Behavioral Health Associate

NYC Health + Hospitals; Hempfield Township (Westmoreland County); On-site; USD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

NYC Health + Hospitals is seeking a Behavioral Health Support role to assist with crisis de-escalation, therapeutic observations, and patient supervision. The position requires coordination with nursing and clinical teams to ensure safety and regulatory compliance.

Responsibilities include facilitating in-room or milieu activities, assisting with restraint procedures when necessary, and documenting patient observations in the electronic medical record, while maintaining a person-centered care

Qualifications

• Associate degree or higher in health/social field or related discipline.
• High school diploma including required state approvals; 1 year in a high-volume setting.
• BLS certification within 60 days of appointment.

Responsibilities

• Perform crisis/de-escalation interventions as directed.
• Provide therapeutic observations and patient supervision.
• Assist with restraints and seclusion when required and approved.
• Ensure safety and monitor patient and staff interactions.
• Conduct rounds, document observations, and communicate with the treatment team.

Education

Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice, Social Services or a health related discipline

High School diploma or equivalent

BLS certification (American Heart Association)

Tools

Electronic Medical Records (EMR)

Job description

Marketing Statement

Queens Hospital Center is making good on its promise to the people of southeastern and central Queens to maximize both patient convenience and positive clinical outcomes. Residents of Queens can count on the delivery of quality medical care right in their own borough. In 2002 the hospital opened a state-of-the-art, 261-bed facility that includes the Queens Cancer Center, the first comprehensive cancer treatment center in the borough.

Marketing Statement

Queens Hospital Center is making good on its promise to the people of southeastern and central Queens to maximize both patient convenience and positive clinical outcomes. Residents of Queens can count on the delivery of quality medical care right in their own borough. In 2002 the hospital opened a state-of-the-art, 261-bed facility that includes the Queens Cancer Center, the first comprehensive cancer treatment center in the borough. At NYC Health + Hospitals, our mission is to deliver high quality care health services, without exception. Every employee takes a person-centered approach that exemplifies the ICARE values (Integrity, Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence) through empathic communication and partnerships between all persons.

Duties & Responsibilities

Purpose of Position: Under the direction of a Registered Nurse, physician, and/or clinical designee and in collaboration with the interdisciplinary team, performs crisis and/or de-escalation interventions, therapeutic observations of patients and milieu, patient supervision and other behavioral health related duties, including assisting in the implementation of seclusion/restraints. Acts in compliance with health care system and all relevant regulatory policies.

Examples Of Typical Tasks

• Utilizes crisis and/or de-escalation intervention practices, when necessary and appropriate, with patients
• Assists in the application and removal of restraints and the implementation of seclusion, when deemed necessary by appropriate personnel; ensures the physical and emotional health and safety of the patient when using such methods.
• Identifies patient characteristics and environmental variables that may trigger agitated behavior(s) and communicates such information to the treatment team.
• Escorts patient to required location(s), within and outside of the health care setting.
• Monitors and controls patient, family, visitors and staff traffic flow through behavioral health services.
• Ensures the safety of patients and staff through electronic scanning and safety checks prior to entry to clinical areas.
• Responds appropriately to patient emergencies, including those requiring the Behavioral Response Team, and other emergencies, as necessary.
• Inspects and categorizes patients’ belongings at time of admission and ensures that property is safely maintained and returned at the time of transfer or discharge; notifies appropriate personnel of illegal items for proper handling.
• May lead or co-lead discussion groups in areas such as anger management techniques and practices; appropriately documents group activity.
• Assists in the facilitation of therapeutic groups and related activities.
• Assists with patient grooming needs, including shaving when deemed appropriate by clinical staff and the patient is not able to shave themselves.
• Takes patient vital signs, when directed to do so by clinical staff, and enters patient vital sign data into the electronic medical record.
• Observes and monitors assigned patients on a one-to-one basis.
• Conducts patient checks/rounds and video surveillance, as required, and reports observations, interactions and patient activity to assigned nursing staff.
• Communicates clinical matters to assigned Registered Nurse or other professional staff, as required.
• Participates in staff, departmental and team/committee meetings.
• Participates in departmental quality assurance/performance improvement (QA/PI) activities.
• Participates in departmental and/or health care setting-wide training, as required.
• Effectively applies ICARE values: Integrity, Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence.
• Performs related work, as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Associate’s Degree from an accredited college or university in Criminal Justice, Social Services or a health related discipline; or
• High School diploma or its educational equivalent, approved by a State’s Department of Education or a recognized accrediting organization; and one (1) year of full-time experience in law enforcement, nursing or psychiatric/behavioral health in a high volume, intensive care environment.
• *Successful completion of NYC Health + Hospitals training program in the application and use of restraints and seclusion must be completed prior to an individual performing such work.
• Successful completion of NYC Health + Hospitals training in the performance of vital signs and grooming within ninety (90) calendar days of appointment to the title.
• Holds or obtains a valid and current certification in Basic Life Support (BLS) through the American Heart Association (AHA) within sixty (60) calendar days of appointment to the title.
• Special Note:

As required by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Hospital Conditions of Participation - Patients’ Rights (42 CFR Part 482), before applying restraints, implementing seclusion, performing associated monitoring of the restrained or secluded individual, or providing care for such individual, staff must be trained and able to demonstrate competency in the performance of these actions.

Department Preferences

Department Preferences