Behavioral Health Education Specialist I

Intermountain Health; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 32,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Intermountain Health in Denver, CO, seeks a Behavioral Health Education Specialist to provide direct patient care, build rapport, and support the treatment team in developing education plans.

The role includes planning and delivering educational activities, crisis intervention during challenging behaviors, and EMR documentation. A background in social work/psychology and Spanish bilingualism are valued. 40-hour weeks, on-site at Mount St Vincent Home.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology, sociology, family studies, or related field (education verified) OR 4 years of related experience.
• De-escalation experience and creating safe environments.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Proficiency in computer applications.
• Valid driver’s license with DMV insurance.
• Basic Life Support and First Aid within 90 days.

Responsibilities

• Maintain a safe, supportive environment with the multidisciplinary team.
• Plan, instruct, and facilitate educational programming; may lead in absence of primary teacher.
• Assist in creating group content and psycho-educational activities.
• Work with aggressive patients; use TCI to reduce stress and ensure safety.
• Anticipate and diffuse behaviors; respond with a team approach.
• Initiate higher-level interventions and mentor others in crisis interventions.
• Document patient care interventions and observations in the EMR.
• Float to other classrooms/departments as needed; comply with Intermountain policies.

Skills

Child Development

Developmentally Relevant Care

Special Education

Early Childhood Education

Behavioral Health

Customer Service

Interpersonal Communication

Trauma Informed Care

Patient Care

Cultural Communication

Classroom Management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology, sociology, family studies, or a related field

Job description

The Behavioral Health Education Specialist provides direct patient care by developing rapport with patients, facilitating patient/caregiver safety, gathering critical data to inform the treatment team in the development of the treatment and education plan of care, and implementing interventions as recommended by the multi-disciplinary treatment team. This role is furthered by providing individual, supportive contacts to patients that focus on validating negative feelings, offering strategies for coping, building self-esteem, development of skills, and initial assessment of immediate risk to self and others.

The Behavioral Health Education Specialist provides direct patient care by developing rapport with patients, facilitating patient/caregiver safety, gathering critical data to inform the treatment team in the development of the treatment and education plan of care, and implementing interventions as recommended by the multi-disciplinary treatment team. This role is furthered by providing individual, supportive contacts to patients that focus on validating negative feelings, offering strategies for coping, building self-esteem, development of skills, and initial assessment of immediate risk to self and others.

Essential Functions

• Maintains a safe, consistent, and supportive environment by collaborating and effectively communicating with the multidisciplinary treatment team and providing culturally sensitive care in accordance with the care/treatment plan.
• Assists with planning, instruction, and facilitation in all areas of educational programming. Will facilitate classroom programming in the absence of the primary teacher.
• Assists Educational Mental Health Specialist and Special Education teacher in creating and implementing various group content including educational activities, goal setting, relaxation, skill building, and psycho-educational activities as dictated by skill level.
• Can comfortably and effectively work with physically and verbally aggressive patients. Able to maintain calm demeanor while engaging with patients actively exhibiting negative or maladaptive behaviors. Utilizes Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI) techniques to reduce client’s stress and maintain safety.
• Anticipates and diffuses patient behaviors that have the likelihood to lead to unsafe behaviors. Responds calmly and safely to escalating behaviors, asks for assistance as needed, and responds with a team-based approach.
• Determines when the use of higher-level interventions is needed and can safely and appropriately initiate physical restraints per TCI guidelines. Mentors new Mental Health Workers on the use of crisis interventions.
• Performs and accurately documents patient care interventions, observations, and group/educational interactions in the Electronic Medical Record.
• Will be required to float to other classrooms or departments (within scope and qualifications) based on business need. Satisfy all Intermountain Health requirements and perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

• Child Development
• Developmentally Relevant Care
• Special Education
• Early Childhood Education
• Behavioral Health
• Customer Service
• Interpersonal Communication
• Trauma Informed Care
• Patient Care
• Cultural Communication
• Classroom Management

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology, sociology, family studies, or a related field (education verified) OR four years of experience in a related field
• Demonstrated experience in the practice of de-escalating negative behaviors and creating safe environments.
• Demonstrated strong verbal and written communication skills
• Proficiency in computer applications
• Positive driving motor vehicle (DMV) record, proof of current automobile insurance coverage, and a copy of a valid driver's license
• Basic Life Support and First Aid within 90 days of employment

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology, sociology, family studies, or related field (education is verified)
• Ability to obtain Colorado Department of Education substitute license within 6 months of hire
• Bi-lingual in Spanish

Physical Requirements

• Ongoing need for employee to see and read information, labels, documents, monitors, identify equipment and supplies, and be able to assess customer needs.
• Frequent interactions with providers, colleagues, customers, patients/clients and visitors that require employee to verbally communicate as well as hear and understand spoken information, needs, and issues quickly and accurately.
• Manual dexterity of hands and fingers to manipulate complex and delicate supplies and equipment with precision and accuracy. This includes frequent computer use for typing, accessing needed information, etc.
• For roles requiring driving: Expected to drive a vehicle which requires sitting, seeing and reading signs, traffic signals, and other vehicles.
• Ability to regularly lift and / or move up to 50 pounds. Employee must be physically able to use crisis prevention / intervention techniques including: physical management of a child, running to prevent a runaway incident. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand, walk, sit, reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, run or crawl.

Location

Mount St Vincent Home

Work City

Denver

Work State

Colorado

Scheduled Weekly Hours

40

The hourly range for this position is listed below. Actual hourly rate dependent upon experience.

$22.98 - $35.00

We care about your well-being – mind, body, and spirit – which is why we provide our caregivers a generous benefits package that covers a wide range of programs to foster a sustainable culture of wellness that encompasses living healthy, happy, secure, connected, and engaged.

By applying for a position with Intermountain, I acknowledge that I will comply with all applicable Intermountain policies and expectations. If applying for a remote or hybrid role, this includes remote work expectations related to confidentiality, information security, work schedules, conflicts of interest, and use of company equipment. I further acknowledge that outside employment or activities may not interfere with job responsibilities or create a conflict of interest with Intermountain. Actual or reasonably perceived conflicts may be grounds for disqualification from consideration or, if hired, corrective action up to and including termination of employment.

Intermountain Health is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

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All positions subject to close without notice.