Behavioral Health Specialist - Flex/PRN

Hartgrove Hospital; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 35,000 - 50,000; Part time

Job summary

Hartgrove Hospital is hiring a Mental Health Specialist in Chicago, IL, providing direct patient care under a nurse's supervision. Responsibilities include crisis intervention, ensuring patient safety, and assisting with daily activities.

The ideal candidate has a high school diploma, related psychiatric experience, and an EMT certificate. This is a flex position without benefits, with varied shifts based on staffing needs.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of related psychiatric experience.
• One year in mental health field or equivalent experience.
• State of IL EMT & Paramedic Certificate.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct patient care under supervision.
• Monitor patient safety via continuous 15-minute rounding.
• Assist patients with activities of daily living.

Skills

Crisis intervention techniques

Patient safety monitoring

Therapeutic communication

Education

High School diploma or GED

Associate’s Degree in related field

Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology

Job description

Job Summary

The Mental Health Specialist provides direct patient care under the supervision of a registered nurse. Primary responsibilities include the provision of a safe and therapeutic milieu, crisis intervention and activities of daily living.

Flex position - no benefits.

Essential Job Functions

• Perform all crisis intervention techniques (verbal and physical) and respond to code situations.
• Monitor and ensure patient safety at all times via continuous 15‑minute rounding.
• Therapeutically communicate with patients.
• Recognize and communicate the physical and psychological status of patients under care.
• Assist patients with activities of daily living when necessary.

Nonessential Job Functions

• Maintain a clean work setting and milieu.
• Assist in the transport of patients to and from the hospital when needed.
• Perform vital signs on patients.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications – Required

• High School diploma or GED required; 5+ years of related psychiatric experience. Associate’s Degree accepted with comparable experience.
• One year experience working within the mental health field, or equivalent college‑accredited work or internship experience.
• State of IL EMT & Paramedic Certificate.

Qualifications – Desired

• Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology or related field strongly preferred.
• One year of experience working within an inpatient psychiatric hospital with children, adolescents and adults.
• Prior experience with crisis intervention verbal and physical techniques.
• Experience conducting group therapy sessions, performing vital signs, and documenting nursing progress notes.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

Exposure to psychiatric patients who may exhibit violent/aggressive behavior. Potential exposure to communicable diseases, blood/body fluids and other hazardous waste. General hospital environment.

Physical demands include verbal and written communication, physical agility to manage patients during interventions, push/pull/lift up to 40 pounds, intermittent sitting; prolonged standing, walking, bending and stooping; visual and auditory observation of patients; and drug‑ and alcohol‑free status as evidenced by negative post‑offer, pre‑employment urine drug screen.

Performance Standards

• 90‑day performance evaluation.
• Annual performance appraisal.
• Ongoing support from supervisor.

Job Classification

Non‑Exempt; hours vary based on staffing needs and include day, evening, night and weekend shifts.

Supervision Exercised

None

Line of Promotion

Program Specialist

EEO Statement

All UHS subsidiaries are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and teammates. UHS subsidiaries are equal‑opportunity employers and as such, openly support and fully commit to recruitment, selection, placement, promotion and compensation of individuals without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), genetic information, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. We believe that diversity and inclusion among our teammates is critical to our success.