Mental Health Specialist

Children's Minnesota • Saint Paul, MN

1d

About The Position

The Mental Health Specialist provides direct patient care to children and adolescents with behavioral challenges or a mental health diagnosis, following each patient’s individual treatment plan and working under the direction of a Registered Nurse. The role assists with ongoing collection of information about patients’ physical, psychological, and safety status; may help patients establish daily therapeutic goals; and may participate in facilitating therapeutic groups.

The specialist continually monitors the department milieu and patient spaces for hazards and patient safety concerns. Using a therapeutic approach, the specialist may assist with de-escalation and behavioral modification or management when appropriate. The role may float to support mental health patients throughout the mental health care continuum, including outside the inpatient mental health unit within the Children’s Minnesota system.

The St. Paul Mental Health Unit is a 22-bed unit caring for patients ages 6 to 18 who are experiencing a mental health crisis. Patients have an average stay of five to seven days and receive care from interdisciplinary teams. The team emphasizes collaboration, respectful communication, learning, professional growth, and excellent care for patients and families.

Requirements

• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.
• Bachelor’s degree.
• Ability to provide gender-, culture-, and age-appropriate care.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work collaboratively.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to display a professional attitude in all aspects of performance.
• Ability to develop rapport with a wide variety of patients and families.

Nice To Haves

• One year of experience working with patients in a pediatric healthcare setting.
• Experience working with children with behavioral dysregulation, autism, intellectual or cognitive impairments, or developmental delays.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct care to children and adolescents with behavioral challenges or a mental health diagnosis according to their individual treatment plans.
• Assist with ongoing collection of data regarding patients’ physical, psychological, and safety status under the direction of a Registered Nurse.
• Help patients establish daily therapeutic goals as needed.
• Participate in facilitating therapeutic patient groups as needed.
• Continuously monitor the department milieu and patient spaces for potential hazards and patient safety concerns.
• Use a therapeutic approach to assist with de-escalation and behavioral modification or management when appropriate.
• Float as needed to provide care and support for mental health patients throughout the mental health care continuum, including outside the inpatient mental health unit within the Children’s Minnesota system.

Benefits

• Medical benefits
• Dental benefits
• Vision benefits
• Retirement benefits
• Other fringe benefits
• Potential shift differentials or premium pay for positions requiring night, weekend, or on-call work

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time