Behavioral Health Specialist Jobs in Rhode Island

SUMMARY

Under the direction of Clinical Manager (Inpatient)/Program Director (Partial/Residential), the Behavioral Health Intern (BHI) is responsible for providing care and safety to children and adolescents as a member of the interdisciplinary treatment team. The BHI is responsible for input into the formulation of the day-to-day schedule and structure of a therapeutic milieu and the implementation, observation, and documentation of this program under the direction of the program/shift lead. Brown University Health employees are expected to successfully role model the organization's values of Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence as these values guide our everyday actions with patients, customers, and one another.

In addition to our values, all employees are expected to demonstrate the core Success Factors which tell us how we work together and how we get things done. The core Success Factors include:

• Instill Trust and Value Differences
• Patient and Community Focus and Collaborate

RESPONSIBILITIES

Brown University Health employees are expected to successfully role model the organization’s values of Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence as these guide our everyday actions with patients, customers, and one another.

A. Participates in maintaining a safe and therapeutic environment.

• Actively engages with assigned children throughout shift.
• Participates in the development and operationalization of the milieu care plan for assigned patients according to established department and unit-based procedure/policy.
• Maintains and documents level of patient observation as ordered by the physician.
• Provides support to visiting parents as well as information according to treatment team request.
• Supervises assigned children in daily routines and actively assists with activities of daily living and basic hygiene needs.
• Identifies, reports, and resolves potential problems on the unit.
• Demonstrates appropriate critical incident follow-up skills by timely verbal reporting to charge RN or Shift Leader and documentation in medical record. Completes other documentation (i.e., incident reports, intakes, etc. as applicable). Participates in event debriefings.
• Carries out daily assignment and reports back prior to change of shift.
• Intervenes in disruptive milieu or destructive to self/other patient situations providing timely therapeutic intervention(s) to children in distress.
• Maintains appropriate boundaries.

B. Adheres to Hospital, Departmental, and Program policies and procedures.

C. Actively participates in the patient care planning process under the direction of the primary/charge RN or Shift Lead.

• Works to support initial therapeutic alliance with patient and family on admission. Assists with the separation process and performs other duties necessary to provide a smooth transition to the hospital environment.
• Within the 8-hour shift, documents objective observations within a shift note and shares observations with assigned RN/Shift Lead.
• Reviews milieu care plan and problem list on a daily basis and suggests revisions based on observations.
• Communicates individual patient milieu care plans in an ongoing manner to other unit staff including liaison with other interdisciplinary treatment providers.
• Actively participates in treatment team, rounds, patient-specific discussions, and hand-off shift report, as assigned.
• Accurately documents significant patient/family observations/milieu care on the Kardex and medical records in a timely fashion.
• Offers information and knowledge acquired through experience to other staff via formal/informal staff development forums.
• Is able to adapt care to meet needs of various children/adolescents.

D. Supports and contributes to the development of care plans/behavioral management.

• Assists and teaches patients in activities of daily living and personal hygiene based upon patient’s abilities.
• Co-leads community meeting/milieu meeting/social skill group.
• Co-leads other program specific groups such as activity or recreation.
• Demonstrates ability to set consistent and supportive therapeutic limits within guidelines of hospital, unit, and department standards.
• Follows behavioral programs specific to the needs of the patient in collaboration with the assigned RN/Shift Lead and treatment team.
• Organizes unit activities.
• Coordinates, supervises, and actively participates in children’s activities such as physical & social development activities. Arranges for transportation of materials if required.
• Participates in teaching visits/family and parent training as assigned.
• Consistently models to patient/families appropriate and therapeutic interpersonal staff/patient interactions.
• Co-leads therapy groups with a clinician.
• Supports and actively participates in recreation therapy programs.
• Handles crisis situations in a safe, effective manner, utilizing the least restrictive, safe patient care alternative.
• Takes the initiative to seek formal/informal supervision, incorporating suggestions for improvement/changes in job performance.
• Performs other related duties as required, assigned, or directed by Charge RN/shift lead.
• While an individual is hired to work on a particular program, they may at times be asked to perform comparable duties in other clinical settings throughout the hospital system as program needs arise.

BASIC KNOWLEDGE

• Current certification in Basic Life Support through the American Heart Association.
• Current matriculation in an accredited Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in human services with completed coursework in psychology and social sciences is preferred. Candidates in an Associate’s Degree (AD) program may be considered.
• Demonstrated knowledge and skills necessary to provide care to patients throughout the life span with consideration of aging processes, human development stages, and cultural patterns in each step of the care process.
• Bradley Hospital Safety Care Specialist Certification: This will be provided to BHIs upon orientation.

Employees in this position work in a psychiatric setting under stressful conditions associated with care of psychiatrically impaired, aggressive, and sometimes, self-injurious individuals. Employees are expected to utilize de-escalation techniques taught by Bradley Hospital to minimize need for physical intervention. They must have the ability to remain calm during a crisis situation as evidenced by the ability to make quick rational decisions and prioritize immediate patient care needs to maintain a therapeutic environment and ensure safety.

Employees in this position must also be able to participate in the physical management of patients which can include, but is not limited to, awareness and demonstration of safe body positioning at all times, awareness and coordination to block and deflect possible aggression, and the ability to physically hold struggling patients, using approved methods only, to maintain safety for extended periods of time. Specifically, such employees must be able to:

• Lift up to fifty pounds
• Reach with their hands and arms
• Grasp and hold with their hands
• Bend/squat/kneel without limitation
• Physically escort patients who may become combative for short distances

Position requires occasional running for short distances, and frequent standing, walking, and sitting.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

EXPERIENCE:

• Current matriculation in an accredited Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in human services with completed coursework in psychology and social sciences is preferred.

INDEPENDENT ACTION:

Works under the supervision of the Registered Nurse or Program Supervisor within the scope of Hospital and department policies and procedures. Refers specific complex problems to supervisor where clarification of Program policies and procedures may be required.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY:

None

Pay Range

$18.00-$27.13

Location

BH-North Providence-CADD Hill House - 306 Fruit Hill Ave Providence, Rhode Island 02909

Work Type

As needed

Work Shift

Variable

Daily Hours

Per Diem - As required

Driving Required

No

Brown University Health is committed to providing equal employment opportunities and maintaining a work environment free from all forms of unlawful discrimination and harassment.