Behavioral Health Associate

NYC Health + Hospitals; New York (NY); On-site; USD 42,000 - 66,000; Full time

Job summary

NYC Health + Hospitals Elmhurst Hospital Center seeks a Behavioral Health support role under RN supervision to perform crisis interventions, de-escalation, patient supervision, and related duties. The incumbent assists in restraints, monitoring, and safety while following ICARE values in a fast-paced hospital setting.

Responsibilities include patient checks, group facilitation support where needed, and active participation in team meetings and QA/PI initiatives to improve patient care and safety.

Qualifications

• Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice, Social Services or a health related discipline.
• High School diploma or equivalent with 1 year of relevant experience in a high volume, intensive care environment.
• BLS certification required within 60 days of appointment.
• Successful completion of restraints and seclusion training before performing such work.
• Training in vital signs and grooming within 90 days of appointment.

Responsibilities

• Under supervision, perform crisis and de-escalation interventions and therapeutic observations.
• Assist in seclusion/restraints as directed and ensure safety of patients and staff.
• Escort and monitor patients, conduct checks, and communicate with the treatment team.
• Participate in meetings and QA/PI activities as required.
• Comply with ICARE values in all actions.

Skills

Crisis de-escalation

Observation skills

Team communication

Patient safety awareness

Education

Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice or related health field

High School diploma with one year of relevant experience

BLS certification (AHA)

Restraints & seclusion training

Vital signs & grooming training within 90 days

Job description

Marketing Statement

Elmhurst Hospital Center (EHC) is the major tertiary care provider in the borough of Queens. The hospital is comprised of 545 beds and is a Level I Trauma Center, an Emergency Heart Care Station and a 911 Receiving Hospital. It is the premiere health care organization for key areas such as Surgery, Cardiology, Women's Health, Pediatrics, Rehabilitation Medicine, Renal and Mental Health Services.

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.
• 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.

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.

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.