Safety Specialist, MHU

Heywood Hospital•Gardner, MA

13d

About The Position

The Safety Specialist collaborates with nursing and interdisciplinary healthcare teams to support safe, patient-centered care. The role helps maintain a therapeutic milieu through environmental and room safety checks, identifying and addressing hazards, following safety protocols, and documenting findings. The Safety Specialist performs frequent or constant patient observations as directed, records patient whereabouts and behavior, and promptly communicates behaviors and safety concerns to nursing staff to support care planning and risk mitigation. The position also assists with patient belongings and restricted items, responds to patient needs, encourages participation in treatment activities, and completes required clinical and safety documentation.

Requirements

High school graduate or equivalent preferred.
AHA BLS CPR certification required, or must be obtained within 60 days of hire.
DMH-approved hands-on de-escalation training required within 30 days of hire for DMH-certified units and within 60 days for other locations.
The role requires limited hands-on care.

Nice To Haves

Patient care, mental health/behavioral health, or security experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Work with departmental and healthcare teams to complete assignments.
Maintain a clean and comfortable environment for patients and visitors.
Identify and promptly remove or arrange removal of environmental safety hazards.
Prioritize and reprioritize work based on changing customer needs.
Ensure patient safety in the milieu, complete environmental safety checklists for each patient room, and document the results.
Perform patient checks as directed by the primary nurse and document patient whereabouts during constant or frequent safety checks.
Assist nursing staff with managing patient belongings and restricted items.
Respond to patient and visitor needs, provide information, and refer concerns to nursing staff.
Share patient information, including behavioral concerns, with the team to support safety needs and the development and implementation of care plans and treatment.
When requested, deliver patient meal trays, monitor meal intake, collect trays for dietary staff, and assist patients with menus.
Provide suicide observation when needed to help ensure patient safety.
Promote a calm and respectful milieu and encourage patient conversations, therapy participation, and appropriate inter-patient relationships while observing behaviors.
May assist patients with fresh-air breaks on specific units.
Attend to patient needs as requested, including nutritional replenishment, telephone charging, shower toiletries, and linen for patients on frequent observation.
Ensure nursing staff inspect items visitors bring in for patients.