Behavioral Health Specialist - Full time, Part time, Flex/PRN

Garfield Park Hospital; Illinois; On-site; USD 35,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a dedicated Mental Health Specialist to provide compassionate care to children and teens. In this vital role, you will ensure a safe and therapeutic environment while engaging in crisis intervention and supporting patients in their daily activities. You will work closely with a team of professionals, utilizing evidence-based approaches to foster hope and recovery. This position offers a unique opportunity to make a significant impact in the lives of young patients and their families, all within a supportive and dynamic healthcare setting.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of related psychiatric experience required.
• Experience in mental health field or equivalent education.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct patient care and monitor safety.
• Perform crisis intervention and assist with daily living activities.

Skills

Crisis intervention techniques

Therapeutic communication

Monitoring patient safety

Documentation skills

Education

High School diploma or GED

Associate's Degree

Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology

Job description

Responsibilities

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.

Garfield Park Behavioral Hospital is dedicated to providing behavioral health and psychiatric support to children and teens ages 3 to 17. Above all else, we treat every patient with compassion and respect. Using evidence-based treatment approaches and individualized care, we strive to instill hope in our patients, their families, and our community.

Qualifications

Education: High School diploma or GED required accompanied with 5+ years of related psychiatric experience. Associate's Degree accepted along with comparable experience.

Experience: One-year experience working within the mental health field, or an equivalent amount of college accredited school work or internship experience.

Licensure/Certification: State of IL EMT & Paramedic Certificate.

QUALIFICATIONS DESIRED:

Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology or related field strongly preferred.

Experience: One-year of experience working within an inpatient psychiatric hospital with children, adolescents, and adults. Prior experience with utilizing crisis intervention verbal and physical techniques. Experience conducting group therapy sessions, performing vital signs, and documenting nursing progress notes.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

The Essential Job Functions are defined as the fundamental job-related duties that are necessary to the position. An employee is deemed qualified for this position if he or she can perform the following duties with or without accommodations:

1. Perform all crisis intervention techniques (verbal and physical) and respond to code situations.
2. Monitor and ensure patient safety at all times via continuous Q15 minute rounding.
3. Ability to therapeutically communicate with patients.
4. Ability to recognize and communicate the physical and psychological status of the patients under their care.
5. Assist patients with Activities of Daily Living when necessary.

NONESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

1. Maintain a clean work setting and milieu.
2. Assist in the transporting of patients to and from the hospital when needed.
3. Performing vital signs on patients.
4. Perform other duties as assigned.

SUCCESS FACTORS/JOB COMPETENCIES:

1. Positive therapeutic relationships and interventions with patients.
2. Service Excellence with all customers.
3. Ability to use least restrictive measures.
4. Clear and concise documentation.
5. Adherence to Hospital Attendance policies.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions:

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

Physical Demands: Ability to communicate verbally and in writing. Physical agility to manage patients during physical interventions. Push, pull and lift up to 40 pounds. Intermittent sitting; prolonged standing, walking, bending, and stooping. Ability to perform visual and auditory observation of patients. Drug and alcohol-free as evidenced by negative results of post-offer, pre-employment urine drug screen.