Behavioral Health Specialist 1

Brown Medicine•Madison, WI

3d•$18 - $30•Onsite

About The Position

Under the direction of the Clinical Nurse Manager (Inpatient), Program Director (Partial), and Unit Charge RN, the Behavioral Health Specialist I provides direct care, safety, and therapeutic support to children and adolescents as part of an interdisciplinary treatment team. The specialist helps structure the therapeutic milieu and implements, observes, and documents milieu programming under the supervision of a Registered Nurse. The role includes maintaining a safe and therapeutic environment; supporting patients’ daily routines, activities of daily living, and hygiene; contributing to care plans and behavioral programming; documenting observations and incidents; and collaborating with nurses, clinicians, families, and other interdisciplinary providers. The specialist participates in treatment meetings, rounds, hand-offs, groups, recreation programming, family visits, and crisis responses using the least restrictive safe intervention. The position works independently within established program policies and refers complex issues to a supervisor. There is no supervisory responsibility. Comparable duties in other clinical settings may be assigned based on hospital needs.

Requirements

Six months to one year of direct childcare experience with emotionally impaired youth.
Demonstrated ability and willingness to learn role-related skills.
Knowledge necessary to provide developmentally and culturally informed care across the lifespan.
Safety Care Certification required, or ability to obtain it.
Ability to remain calm and make sound decisions during crisis situations.
Ability to participate in physical management of patients, including lifting up to 50 lbs, reaching, grasping, bending, squatting, kneeling, escorting combative patients short distances, and occasional short-distance running.
Frequent standing, walking, and sitting are required.
Baccalaureate degree in a Human Services field is preferred; equivalent education and experience may be considered at the Hiring Manager’s discretion.

Nice To Haves

Baccalaureate degree in a Human Services field.

Responsibilities

Maintain a safe and therapeutic environment and actively engage with assigned patients throughout the shift.
Participate in developing and implementing milieu care plans according to unit policies.
Maintain and document required levels of patient observation each shift.
Support visiting parents and provide information as directed by the treatment team.
Supervise patients during daily routines and assist with activities of daily living and hygiene.
Identify, report, and help resolve actual or potential unit problems.
Provide timely verbal reporting and documentation following critical incidents.
Complete required documentation, including incident reports and intake materials.
Participate in restraint debriefings.
Carry out delegated assignments and report completion before shift change.
Intervene therapeutically in disruptive or unsafe situations and maintain professional boundaries.
Adhere to Hospital, Department, and Program policies and procedures; attend peer review, staff meetings, and required training.
Maintain current certifications in Crisis Management, CPR, OSHA, ERS, and Safety.
Participate in ongoing staff development.
Support therapeutic alliance development with patients and families at admission; assist with the separation process and orient patients to the hospital environment.
Document objective observations during each shift and communicate findings to the assigned RN.
Review milieu care plans daily and recommend revisions based on observations.
Communicate patient care plans to unit staff and collaborate with interdisciplinary providers.
Participate in treatment team meetings, rounds, patient-specific discussions, and hand-off reports.
Document significant observations in the medical record and Kardex in a timely manner.
Share knowledge and experience with colleagues through formal and informal learning opportunities.
Adapt care approaches to the developmental needs of diverse children and adolescents.
Support behavioral management and care plan development; implement behavioral programs in collaboration with the RN and treatment team.
Teach and assist with activities of daily living based on patient ability.
Co-lead community meetings, milieu groups, social skills groups, program-specific activities, and therapy groups with clinicians.
Set consistent therapeutic limits aligned with hospital and unit standards.
Organize and participate in unit activities, including physical and social development programming.
Assist with family training and teaching visits as assigned.
Model therapeutic interpersonal interactions with patients and families.
Support and participate in recreation therapy programs.
Respond to crises using the least restrictive, safe intervention.
Seek supervision proactively and incorporate feedback into performance.
Perform other duties as assigned by the Charge RN and, as needed, support comparable duties in other clinical settings.