Mental Health Specialist, Adult Day Hopsital

Sheppard Pratt Careers • Towson, MD

18h • Onsite

About The Position

The Mental Health Specialist works in Sheppard Pratt’s group-based Adult Day Hospital, a weekday psychiatric program providing a level of care between inpatient and outpatient treatment. Patients attend multiple therapeutic group sessions during the day and return home in the evenings and on weekends. The program offers individual and group treatment, family meetings and collaborative care, supportive counseling, treatment planning, and aftercare planning. Group modalities may include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), medication education, recreation and activity, and psychoeducation.

The specialist facilitates psychoeducational groups, interviews and observes patients experiencing mental health issues, and gathers information to support treatment planning. The role provides direct patient care in accordance with treatment plans and helps maintain a safe, therapeutic environment. The position also involves monitoring vital signs when assigned, documenting patient behaviors and observations in the electronic medical record, contributing to program evaluation and quality improvement, and adapting to changes in work assignments and the work environment.

The position is scheduled Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and is in person. Day Hospitals are located on Sheppard Pratt’s Towson and Baltimore Washington campuses.

Requirements

• Ability to read and follow documentation in patient records.
• Written and oral communication skills sufficient to communicate effectively and maintain documentation.
• Basic computer usage skills.
• Bachelor’s degree in psychology, counseling, social work, or a related field and 2–3 years of relevant experience preferred; alternatively, a high school diploma or GED and 5 or more years of relevant experience internal to Sheppard Pratt.
• Demonstrated competency in basic patient care methods, procedures, and techniques, as well as specialized skills, procedures, and techniques for working with the psychiatric population; acquired through hospital-provided training.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s degree in psychology, counseling, social work, or a related field and 2–3 years of relevant experience are preferred.

Responsibilities

• Facilitate psychoeducational groups during the programming day.
• Interview and observe patients experiencing mental health issues.
• Collect information from patient sessions to support development of treatment plans.
• Participate in planning and evaluating patient needs based on patient behaviors.
• Provide direct patient care services in accordance with treatment plans.
• Help provide a safe and therapeutic environment according to established policies and procedures.
• Monitor vital signs when assigned.
• Document patient behaviors, vital signs, and observations in the electronic medical record in compliance with hospital and program standards.
• Ensure documentation is legible, accurate, complete, timely, and consistent with hospital and program standards.
• Participate in evaluating program effectiveness and efficiency and support continuous improvement in service quality.
• Participate in in-service programs and workshops and incorporate their content into performance.
• Adapt to changes in work assignments and the work environment.
• Suggest ways to maintain and improve unit or program safety.

Benefits

• Comprehensive tuition reimbursement program supporting ongoing education and licensure and/or certification preparation.
• Medical, dental, and vision benefits for benefit-eligible positions.
• 403(b) retirement match.
• Paid time off for benefit-eligible positions.
• Complimentary Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Mileage reimbursement program.
• Extended clinical orientation led by Sheppard Pratt’s Clinical Education Department.
• Professional development support.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Education Level: High school or GED