Behavioral Health Specialist

Brown Medicine•Madison, WI

6d•Onsite

About The Position

The Behavioral Health Specialist I (BHS I) provides direct care and ensures the safety of children and adolescents in an inpatient or partial program setting. Working as part of an interdisciplinary treatment team, the BHS I assists in developing, implementing, observing, and documenting a structured therapeutic milieu under the supervision of a Registered Nurse. Employees are expected to model the organization’s values of Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence, along with core Success Factors: Instill Trust and Value Differences, Patient and Community Focus, and Collaboration.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in a Human Services field preferred; equivalent education and experience may be considered.
Six months to one year of experience working with emotionally impaired or behaviorally challenged youth.
Understanding of child and adolescent development, lifespan care, and cultural considerations.
Willingness to learn job-related skills and work independently within program guidelines.
Ability to remain calm, make sound decisions, and prioritize patient safety during crisis situations.
Ability to use approved de-escalation and physical management techniques when required.
Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds; stand, walk, sit, bend, squat, kneel, reach, grasp, and occasionally run short distances.
Capable of physically escorting or assisting combative patients for short distances using approved methods.
Maintain required certifications (Crisis Management/Safety Care, CPR, OSHA, ERS, and Safety).

Responsibilities

Maintain a safe, structured, and therapeutic environment.
Actively engage and supervise assigned patients throughout the shift.
Participate in developing and carrying out patient-specific milieu care plans.
Maintain and document ordered levels of patient observation.
Assist with activities of daily living, personal hygiene, routines, and transitions.
Intervene in disruptive or unsafe situations using therapeutic de-escalation and least-restrictive interventions.
Maintain appropriate professional boundaries.
Provide support and information to families per treatment team direction.
Participate in crisis response, restraint procedures, and debriefings as required.
Complete timely and accurate documentation, including shift notes, incident reports, intakes, Kardex updates, and medical records.
Verbally report critical incidents to the Charge RN.
Share objective observations with assigned RN and treatment team.
Participate in handoffs, rounds, treatment team meetings, and patient-specific discussions.
Support patient care planning under the direction of the RN.
Help establish a therapeutic alliance with patients and families on admission.
Review care plans daily and suggest revisions based on observations.
Communicate care plans to unit staff and interdisciplinary team members.
Adapt care approach to meet the developmental and emotional needs of children and adolescents.
Offer knowledge and experience to peers through formal and informal staff development.
Co-lead community, milieu, social skills, recreation, activity, and therapy groups as assigned.
Organize and participate in unit-based activities supporting physical and social development.
Assist with family education, teaching visits, and parent training.
Consistently model therapeutic interactions with patients and families.
Follow all hospital, department, and program policies and procedures.
Maintain required certifications (Crisis Management/Safety Care, CPR, OSHA, ERS, and Safety).
Attend staff meetings, peer review, and training as assigned.
Seek supervision and incorporate feedback to improve performance.
Perform other duties as assigned; may support comparable roles across programs as needed.