Behavioral Health Safety Specialist

Akron Children's Hospital; Akron (OH); On-site; USD 52,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Akron Children's Hospital is seeking a Behavioral Health Safety Specialist for a full-time, 36-hour workweek on the 3rd shift (7 pm–7:30 am) onsite in the Behavioral Health Unit. You will promote a safe environment for patients, families and staff and perform proactive safety rounds across patient care areas.

Responsibilities include serving as safety expert, conducting de-escalation and aggression management, assisting with restraints when needed, coordinating with clinical staff, documenting

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and minimum 3 years of relevant experience working with children and adolescents in behavioral health settings.
• De-escalation and aggression management training in healthcare settings required and/or ACH course program within 6 months of hire.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a safety expert in patient care areas.
• Perform continuous safety rounds in patient care areas and proactively identify and communicate with clinical staff any patient/family dynamics that could result in an unsafe environment.
• Develop supportive interpersonal relationships with individuals and groups of patients in accordance with treatment plan goals.
• Respond to staff requests for assistance with patients demonstrating escalated, threatening, or aggressive behaviors.
• Demonstrate expertise in the application of de‑escalation techniques and interventions.
• Assist in physical restraint techniques necessary in an attempt to control violent, combative patients and maintain a safe environment with respect to age‑specific competencies and guidelines in conformance with seclusion and restraint policies and positive approaches training.
• Initiate debriefing sessions and provide feedback to staff after seclusion and restraint situations and any crisis.
• Partner with Public Safety and Safety Technicians in monitoring and maintaining a safe treatment environment for patients, families, and staff. Intervene during escalating situations applying skills and expertise to reduce the likelihood of physical altercations.
• Assess for changes in patient behaviors and provide assistance with early intervention.
• Document patient/family safety encounters in medical record/progress note.
• Other duties as required.

Skills

De-escalation techniques

Crisis communication

Communication to diverse audiences

Project management

Child/adolescent development knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree

High school diploma with 8 years relevant experience

Tools

EPIC EMR

Job description

Full‑time: 36 hours per week. 3rd shift: 7 pm–7:30 am, Monday‑Friday with rotating weekends/holidays. Department: Behavioral Health Unit – Onsite.

Summary

The Behavioral Health Safety Specialist is responsible for promoting and maintaining a safe environment for patients, families, and staff. They will conduct proactive and continuous safety rounding in patient care areas and assist as requested by clinical staff in interventions with patients demonstrating escalated, threatening, or aggressive behaviors utilizing evidence‑based de-escalation and aggression management techniques.

Responsibilities

1. Serve as a safety expert in patient care areas. This includes a strong knowledge of and adherence to established safety policies, procedures, and standards of care.
2. Perform continuous safety rounds in patient care areas and proactively identify and communicate with clinical staff any patient/family dynamics that could result in an unsafe environment.
3. Develop supportive interpersonal relationships with individuals and groups of patients in accordance with treatment plan goals.
4. Respond to staff requests for assistance with patients demonstrating escalated, threatening, or aggressive behaviors.
5. Demonstrate expertise in the application of de‑escalation techniques and interventions.
6. Assist in physical restraint techniques necessary in an attempt to control violent, combative patients and maintain a safe environment with respect to age‑specific competencies and guidelines in conformance with seclusion and restraint policies and positive approaches training.
7. Initiate debriefing sessions and provide feedback to staff after seclusion and restraint situations and any crisis.
8. Partner with Public Safety and Safety Technicians in monitoring and maintaining a safe treatment environment for patients, families, and staff. Intervene during escalating situations applying skills and expertise to reduce the likelihood of physical altercations.
9. Assess for changes in patient behaviors and provide assistance with early intervention.
10. Document patient/family safety encounters in medical record/progress note.
11. Other duties as required.

Technical Expertise

1. Skilled in communicating to diverse audiences during escalating and crisis situations.
2. Experience in applying evidence‑based de‑escalation and aggression management techniques.
3. Experience in project management methodology, including managing large and/or multiple projects and tools is required.
4. Basic knowledge of child and adolescent development and psychopathology.
5. Experience working with electronic medical record software, such as EPIC, is preferred.

Education and Experience

1. Education/Experience: Bachelor's degree and minimum of 3 years of relevant experience working with children and adolescents in behavioral health settings required or a high school diploma and 8 years of relevant experience.
2. Training in de‑escalation and aggression management in healthcare settings required and/or completion of ACH course program within 6 months of hire.