Behavioral Health Specialist I PD

Brown Medicine•Madison, WI

7d•$18 - $30•Onsite

About The Position

Under the direction of the Clinical Nurse Manager (Inpatient) or Program Director (Partial) and Unit Charge RN, the Behavioral Health Specialist I (BHS I) provides care and safety to children and adolescents as a member of the interdisciplinary treatment team. The role contributes to the day-to-day schedule and structure of a therapeutic milieu and implements, observes, and documents the program under the direction of a Registered Nurse. The BHS I supports patient care planning and behavioral management, helps patients with daily routines and personal hygiene, participates in therapeutic and recreational groups, and maintains a safe, supportive environment. The position requires working in a psychiatric setting with stressful conditions, including situations involving aggression or self-injury, and using approved de-escalation and physical-management techniques to protect patients and maintain safety. Employees may be asked to perform comparable duties in other clinical settings across the hospital system as program needs arise. The position is located at Bradley Hospital in East Providence, Rhode Island. Work is on a variable shift of 6:00 a.m.–2:30 p.m. or 2:30 p.m.–10:30 p.m., with 8-hour daily shifts. Driving is required.

Requirements

Six months to one year of direct childcare work with emotionally impaired youth.
Demonstrated aptitude and willingness to learn role-related skills.
Knowledge and skills necessary to provide care across the lifespan, considering aging processes, human-development stages, and cultural patterns.
Ability to remain calm during crises, make quick rational decisions, and prioritize immediate patient-care needs to maintain a therapeutic environment and ensure safety.
Ability to use de-escalation techniques to minimize the need for physical intervention.
Ability to participate in physical management of patients using approved methods, including safe body positioning, blocking and deflecting aggression, and physically holding struggling patients for extended periods when needed.
Ability to lift up to 50 pounds; reach with hands and arms; grasp and hold; bend, squat, and kneel without limitation; and physically escort potentially combative patients for short distances.
Ability to occasionally run short distances and frequently stand, walk, and sit.
Maintain current crisis-management certification, CPR certification, and OSHA, ERS, and Safety certifications.

Nice To Haves

Baccalaureate degree in a Human Service field; other education and experience may be considered as a substitute at the Hiring Manager's discretion.

Responsibilities

Participate in maintaining a safe and therapeutic environment and actively engage with assigned children throughout the shift.
Participate in developing and implementing the milieu care plan for assigned patients according to department and unit procedures.
Maintain and document patient observation levels as ordered by the physician or Charge RN.
Support visiting parents and provide information as requested by the treatment team.
Supervise children in daily routines and assist with activities of daily living and basic hygiene needs.
Identify, report, and resolve actual or potential problems on the unit; promptly report critical incidents to the Charge RN and document them in the medical record.
Complete required documentation, including shift notes, incident reports, intakes, Kardex entries, and medical-record documentation.
Participate in restraint debriefings and carry out daily assignments delegated by the Charge RN, reporting back before the end of the shift.
Provide timely therapeutic interventions when children are distressed or the milieu becomes disruptive or destructive, and maintain appropriate boundaries.
Attend assigned peer review, staff, unit, hospital, and staff-development meetings.
Maintain current crisis-management, CPR, OSHA, ERS, and Safety certifications.
Support the initial therapeutic alliance with patients and families during admission, assist with separation and transitions into the hospital environment, and participate in family or parent training visits as assigned.
Review milieu care plans and problem lists daily, share objective observations with the assigned RN, and suggest revisions based on observations.
Communicate patient-specific milieu care plans to unit staff and interdisciplinary treatment providers; participate in treatment team activities, rounds, patient-specific discussions, and hand-off reports as assigned.
Share experience and knowledge with other staff through formal or informal staff-development forums and adapt care style to the needs of different children and adolescents.
Assist and teach patients in activities of daily living and personal hygiene according to their abilities.
Co-lead community, milieu, activity, recreation, and therapy groups with appropriate staff; support and participate in recreation therapy programs.
Set consistent, supportive therapeutic limits and follow patient-specific behavioral programs in collaboration with the assigned RN and treatment team.
Organize unit activities and coordinate, supervise, and participate in children's physical and social development activities; arrange transportation of materials when required.
Handle crisis situations safely and effectively, using the least restrictive safe patient-care alternative.
Seek formal or informal supervision and incorporate feedback into job performance.
Perform other related duties as assigned or directed by the Charge RN, including comparable duties in other clinical settings when program needs arise.