MENTAL HEALTH CLINICIAN II - Continuity of Treatment - CMHHIP

State of Colorado•Pueblo, CO

11d•Onsite

About The Position

This position exists to provide therapeutic work in the psychiatric care and treatment of adults and adolescents with acute and chronic mental illness. Primary responsibilities are the application of knowledge, expertise and experience to establish a therapeutic relationship with the patient and provide safe and effective patient care and treatment activities. The Mental Health Clinician II utilizes psychiatric rehabilitation and recovery principles and techniques in all aspects of their assigned responsibilities. The position facilitates treatment groups and may assist as a co-facilitator with MHC II, SW, Psychology, OT, RT when other options are unavailable. This position works under the supervision and direction of departments Clinical Manager (HP V) and is trained by the Clinical Educator (Psychologist II or LSW III) in group skills and treatment modalities as needed; develops protocols and curriculum for all MHC I and MHC II facilitated groups/activities with assistance form the HP II/HP II Clinical Trainers; monitors and intervenes to ensure a safe and therapeutic patient milieu and provides immediate crisis intervention when indicated. The position is part of the interdisciplinary team on any unit assigned to. Orients/supports new MHC I with facilitating educational groups and activities.

Requirements

Four (4) years of relevant experience in an occupation related to the work assigned to this position OR A combination of related education and/or relevant experience in an occupation related to the work assigned to this position equal to four (4) years
Full background and reference checks required
Must possess a valid, non-restricted Colorado Driver’s License or an non-restricted U.S. Driver's License for positions within 30 miles of the CO state border
Out-of-State Driver’s License holders must obtain a valid, non-restricted Colorado Driver’s License within 30 days of employment start date
Shall not initiate or engage in sexual, social, personal, or financial relationships with patients either during or at any time after hospitalization, even if the patient requests or initiates such a relationship.
All relationships with current or former patients must be disclosed on your application
Successfully pass all modules of the CMHHIP New Employee Orientation core curriculum, to include English reading comprehension, relevant competency assessments, and written/practical exams in Defensive Tactics
Possess the physical ability to complete hospital required physical intervention training and CPR
Lift arms above head and kick as high as own waist
Stabilize another person to accomplish a controlled containment to the floor
Withstand impact on own body using an ASP shield
Rotate body 90 degrees with feet planted for using a defensive tactic
Kneel on one or both knees and stand up again with multiple repetitions
Must be able to see and hear to observe, address, and respond to potential breaches in safety
Seize, hold, control, or subdue violent or assaultive persons and defend oneself or others to prevent injury
Demonstrate body agility, strength of all four limbs, and the ability to walk and climb stairs consistently
Work in situations involving assaultive behavior, physical control of another person, and/or restraint situations
Ability to read and comprehend the English language; effectively and fluently communicates in English, both verbally and in writing
Work in an environment with fluctuating noise and temperature (hot and cold), which may include working outdoors in inclement weather and/or concrete floor/wall work settings
Willing and able to travel
2-step TB (tuberculosis) screening is required of all new employees upon hire
Annual Influenza vaccination
Other vaccinations as required by the State of Colorado CDHS

Nice To Haves

Experience working within a locked facility
Experience providing psychoeducational groups
Previous State of Colorado employment
Psychology, social work, human services, counseling, criminal justice, sociology and education degrees or education areas

Responsibilities

Engages with patients to establish and maintain a therapeutic relationship that supports the patient’s psychiatric recovery and mental health
Facilitates certain groups such as educational treatment/activity groups as assigned and scheduled by the Clinical Manager
Co-facilitates other groups with appropriate training/education
Leads/initiates scheduled alternate programming exercises
Facilitates patient one to one sessions providing and documenting interventions which assist the patients toward meeting Plan of Care (POC) treatment goals
Addresses and resolves patient issues when possible and refer issues to the patient’s rights advocate
Escorts patients to activities within treatment areas (Treatment Malls)
Utilizes therapeutic interventions to manage crisis situations and management of assaultive and disruptive behaviors
Responds to a patient's psychiatric crisis
Understands and practices knowledge of when to report changes in patient condition or complaints such as pain or other medical needs to the RN
Maintains awareness of all 1:1, special precautions, and medical and psych issues for each patient
Responds to duress alarm
Assures all assigned duties are complete and documented
Demonstrates knowledge of own scope of practice
Reports all incidents involving the MHC I to the immediate supervisor in the Continuity of Treatment Department
Adheres to providing coverage in all units/groups/activities as assigned
Provides milieu management in all treatment areas assigned to
Develops protocols and curriculum for assigned groups and activities
Facilities/co-facilitates groups and activities on units as assigned and in the treatment malls as assigned
Assists in the development of treatment malls
Recognizes signs and symptoms of patients and reports those that may need additional intervention with the treatment team
Provides coaching and mentoring to MHC I in co-facilitating activities/groups, on how to develop protocols and curriculum, on clinical tasks such as observing signs and symptoms of patients who may require additional interventions from unit medical staff
Knows, utilizes and follows CMHIP standards and guidelines: Treatment Plans, Infection Control Manual, and Rainbow book and Emergency Guides
Follows and maintains infection control standards and regulations
Adheres to CMHIP Employee Code of Conduct and CMHHP’s Organizational Ethics policies
Follows and complies with all competencies related to the MHC II
Is aware and utilizes the chain of command
Provide safe/secure transport of patients to programming/treatment locations such as yard, gym, visits, administrative conference room, staffing/dispo reviews, court/community reintegration sites
Documents in BEHR and Group Tracker for groups/activities MHC II facilitates
Knows how to access the department's drive on the computer and is expected to utilize it for protocols and curriculum, department policies and processes
Responsible for ensuring all required training is current and up to date per CMHHP policies and procedures
Reports any claims of any type of harassment/workplace violence, alerts public safety/charge RN/Lead Nurse/and nursing appointing authority
Participates in the Continuity of Treatment Department meetings and assigned unit morning meetings as work schedule allows
Arrives to work on time; prepared and arrives on time to begin assigned groups/activities
Clocks in and out for scheduled work hours to prevent any unnecessary unauthorized overtime
Follows policies related to use of leave.
Effectively communicates by actively listening and sharing relevant information with co-workers, supervisor(s) and customers so as to anticipate problems and ensure the effectiveness of the department
Adapts communication methods to respond to different audiences to promote a positive environment
Is appropriate in all communications with co-workers and patients
Receives/seeks out reports regarding awareness of all 1:1, SP II, medical and psychiatric issues for each patient assigned to scheduled groups
Assists in addressing patient complaints at the unit level
Reports abuse allegations immediately to the charge nurse, immediate supervisor and refer to public safety
Alerts the unit RN on assigned work unit, to all exceptions, anges in patient status to include suicidal/homicidal ideation, need for team intervention
Completes and routes paperwork to appropriate area/person (to include incident reports and injury on the job)
Corrects and reports any hazardous environmental findings to the Continuity of Treatment Clinical Manager/Director, Charge RN and PSP
Responsible to perform assigned tasks and duties within the scope of practice for this position that do not fall within the realm of duty statements A-C

Benefits

Strong, secure, yet flexible retirement benefits including a PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan plus 401(k) and 457 plans
Medical and dental health plans
Employer supplemented Health Savings Account
Paid life insurance
Short- and long-term disability coverage
11 paid holidays per year plus vacation and sick leave
State of Colorado Employee BenefitHub Resource Center
Employee Wellness program
Excellent work-life programs, such as flexible schedules, training and more
Remote work arrangements for eligible positions
Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program