatrically impaired aggressive and sometimes self-injurious individuals. Employees are expected to utilize de-escalation techniques taught by Bradley Hospital to minimize need for physical intervention. They must have the ability to remain calm during a crisis situation as evidenced by the ability to make quick rational decisions and prioritize immediate patient care needs to maintain a therapeutic environment and ensure safety.

Employees in this position must also be able to participate in the physical management of patients which can include but is not limited to awareness and demonstration of safe body positioning at all times awareness and coordination to block and deflect possible aggression and the ability to physically hold struggling patients using approved methods only to maintain safety for extended periods of time. Specifically such employees must be able to: lift up to fifty pounds; reach with their hands and arms; grasp and hold with their hands; bend/squat/kneel without limitation and physically escort patients who may become combative for short

distances. Position requires occasional running for short distances and frequent standing walking and sitting.

EXPERIENCE:

Six months to one year of direct childcare work with emotionally impaired youth.

INDEPENDENT ACTION:

Performs independently within Program policies and practices. Refers specific complex problems to supervisor where clarification of Program policies and procedures may be required.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY:

None.