Christiana Care is looking for a Mental Health Associate (Behavioral Health Specialist) to contribute to the overall operation of the organization and the day-to-day care of the behavioral health patient within the emergency departments and on the medical units throughout the organization. This position will collaborate with other health care professionals on patient treatment, diagnoses, plans of care, behavioral plans of care, discharge plans, and other related information.

This position is full time, working a rotating day and evening shift, at both Wilmington and Newark Hospitals. Hours would be from 7am-3:30pm and 3:00pm - 11:30pm. Additionally, the Mental Health Associate will be required to work every other holiday and every other weekend.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Comprehends psychiatric diagnoses.
• Demonstrates skills and knowledge necessary to provide care to the pediatric and adolescent Behavioral Health population, including knowledge of growth and development, the ability to obtain information and provide care as needed.
• Demonstrates skills and knowledge necessary to provide care to adult and geriatric Behavioral Health population, including knowledge of growth and development, the ability to obtain information and provide care as needed.
• Diffuses crisis situations, assist in calming patients who have potential for violence, and summons emergency assistance when needed.
• Customize interventions designed to de-escalate the behavioral crisis, starting with the least restrictive and most patient centered interventions.
• Enact immediate interventions including verbal communication, calming techniques, and
• environmental/milieu changes.
• Physical management (i.e., physical hold, violent or nonviolent restraints, seclusion) or
• transfer to a psychiatric behavioral health unit.
• Serial assessments to identify challenging patient behaviors, causes or triggers, and
• patterns.
• Communicates patients' individual, group and family behaviors to other health care team professionals.
• Initiation of standardized behavioral care plans are initiated that are reviewed with the patient’s care team.
• Updates Safety Plans/Behavioral Contracts
• Searching of Patients as needed.
• Participation in the direct care of patients as an explicit method of role modeling use of
• behavioral techniques for staff.
• Offer debriefing, education or a follow-up call for the patient's primary staff members who may
• have been less experienced with behavioral de-escalation.
• Searching of belongings and documentation (as needed)
• Conducts formal and informal educational groups and related activities. (Inpatient Only)
• Q-15-minute patient check (Inpatient and PES Only)
• Assists in patient discharge and planning procedures.
• Admission tour of unit and create initial Safety Plan/Contract with patient (Inpatient and PES Only)
• Performs Environmental Safety Rounds (Inpatient/PES Only)
• Precepts new Behavioral Health Specialists and coordinates training with Educator (NPDS).
• Assists with nursing procedures in absence of PCT II and activities for daily living, including vital signs, patient hygiene, urine collection, Accu checks and Breathalyzer, EKG, Phlebotomy. (Inpatient and PES only)
• Handles crisis telephone calls. (Inpatient and PES only)
• Attends in-service meetings and unit meetings as required.
• Monitors performance improvement protocol and compliance; submits monthly documentation as assigned.
• Serves as representative on unit committees to provide input in formulating psychiatric protocol, standards and procedures.
• Performs assigned work safely, adhering to established departmental safety rules and practices. Reports to supervisor, in a timely manner, any unsafe activities, conditions, hazards, or safety violations that may cause injury to oneself, other employees, patients and visitors.
• Cross-trains to provide “as needed” coverage for all areas of the department.
• Support patients and families in the Bereavement process for trauma codes/heart alerts when needed
• Performs other related duties as required.

REQUIREMENTS:

B. S. Psychology, Sociology, Education or related discipline

1 year experience in nursing educational groups

--or—

A. S. Mental Health Services or related principle

3 years experience in nursing educational groups.

An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

Non-Violent Crisis Intervention within twelve months in position.

BLS Certification