Mental Health Counselor II - Inpatient Psych

Advocate Health • Skaneateles, NY

6d • $25 - $38

About The Position

The Mental Health Counselor II works in an inpatient acute psychiatric unit, facilitating therapeutic groups and helping maintain a safe, therapeutic milieu. The role supports patients through assessment, counseling, education, safety planning, and physical care, and collaborates with the multidisciplinary treatment team to plan and document care. The counselor also orients new mental health counselors, patient care assistants, and other disciplines as needed.

This is a full-time position of 40 hours per week, working five eight-hour shifts on the second shift, from 3:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Alternating weekends and holiday rotation are required. The listed pay range is $25.30–$37.95.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in psychology or a related field.
• One year of psychiatric experience; two or more years of additional related hospital experience.
• Knowledge of the growth, development, behavior patterns, and aging process relevant to the patient age groups served.
• Therapeutic communication skills for individuals and groups, both oral and written.
• Proficient use of patient care equipment and computers.
• CPR per hospital policy; CPI certification within six months and every two years thereafter.
• Ability to work closely and harmoniously with nursing team members; tolerate emotionally or physically stressful situations; anticipate patient and unit needs; and implement appropriate therapeutic measures.
• Resilience, flexibility, problem-solving ability, customer-service focus, and ability to handle crisis situations and work under stressful conditions.
• Knowledge of techniques for managing violent patients; may be involved in restraining patients.
• Ability to work weekends, holidays, and different shifts to accommodate staffing.
• Ability to transport objects, patients, and equipment; respond quickly to patient needs; work at a fast pace; and access all areas of the unit.
• Ability to assist with patient evacuation during a fire or other disaster and work around potentially infectious specimens and patients.
• Ability to lift up to 35 pounds without assistance. For patient lifts over 35 pounds or when a patient cannot assist, patient-handling equipment is expected, with at least one other associate when available.

Responsibilities

• Facilitate therapeutic group activities, foster group cohesion, manage disruptive or unbalanced participation, and provide input into programming.
• Help develop and maintain a therapeutic milieu and safe environment, including managing unit activity and triggers, responding to emergencies, using progressive containment skills, and maintaining fall precautions.
• Orient patients and families to the room and unit, respond to call alarms, and communicate patient requests to the registered nurse in a timely manner.
• Contribute to the multidisciplinary treatment team by reporting behavioral changes, synthesizing assessment information, assisting with care planning, and documenting care in the IPOC.
• Use therapeutic communication during assessments, interventions, admissions, and discharges; provide patient education and individual counseling; and assist with suicide risk assessment and safety planning.
• Communicate respectfully with patients, families, and health professionals, maintain confidentiality, follow AIDET, and seek supervision for complex communication issues.
• Participate in required in-services and continuing education, and orient new mental health counselors, patient care assistants, and other disciplines as needed.
• Provide or supervise general patient care and safety rounds, conduct blood glucose monitoring, monitor vital signs, and provide comfort services.

Benefits

• Paid Time Off programs.
• Medical, dental, vision, life, and short- and long-term disability benefits.
• Flexible Spending Accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses.
• Adoption assistance and paid parental leave.
• Defined contribution retirement plans with employer match and other financial wellness programs.
• Educational Assistance Program.
• Potential shift and on-call premium pay, incentive pay for select positions, and annual increases based on performance.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level