Mental Health Specialist-1

WVU Medicine; Morgantown (WV); On-site; USD 29,000 - 36,000; Part time

Job summary

WVUH West Virginia University Hospitals seeks a paraprofessional to deliver mental health care under direct supervision. The role focuses on facilitating group therapy, collaborating with the interdisciplinary team, and supporting clients in daily living within a therapeutic framework.

Minimum qualifications include 2 years of college or related psychiatric care experience, BLS certification within 30 days, and background checks.

Qualifications

• Two years of college study or two years of experience in inpatient acute psychiatric care.
• Obtain BLS certification within 30 days of hire.
• State and Federal background checks as required for regulated areas.
• Strong communication and teamwork abilities in a mental health setting.

Responsibilities

• Facilitate or co-facilitate therapeutic group processes.
• Collaborate with the interdisciplinary team and interact with clients and significant others in a therapeutic relationship.
• Help clients structure daily living in a therapeutic manner and contribute as an active team member.
• Identify and implement developmentally appropriate interventions using the master treatment plan.

Skills

Oral & written communication

Stress management

Independent judgment

Multidisciplinary collaboration

Education

Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Social Work, or Nursing

BLS certification (within 30 days)

Job description

Welcome! We’re excited you’re considering an opportunity with us! Below, you’ll find other important information about this position. Responsible for delivering paraprofessional mental health care under direct supervision.

Minimum Qualifications

• EDUCATION, CERTIFICATION, AND/OR LICENSURE: 1. Obtain certification in BLS within 30 days of hire date 2. State criminal background check and Federal (if applicable), as required for regulated areas.

Experience

• Two (2) years of college study OR Two (2) years of experience in inpatient acute psychiatric care.

Preferred Qualifications

• EDUCATION, CERTIFICATION, AND/OR LICENSURE: 1. Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Social Work, or Nursing. 2. Valid driver's license.

Core Duties and Responsibilities

1. Facilitates or co-facilitates the therapeutic group process.
2. Applies effective communication techniques in collaborating with members of the interdisciplinary team and in interacting with clients and significant others in therapeutic relationships.
3. Assists clients to structure their lives in a therapeutic manner. Serves as an active member of the mental health team, taking developmental age of the client into account (as determined and directed by the master treatment plan). Providing community based mental health care, which includes providing care to clients in a manner that considers safety and patients’ rights and comfort.
4. Utilizes the master treatment plan for assistance in identifying and implementing developmental age-appropriate interventions with clients. This includes therapeutically supporting and reinforcing clients’ appropriate and pro-social behavior and negatively reinforcing and setting limits in a therapeutic and consistent manner clients’ inappropriate and antisocial behavior, within program guidelines. Identification of verbal and non-verbal cues for potential aggressive behavior and application of de-escalation techniques to the situation.
5. Implements appropriate interventions and documents clients’ responses in the medical record.
6. Identifies thought patterns and behaviors associated with different types of psychiatric diagnoses and developmental ages and intervenes appropriately utilizing the master treatment plan.
7. Provides assistance to clients’ family members and other supportive individuals in accordance with program standards.
8. Performs basic medical tasks (i.e. obtains and documents vital signs, collects urine and stool samples, weighs clients, witnessing controlled substance wastes, obtaining blood glucose levels) and exhibits a willingness to learn additional tasks.
9. Assists clients in their activities of daily living (bathing, toileting, eating and ambulation) as needed.
10. May transport and supervise clients to appointments and activities.
11. Organizes and facilitates specific recreation, physical fitness and age appropriate leisure time activities.
12. Answers the phone and responds to all calls, including Helpline calls, in an appropriate and professional manner.

Physical Requirements

1. Heavy/hard work: Requires strength and or stamina, lifting, moving, stooping, reaching, standing, walking, and occasionally physical restraint of a client.

Working Environment

1. Inpatient setting or work within homes and living spaces of community based clientele.

Skills and Abilities

1. Must have strong oral and written communication skills.
2. Must have the ability to work successfully under highly stressful conditions, and must be capable of adapting to varying workloads and work assignments on a constant basis.
3. Must have the ability to make sound, independent judgments based on scientific principles, and also be able to collaborate with other multi-disciplinary team members in an appropriate fashion.

Additional Job Description

• Scheduled Weekly Hours: 24 Shift: Day (United States of America)
• Exempt/Non-Exempt: United States of America (Non-Exempt)
• Company: WVUH West Virginia University Hospitals
• Cost Center: 302 WVUH Neuro Adolescent Psych Unit
• CRH Address: 930 Chestnut Ridge Road Morgantown West Virginia

Equal Opportunity Employer

West Virginia University Health System and its subsidiaries (collectively \"WVUHS\") is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local fair employment practices laws. WVUHS strictly prohibits and does not tolerate discrimination against employees, applicants, or any other covered persons because of race, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, ethnicity, sex (including gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), age, physical or mental disability, citizenship, past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. All WVUHS employees, other workers, and representatives are prohibited from engaging in unlawful discrimination. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, training, promotion, discipline, compensation, benefits, and termination of employment. The West Virginia University Health System is West Virginia’s largest health system and largest private employer, providing care to communities across West Virginia, Maryland, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. The integrated academic health system includes 25 hospitals and five institutes, with more than 3,500 licensed beds, 4,000 clinicians, 39,000 employees, and $8.5 billion in annual operating revenues. Anchoring the system in Morgantown, West Virginia, are WVU Hospitals, an 880-bed academic medical center, and the 150-bed WVU Medicine Golisano Children’s Hospital. Together, the Health System’s hospitals, clinics, and specialty programs provide a comprehensive continuum of care, ranging from community-based primary and specialty services to highly complex, quaternary care and post-acute care.