Mental Hlth Specialist I

WVU Medicine•Morgantown, WV

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Responsible for delivering paraprofessional mental health care under direct supervision. This role involves facilitating therapeutic group processes, applying effective communication techniques, and assisting clients in structuring their lives therapeutically. The specialist will utilize master treatment plans to implement age-appropriate interventions, identify and reinforce positive behaviors, and set limits on negative behaviors. They will also identify cues for aggressive behavior and apply de-escalation techniques, implement interventions, and document client responses. The role includes identifying thought patterns and behaviors associated with psychiatric diagnoses and intervening appropriately, providing assistance to clients' family members, performing basic medical tasks, assisting clients with daily living activities, and potentially transporting clients to appointments. Organizing and facilitating recreation and leisure activities, as well as handling phone calls professionally, are also key responsibilities. The position is in an inpatient setting or community-based environments, requiring the ability to work under stressful conditions and adapt to varying workloads.

Requirements

Obtain certification in BLS within 30 days of hire date
State criminal background check and Federal (if applicable), as for regulated areas.
Two (2) years of college study OR Two (2) years of experience in inpatient acute psychiatric care.
Must have strong oral and written communication skills.
Must have the ability to work successfully under highly stressful conditions, and must be capable of adapting to varying workloads and work assignments on a constant basis.
Must have the ability to make sound, independent judgments based on scientific principles, and also be able to collaborate with other multi-disciplinary team members in an appropriate fashion.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Social Work, or Nursing.
Valid driver's license.

Responsibilities

Facilitates or co-facilitates the therapeutic group process.
Applies effective communication techniques in collaborating with members of the interdisciplinary team and in interacting with clients and significant others in therapeutic relationships.
Assists clients to structure their lives in a therapeutic manner. Serves as an active member of the mental health team, taking developmental age of the client into account (as determined and directed by the master treatment plan). Providing community based mental health care, which includes providing care to clients in a manner that considers safety and patients’ rights and comfort.
Utilizes the master treatment plan for assistance in identifying and implementing developmental age-appropriate interventions with clients. This includes therapeutically supporting and reinforcing clients’ appropriate and pro-social behavior and negatively reinforcing and setting limits in a therapeutic and consistent manner clients’ inappropriate and antisocial behavior, within program guidelines. Identification of verbal and non-verbal cues for potential aggressive behavior and application of de-escalation techniques to the situation.
Implements appropriate interventions and documents clients’ responses in the medical record.
Identifies thought patterns and behaviors associated with different types of psychiatric diagnoses and developmental ages and intervenes appropriately utilizing the master treatment plan.
Provides assistance to clients’ family members and other supportive individuals in accordance with program standards.
Performs basic medical tasks (i.e. obtains and documents vital signs, collects urine and stool samples, weighs clients, witnessing controlled substance wastes, obtaining blood glucose levels) and exhibits a willingness to learn additional tasks.
Assists clients in their activities of daily living (bathing, toileting, eating and ambulation) as needed.
May transport and supervise clients to appointments and activities.
Organizes and facilitates specific recreation, physical fitness and age appropriate leisure time activities.
Answers the phone and responds to all calls, including Helpline calls, in an appropriate and professional manner.