Lead Mental Health Counselor

Job Profile Summary

This role focuses on providing medical and clinical support services to patients. In addition, this role focuses on performing the following Medical/Behavioral Health duties: Provides behavioral evaluation services to patients and are specialized in the evaluation and treatment of mental, emotional, and/or behavioral issues. A professional individual contributor role that may direct the work of other lower level professionals or manage processes and programs. The majority of time is spent overseeing the design, implementation or delivery of processes, programs and policies using specialized knowledge and skills typically acquired through advanced education. An experienced level role that applies practical knowledge of job area typically obtained through advanced education and work experience. Works independently with general supervision, problems faced are difficult but typically not complex, and may influence others within the job area through explanation of facts, policies and practices.

Job Overview

This position functions as a Mental Health Counselor with additional responsibilities of assisting the Manager in translating the philosophy, objectives, policies and procedures of the hospital and nursing services. This position is a member of the multidisciplinary patient treatment team. Implements clinical care responsibilities in accordance with unit/departmental policies, procedures and standards under a Behavioral Health OT’s supervision. Provides 1:1 support to patients experiencing an acute mental health crisis, including suicidal ideation, anxiety/depression, and emotional/behavioral dysregulation and/or self-harm.

Job Description

Minimum Qualifications:

1. Bachelor’s degree in psychology, sociology, or related human service field.

2. Three (3) years of previous direct patient care experience.

3. Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification.

4. Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) Certification.

Preferred Qualifications:

1. Advanced degree in Psychiatry or Psychology related field.

2. Experience working in psychiatric setting.

3. Experience working with behaviorally dysregulated patients.

4. Experience working with suicidal patients and patients who engage in self-harm.

5. Experience working with patients with extensive histories including trauma, cross-cultural, deaf/hard of hearing, behaviorally dysregulated, in restraints.

6. Bilingual.

Duties and Responsibilities: The duties and responsibilities listed below are intended to describe the general nature of work and are not intended to be an all-inclusive list. Other duties and responsibilities may be assigned.

1. Supports the orientation and preceptor process for the onboarding mental health technicians and mental health counselors.

2. Assists in the development and implementation plan of quality improvement activities for the department.

3. Assists in monthly scheduling needs for the mental health technicians and mental health counselors.

4. Promotes staff participation in unit and hospital committees/task forces, and staff meetings.

5. Delegates appropriately to others in accordance with job description and competency level.

6. Supports the ongoing development of staff through coaching, mentoring and role modeling.

7. Collaborates with other members of multi-disciplinary leadership team in providing appropriate educational opportunities for unlicensed personnel.

8. Participates in and provides leadership to departmental and hospital committees as requested.

9. Assists in the development of practice initiatives through unit-based group activities.

10. Enhances own professional growth and development through participation in educational programs, keeping current with literature, in-service meetings, and workshops.

11. Promotes improvement of unit program through individual, committee, or quality assurance activities i.e., completing patient profiles, task force membership, quality assurance monitoring, and unit based supporting activities.

12. Assists in ongoing research projects within the department.

13. Assists the Behavioral Health OT in the functional care of patients, ensuring efficient and patient centered, trauma-informed care, appropriate to the developmental age of the patient population.

14. Performs delegated tasks and communicates all findings/concerns to the Behavioral Health OT.

15. In partnership with OT, reviews and implements treatment plan/behavior management plan to achieve patient goals.

16. Reads care plan entries on patients to ensure consistent and accurate delivery of care.

17. Discusses with patients’ mental status, behavior and progress that the patient is making towards identified treatment and discharge goals.

18. Throughout the shift, reports pertinent information to RN such as:

• Level of safety
• Changes in behavior
• Increase in agitation
• Physical complaints or any signs of physical illness
• Vital signs, intake and output, activity of daily living status

19. Gives observation and input regarding the patient to Nurse Manager/Charge RN when unable to communicate directly at treatment team meetings.

20. Shares observations and pertinent information with BH OT, social worker, clinical colleagues, and patient family/caregivers.

21. Responds to patient and family requests promptly, seeking nurse’s supervision as needed.

22. Acts as a patient observer as delegated by the OT, adhering to the patient observer guidelines, to always ensuring patient safety.

23. Provides comfort measures such as coping skills, for patients in an efficient, safe, and respectful manner.

24. Participates in crisis intervention through verbal and physical de-escalation of potentially unsafe or aggressive behavior per CPI technique and seclusion/restraint policies/procedures.

25. Float to all units across Tufts Medical Center to support identified patients.

26. Engages with patients using identified coping skills from safety plan and encourage the use of sensory interventions if appropriate.

27. Educates staff on the patient’s triggers warning signs, and coping skills.

28. Promotes quality, safety, regulatory and patient and family satisfaction.

Physical Requirements:

1. Prolonged, extensive, or considerable standing/walking.

2. Lifts, positions, pushes and/or transfer patients and equipment.

3. Considerable reaching, stooping, bending, kneeling, crouching.

4. Frequent exposure to hazardous chemicals, sick patients, bodily substances, noise and possible exposure to radiation, lasers, electric shock, etc.

5. Regularly exposed to the risk of blood borne diseases and other transmissible infections.

6. Contact with patients under wide variety of circumstances.

7. Subject to varying and unpredictable situations.

8. Subjected to irregular hours.

9. May have contact with hazardous materials.

Skills & Abilities:

1. Possesses the skills and knowledge necessary to provide care to patients throughout the life span, with consideration of psychiatric diagnosis, trauma history, aging processes, human development stages and cultural patterns in each step of the care process.

2. Demonstrated skill in developing helpful relationships with patients, families and staff.

3. Ability to use a variety of medical equipment necessary in delivering quality patient care.

4. Basic computer proficiency.

Tufts Medicine is a leading integrated health system bringing together the best of academic and community healthcare to deliver exceptional, connected and accessible care experiences to consumers across Massachusetts. Comprised of Tufts Medical Center, Lowell General Hospital, MelroseWakefield Hospital, Lawrence Memorial Hospital of Medford, Care at Home - an expansive home care network, and large integrated physician network. We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity and inclusion at Tufts Medicine. Tufts Medicine does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, national origin, gender identity and/or expression, marital status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation by emailing us at careers@tuftsmedicine.org.