Mental Health Counselor

Baystate Health • Greenfield, MA

13h • $18 - $30 • Onsite

About The Position

Baystate Health is seeking a Counselor to join their Mental Health Unit team at Baystate Franklin Medical Center in Greenfield, MA. This 89-bed community hospital is a key part of Baystate Health, serving Franklin County and surrounding areas with a wide range of services including emergency, surgery, cancer, heart and vascular, and obstetrics. The hospital boasts state-of-the-art facilities, including a $26 million surgical center, and emphasizes a multidisciplinary approach to patient care, offering access to specialists across the Baystate Health system. Baystate Health is committed to continuous learning, improvement, and increasing diverse representation within its organization, fostering a culture of dignity and equity.

Requirements

• Counselor I: High School Diploma, Minimum 1 year behavioral health experience
• Counselor II: Bachelor's Degree, Minimum 2 years behavioral health experience (or 6 years of behavioral health experience if no Bachelor's Degree)
• Counselor III: Bachelor's Degree, Minimum 4 years behavioral health experience (or 8 years of behavioral health experience if no Bachelor's Degree)
• Basic Life Support - American Heart Association
• Certified Crisis Prevention - Crisis Prevention Institute

Nice To Haves

• Counselor II will excel in onboarding and training new staff.
• Counselor II will provide new ideas for groups and unit activities with collaboration from the Social Work and Occupational therapy disciplines.
• Counselor II will participate in at least two of the following: A hospital-driven committee, A champion-based initiative, Instructor/super user for a project within Baystate.
• Counselor II will often be a leader when the de-escalation of patients within the Milieu is required.
• The level II Counselor will actively work to reduce restraints of all types within the unit.

Responsibilities

• Participates in a Multidisciplinary Team approach to patient care, collaborating with team members to evaluate patients, plan therapy, and develop treatment goals.
• Provides a safe environment by maintaining current certification in Non-violent Crisis Intervention (NCI), intervening appropriately during crisis situations, monitoring and documenting restrictions, restraints, and seclusions, and adhering to behavior management principles.
• Conducts daily sharps checks and observes potential safety hazards on the unit, reporting them immediately to supervisors.
• Documents patient mental status, social behavior, and progress towards goals daily, including safety check sheets and restraints/seclusions.
• Provides a therapeutic milieu by assessing patient mental status, counseling patients, referring physical problems to the RN, collaborating on plans of care for ADL needs, identifying and addressing patient knowledge deficits, and facilitating patient groups.
• Demonstrates competency for one-to-one observation of patients based on department and unit-specific needs.
• Excels in onboarding and training new staff, providing a high-quality orientation.
• Provides new ideas for groups and unit activities in collaboration with Social Work and Occupational Therapy.
• Participates in hospital-driven committees, champion-based initiatives, or serves as an instructor/super user for projects within Baystate.
• Acts as a leader in de-escalation of patients within the milieu and actively works to reduce restraints.
• May be required to onboard and precept new staff.
• Must complete department-specified de-escalation training within 30 days of hire.

Benefits

• High-quality, low-cost medical, dental and vision insurance
• Generous PTO – up to 25 days in the first year, with scheduled earned increases
• Continuing education support and reimbursement
• First Time Home Buyers Financial Packages
• Farm Share Memberships
• 403b retirement company match & annual company contribution increase based on years of service.
• Free money coach advice from a certified professional
• Wellbeing programs that include but are not limited to mental, physical, and financial health.
• Pet, home, auto and personal insurance
• Life insurance
• Reimbursement for a variety of wellbeing activities, included but limited to gym membership and equipment, personal trainer, massage and so much more!
• Onsite parking

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Entry Level