Behavioral Health Specialist - Per Diem

Stony Brook University•Town of Brookhaven, NY

22h•Onsite

About The Position

At Stony Brook Medicine, our Behavioral Health Specialist orients patients to the treatment setting and participates in team treatment. They review and participate in the implementation of the patient treatment plan, make rounds with the team, monitor mental status, and report progress or changes routinely to nursing/physician staff. The specialist takes a primary role in maintaining a safe, therapeutic environment, ensuring patient safety and protecting patient rights through observation, communication, and interaction. They recognize patients who are behaving aggressively, acting as a danger to themselves or others, or are in a crisis or medical emergency situation. Responsibilities include carrying out behavior monitoring, re-directing, de-escalation interventions, restraint/seclusion, behavior plan development, and safety plan development, utilization, and monitoring. The specialist conducts a variety of patient treatment activities such as individual and group therapy, plans and facilitates daily group psychotherapy activities, and assesses and interacts therapeutically with patients and families during visiting hours. They provide treatment that promotes patient dignity, independence, individuality, strengths, privacy, and choice, demonstrating respect for cultural diversity and patient boundaries. The role also involves maintaining knowledge and skill level related to the symptoms and treatment of behavioral disorders relevant to position responsibilities and in accordance with state agency regulations.

Requirements

Master’s or doctoral degree in Social Work, Mental Health Counseling, Rehabilitation Counseling, Psychiatric Nursing, Psychology or an equivalent field.
In lieu of a Master’s or Doctoral Degree, a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in a human service field and be either credentialed as an alcoholism and substance abuse counselor (CASAC) or be a Board Certified Behavioral Analyst (BCBA) within NYS.
A minimum of 3 years’ experience working in a position focused on serving those with mental illness in an inpatient hospital setting is required.
Five (5) or more years of working in a mental health outpatient, partial hospital or residential setting can be substituted for the inpatient hospital requirement if deemed sufficient by the recruiting team.
Must frequently move about the hallways, patient rooms, and multiple floors to service patients.
Will also aid with the transport of patients.
Responsible for responding to alarms/codes, detecting and communicating situations that may cause harm to the patient, or others, responding to and communicating requests for assistance.
As necessary, use physical interventions and techniques when securing and applying restraints on patients and move restrained patients; as necessary.
Will also restrain agitated patients and aid with lifting patients.
Successfully complete pre-employment physical examination and obtain medical clearance from Stony Brook Medicine's Employee Health Services.
Complete electronic reference check with a minimum of three (3) professional references.
Successfully complete a 4 panel drug screen.
Meet Regulatory Requirements for pre employment screenings.
Provide a copy of any required New York State license(s)/certificate(s).

Nice To Haves

A master’s or doctoral degree is preferred.

Responsibilities

Orients patients to treatment setting and participates in team treatment.
Reviews and participates in implementation of the patient treatment plan, makes rounds with team, monitors mental status and reports progress or changes routinely to nursing/physician staff.
Takes a primary role in maintaining a safe, therapeutic environment.
Maintains patient safety and protects patient rights through patient observation, communication and interaction.
Recognizes patients who are behaving aggressively, acting as a danger to themselves or others, or are in a crisis or medical emergency situation.
Carries out behavior monitoring, re-directing, de-escalation interventions, restraint/seclusion, behavior plan development and safety plan development, utilization and monitoring.
Conducts a variety of patient treatment activities such as individual and group.
Plans and facilitates daily group psychotherapy activities.
Assesses and interacts therapeutically with patients and families during visiting hours.
Provides treatment that promotes patient dignity, independence, individuality, strengths, privacy, and choice.
Demonstrates respect for cultural diversity and patient boundaries.
Provides quality patient care by maintaining knowledge and skill level related to the symptoms and treatment of behavioral disorders relevant to position responsibilities and in accordance with state agency regulations.
Potential to float to Medicine Units/ floors.
Maintain Up-to-Date Knowledge.