Behavioral Health Associate

NYC Health + Hospitals; New York (NY); On-site; USD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

NYC Health + Hospitals seeks a Behavioral Health Technician to support crisis intervention, de-escalation, and patient supervision under the direction of RNs and physicians within the interdisciplinary team.

Responsibilities include monitoring safety, assisting with restraints and seclusion when required, documenting observations, and participating in group activities and QA/PI efforts while upholding ICARE values in daily practice.

Qualifications

• Associate’s degree or higher in a health-related field required.
• High School diploma with 1 year of relevant experience required.
• BLS certification and restraints/seclusion training completed within required timelines.

Responsibilities

• Utilizes crisis and de-escalation techniques with patients when necessary.
• Assists with restraints and seclusion under supervision.
• Communicates incidents and observations to the treatment team.
• Escorts patients to required locations and monitors safety.
• Conducts patient checks, rounds and video surveillance as required.
• Participates in QA/PI activities and team/committee meetings.
• Supports grooming and vital signs as directed.

Skills

Crisis intervention

De-escalation techniques

Interpersonal communication

Education

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

High School diploma or equivalent

BLS certification

Training in restraints and seclusion

Job description

Marketing Statement

Since 1875, South Brooklyn Health has established its reputation for clinical excellence and culturally competent care. It has designations as a Certified Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) Center, an Advanced Primary Stroke Center, an accredited Baby-Friendly Hospital, a U.S. News & World Report high performing hospital. The hospital's staff is as diverse as the patients they serve. Interpreter services can be provided at any time of the day or night in over 130 languages.

Marketing Statement

Since 1875, South Brooklyn Health has established its reputation for clinical excellence and culturally competent care. It has designations as a Certified Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) Center, an Advanced Primary Stroke Center, an accredited Baby-Friendly Hospital, a U.S. News & World Report high performing hospital. The hospital's staff is as diverse as the patients they serve. Interpreter services can be provided at any time of the day or night in over 130 languages.

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

Whose Behavior Cannot Be Otherwise Supported Without Such Interventions.

• 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.

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

• Demonstrate commitment to continued professional development.
• Effective communication skills, oral and written
• Ability to establish successful interpersonal relationships with patients and coworkers