Behavioral Health Specialist I

Brown Medicine•Madison, WI

6d•$18 - $30•Onsite

About The Position

Under the direction of the Clinical Nurse Manager (Inpatient)/Program Director (Partial), Unit Charge RN, and as a member of the interdisciplinary treatment team, the Behavioral Health Specialist I (BHS I) provides care and ensures safety for children and adolescents. The BHS I supports the daily structure and schedule of the therapeutic milieu and is responsible for implementing, observing, and documenting the program under the guidance of a Registered Nurse. Brown University Health employees are expected to model the organization’s core values of Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence, which guide interactions with patients, families, customers, and colleagues. Employees are also expected to demonstrate the organization’s Success Factors, including: Instilling trust and valuing differences Maintaining patient and community focus through collaboration

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in a Human Services field preferred
Equivalent education and experience may be considered at the Hiring Manager’s discretion
Demonstrated willingness and ability to learn role-specific skills
Knowledge of lifespan development, cultural considerations, and patient-centered care
Required to work in a high-stress psychiatric setting with emotionally impaired, aggressive, or self-injurious patients
Must utilize de-escalation techniques and remain calm during crisis situations
Must be able to make quick, rational decisions to ensure safety and maintain a therapeutic environment
Must participate in physical patient management when necessary, using approved methods only, including:
Safe body positioning
Blocking/deflecting aggression
Escorting and holding patients safely
Physical requirements include:
Lifting up to 50 pounds
Reaching, grasping, bending, squatting, kneeling
Standing, walking, sitting frequently
Occasional running for short distances
Six months to one year of direct childcare experience with emotionally impaired youth
Works independently within program policies
Refers complex or unclear issues to a supervisor

Responsibilities

Maintains a safe, therapeutic environment and actively engages with assigned patients throughout the shift
Supports development and implementation of individualized milieu care plans
Maintains and documents assigned patient observation levels
Supervises daily routines and assists with activities of daily living and basic hygiene
Provides support and information to families as directed by the treatment team
Identifies, reports, and addresses unit safety or behavioral concerns
Intervenes therapeutically in disruptive or self/other-injurious behaviors using least restrictive methods
Completes documentation including shift notes, incident reports, intakes, and restraint debriefings
Reports critical incidents to the Charge RN and documents appropriately
Maintains appropriate professional boundaries
Completes daily assignments as delegated and reports status prior to shift change
Adheres to all hospital, department, and program policies and procedures
Attends peer review, staff meetings, and required trainings
Maintains current certifications in: Crisis Management CPR OSHA, ERS, and Safety
Participates in required unit and hospital staff development activities
Participates in patient care planning under RN direction
Assists with admissions, therapeutic alliance building, and transition into the hospital setting
Documents objective patient observations each shift and communicates findings to the RN
Reviews and contributes to updates of care plans and problem lists
Communicates patient care needs and plans to interdisciplinary staff
Participates in treatment team meetings, rounds, and shift handoffs
Documents significant patient and family interactions in the medical record and Kardex
Shares clinical knowledge with peers through formal and informal training
Adapts care approaches to meet the developmental and emotional needs of diverse children and adolescents
Supports development and implementation of behavioral management plans
Assists and teaches activities of daily living based on patient ability
Co-leads: Community and milieu meetings Social skills, recreation, activity, and therapy groups
Sets consistent, supportive therapeutic limits per hospital and unit standards
Organizes and participates in unit activities supporting physical and social development
Coordinates materials and transportation as needed
Participates in family teaching visits and parent training
Models appropriate therapeutic staff–patient interactions
Handles crisis situations safely and effectively using approved interventions
Seeks supervision and integrates feedback to improve performance
Performs other duties as assigned
Employees may be asked to perform comparable duties in other clinical settings across the hospital system as program needs require.