Job Summary:

Under the direction of the Registered Nurse, the Behavioral Health Specialist promotes positive behavioral health and wellness by providing direct patient care and positive role modeling. This may include escorting and monitoring patients, as well as identifying the personal needs of patients. In collaboration with Rehabilitation Therapists, planning and implementing therapeutic activities and groups is expected. Additionally, some assistance with medical interventions may be required, under the direction of the Registered Nurse.

Supervisory Responsibility:

None

Position Qualifications:

Current BLS

High school diploma or GED

STNA certification, preferred

Experience in psychiatric setting, preferred

Phlebotomy competency, a plus

Key Responsibilities / Job Accountabilities:

• Promotes a compassionate environment by providing physical, emotional, and spiritual support to patients and families.

• Identifies patient care requirements through assistance with admission process, interactions with patients and families, and observations, which include, but are not limited to, taking vital signs, reporting intake and output, levels of mental alertness, and functioning. Assists with patient nutrition.
• Manages security of patient belongings.
• Assists interdisciplinary team with development of a treatment plan by providing observations and other information provided by patient, family, and others.
• Provides direct patient care by assisting with personal hygiene, ambulation, and monitoring behavior.
• Promotes patient's independence by following patient care goals.
• Follows hospital and nursing department philosophies and care standards defined by Ohio law, The Joint Commission, and other governing agency regulations.
• Maintains safe and clean environment by complying with procedures, rules, and regulations, under direction of Registered Nurse.
• Assists with crisis intervention through teamwork and respect for patient.
• Assists with planning, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating group activities and social functions for patients.
• Escorts patients, as needed, to special procedures, court hearings, or appointments with specialists or medical tests.
• Adheres to infection-control policies and protocols.

Additional Skills / Qualifications:

Basic knowledge of behavioral and medical care of patients

Interesting in understanding of recovery in mental illness and substance abuse, and treatment approaches and techniques.

Interest in working with patients with psychiatric diagnoses.

Ability to work under stress with patients who may require constant observation.

Flexibility in work schedule.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSURES, REGISTRATIONS:

Valid and active driver’s license

ATTENDANCE:

Regular and punctual attendance.

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

English is the primary language of the facility. Ability to read and write, communicate clearly with coworkers and customers and to respond to appropriate questions regarding work process or work product.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions and decimals as appropriate to the position.

REASONING ABILITY:

Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral and/or diagram form. Ability to define and solve problems and collect data.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Ability to identify and implement components of the administrative process. Identify learning needs and teach patients and families. Ability to communicate and collaborate with a variety of teams and individuals. Working knowledge and ability to apply professional standards of practice in job situations.

Job Function

Percent of Time

Direct Patient Care and Technical Skills: identifies patient care requirements through assistance with admission process, interactions with patients and families, and observations, which include, but are not limited to, taking vital signs, reporting intake and output, levels of mental alertness, and functioning; assists with patient nutrition; provides direct patient care by assisting with personal hygiene, ambulation, and monitoring behavior; promotes patients’ independence by following patient care goals.

30%

Facilitation of Groups and Activities: assists with planning, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating group activities and social functions for patients.

10%

Safety and Quality: Monitors all patient behaviors and reports to assigned RN; follows hospital and nursing department philosophies and care standards defined by Ohio law, The Joint Commission, and other governing agency regulations; maintains safe and clean environment by complying with procedures, rules, and regulations, under direction of Registered Nurse; escorts patients, as needed, to special procedures, court hearings, or appointments with specialists or medical tests; adheres to infection-control policies and protocols.

30%

Communication and Teamwork: promotes a compassionate environment by providing physical, emotional, and spiritual support to patients and families; assists the interdisciplinary treatment team with development of a treatment plan by providing observations and other information provided by patient, family, and others; assists with crisis intervention through teamwork and respect for patient.

30%

ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provides exceptional patient- and family-centered care.
• Maintains excellent working relationships with co-workers, health care professionals and other health related facilities and organizations as appropriate.
• Promotes organization philosophy, mission and objectives within and to patients and customers outside the hospital.
• Demonstrates ability to prioritize tasks/responsibilities and complete duties within allotted time.
• Willingness to seek out new methods and principles and be willing to incorporate them into existing practices.
• Demonstrates and understands the importance of and respect for the rights, dignity, and individuality of each patient in all interactions.
• Demonstrates honesty and integrity, at all times, in the care and use of patient and hospital property.
• Demonstrates respect for co-workers and responds to needs of patients by complying with hospital policies.
• Demonstrates satisfactory level of interpersonal skills to interact and deal tactfully with facility staff, Administration, patients, families, customers, vendors, and government agencies.
• Ability to carry out essential functions of this position with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Accesses continuing education opportunities appropriate to responsibilities.
• Appropriately accesses the resources of the company’s corporate offices for consultation and support. Routinely shares professional knowledge with other staff, managers and hospital personnel.
• Attends and participates in facility meetings.
• Has working knowledge of emergency and disaster procedures of the facility.
• Participates in hospital wide safety program identifying risks to patient safety and reducing healthcare errors.
• Participates in relevant in-service training sessions.
• Develops and monitors service delivery for a diverse population.
• Coordinates services with other disciplines.
• Maintain a safe, efficient, and organized work environment.
• Maximizes productivity through proficient use of appropriate technology.
• Manages difficult customer situations; responds to requests for service and assistance.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Patient Rights: Generations Behavioral Health is dedicated to protecting patient rights and the dignity of each patient. A patient may exercise their rights without any concerns about coercion, discrimination or retaliation.

Leadership: Generations Behavioral Health establishes and maintains a leadership structure that plans, manages, and controls the operation of the organization in a manner that achieves quality performance.

Performance Improvement: Applies performance improvement methods and techniques; assists in data collection; identifies processes for improvement in daily work; and participate in new employee orientation. Environment of Care Demonstrates understanding of fire and emergency procedures; participates in fire and disaster drills; demonstrates understanding of safety and security procedures; applies safety and security precautions; demonstrates understanding of hazardous materials plan; demonstrates proper use of equipment.

Environment of Care: Demonstrates understanding of fire and emergency procedures; participates in fire and disaster drills; demonstrates understanding of safety and security procedures; applies safety and security precautions; demonstrates understanding of hazardous materials plan; demonstrates proper use of equipment.

Infection Control: Applies hand-washing principles during daily work; demonstrates understanding of isolation precautions; demonstrates understanding of the process for identifying and handling infectious waste; maintains personal hygiene; recognizes signs and symptoms of infection and complies with the employee health program; complies with OSHA standards in the work place; and demonstrates understanding of cross contamination. Complies with applicable health screenings.

Information Management: Enters or records data timely and accurately; protects confidentiality of patient information; protects data against loss or destruction; reports suspected violation of security/confidentiality expectations in a timely manner.

INTERPERSONAL SKILLS:

Demonstrates active listening techniques; gains support through effective relationships; treats others with dignity and respect; seeks feedback; participates in processes to measure effectiveness, efficiency, and service; and maintains reporting mechanisms.

CONTINUING EDUCATION:

Attends in-service and education programs; attends and completes continuing education required for maintenance of applicable license and/or certification.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The physical demands described here represent those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.