Patient Engagement Specialist

Human Resources•Colorado Springs, CO

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Spring Grove Recovery is seeking a compassionate, dependable, and patient-focused Patient Engagement Specialist (PES) to join our behavioral health team. Spring Grove Recovery provides residential treatment services for individuals experiencing substance use disorders and related behavioral health needs. We believe effective treatment should be individualized, holistic, relational, and delivered in an environment that promotes dignity, accountability, safety, and hope. The Patient Engagement Specialist plays an important role in creating and maintaining that environment. PES staff work directly with patients throughout their daily activities and frequently serve as one of the primary points of contact between patients and the treatment team. The Patient Engagement Specialist provides direct, non-clinical support and supervision to patients receiving residential treatment services. The PES helps maintain a safe, structured, therapeutic, and respectful treatment environment by monitoring patients, supporting daily programming, conducting required safety observations, reinforcing program expectations, documenting relevant information, and responding appropriately to behavioral or safety concerns. Successful candidates are compassionate while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries. They are comfortable holding patients accountable to program expectations, remain composed during challenging situations, communicate effectively, and understand when concerns need to be escalated to nursing, clinical staff, or leadership.

Requirements

High school diploma, GED, or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
Ability to communicate effectively and professionally with patients, coworkers, clinical staff, nursing staff, and leadership.
Ability to maintain confidentiality and comply with patient privacy requirements.
Ability to remain calm and exercise sound judgment during stressful or rapidly changing situations.
Ability to establish and maintain appropriate professional boundaries.
Ability to follow written and verbal instructions, policies, safety procedures, and patient-care expectations.
Ability to accurately complete written and electronic documentation.
Must be legally authorized to work in the United States.

Nice To Haves

At least one year of experience working in behavioral health, substance-use disorder treatment, mental health, residential treatment, healthcare, corrections, social services, or a related human-services environment.
Previous experience working directly with individuals experiencing substance-use disorders or behavioral-health challenges.
Crisis-prevention, verbal de-escalation, suicide-prevention, CPR, First Aid, or related training.
Experience working in a 24-hour residential or healthcare environment.
Maintain a valid driver's license.
Maintain an acceptable driving record consistent with Spring Grove Recovery's insurance and transportation requirements.
Complete any required driver authorization or training before transporting patients.
Immediately report any change affecting their ability or authorization to drive.

Responsibilities

Provide direct daily support, supervision, and engagement to patients receiving residential substance-use disorder treatment.
Treat all patients with dignity, respect, compassion, and professionalism.
Maintain appropriate professional and therapeutic boundaries with patients at all times.
Monitor patient locations, activities, and movement throughout the facility according to established procedures.
Complete required patient safety checks and observations accurately and at the required intervals.
Document patient observations, behaviors, activities, incidents, and other required information accurately and timely.
Never falsify, pre-document, or inaccurately record patient observations or safety checks.
Immediately report missed safety checks, documentation concerns, or unusual patient behavior through the appropriate chain of command.
Reinforce facility rules, treatment expectations, schedules, and behavioral standards consistently and professionally.
Monitor common areas, including dining areas, recreation areas, courtyards, hallways, and other patient-accessible spaces.
Assist with patient admissions, belongings, orientation, transitions, and discharges as assigned.
Conduct or assist with searches of patient belongings when authorized and in accordance with established procedures.
Observe patients for changes in behavior, mood, physical condition, withdrawal symptoms, emotional distress, or other potential safety concerns.
Promptly communicate significant changes or concerns to nursing, clinical staff, or leadership.
Recognize and appropriately respond to behavioral-health emergencies, medical emergencies, potential overdose situations, suicidal statements or behaviors, threats, aggression, elopement concerns, and other urgent situations.
Immediately escalate concerns involving suicidal ideation, self-harm, threats of violence, abuse, neglect, exploitation, or significant changes in a patient's condition according to Spring Grove Recovery procedures.
Use approved verbal de-escalation and crisis-intervention techniques when patients become agitated, distressed, or confrontational.
Maintain composure and professionalism during emergencies and high-stress situations.
Follow emergency-response procedures and immediately seek assistance when a situation exceeds the employee's training, responsibilities, or authority.
Lead or support approved non-clinical activities and groups consistent with the employee's training and assigned responsibilities.
Assist with recreational activities, light fitness activities, guided relaxation or meditation, community activities, and other approved programming.
Accompany or supervise patients attending approved off-site activities, community events, or recovery-support meetings when assigned.
Transport patients using authorized company vehicles when assigned and when all driving requirements have been satisfied.
Follow all transportation, vehicle-safety, and seat-belt requirements.
Maintain patient confidentiality and comply with HIPAA, 42 CFR Part 2, and Spring Grove Recovery confidentiality requirements.
Protect patient records, conversations, identifying information, and other confidential information from unauthorized disclosure.
Follow individual-rights requirements and immediately report suspected violations of patient rights.
Report suspected abuse, neglect, exploitation, mistreatment, or other reportable concerns according to applicable requirements and Spring Grove Recovery procedures.
Complete required critical-incident and internal reporting documentation accurately and promptly.
Support infection-control practices and maintain a clean, safe, and orderly treatment environment.
Assist with reasonable environmental or housekeeping responsibilities necessary to maintain patient safety and cleanliness.
Participate in shift reports and communicate relevant patient information to incoming staff.
Attend required staff meetings, orientation, training, in-service education, and professional-development activities.
Complete all required training within established deadlines.
Follow the direction of authorized supervisors, clinical staff, nursing staff, and leadership consistent with the employee's assigned responsibilities.
Maintain dependable and regular attendance and arrive prepared to work assigned shifts.
Remain awake, alert, attentive, and engaged throughout the assigned shift.
Refrain from unauthorized personal phone use or other activities that interfere with patient supervision or assigned responsibilities.
Immediately report patient-safety hazards, policy violations, unusual incidents, or other concerns to the appropriate supervisor.
Maintain professional relationships with patients, coworkers, visitors, families, and outside providers.
Accept coaching and constructive feedback and demonstrate appropriate improvement when concerns are identified.
Perform other duties consistent with the position as assigned by authorized leadership.