Mental Health Specialist (Per Diem)

capecodhc; Hyannis (MA); On-site; USD 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Cape Cod Hospital Behavioral Health Services seeks a Mental Health Specialist to provide direct patient care under RN and manager guidance. You will observe patients, assist with daily living activities, vital signs, and safety checks while respecting patient rights and confidentiality.

You will support therapeutic environment, document observations in the EMR, participate in crisis management, and help coordinate activities with the interdisciplinary team.

Qualifications

• English reading, writing and communication required.
• HS diploma or GED required.
• Associate or Bachelor's in Human Services preferred.
• Must pass Cape Cod Hospital Mental Health Specialist exam.
• BLS certification within 30 days.
• De-escalation certification within 30 days.
• Therapeutic communication and de-escalation ability.

Responsibilities

• Provide 1:1 observation to patients as assigned.
• Assist RN with patient care tasks including vital signs and preparing rooms.
• Assist in daily living activities and ambulation.
• Maintain safe environment and report equipment issues.
• Document observations in the EMR and coordinate with interdisciplinary team.
• Participate in crisis management and safety checks.
• Escort patients to units and program areas as needed.
• Contribute to treatment planning and therapeutic activities.
• Complete mandated continuing education for behavioral health care.

Skills

English proficiency

Education

High school diploma or GED

Associates or Bachelor's in Human Services

Cape Cod Hospital Mental Health Specialist exam

BLS certification within 30 days

De-escalation Certification

Tools

EMR documentation

Job description

1. Provides 1:1 observation to patients as assigned per established guidelines.
2. Assists RN with patient care tasks including vital signs, preparing patient rooms for admissions, handling patient belongings, answering the call bell system, visitor assist, assist in daily activities of living, ambulating, finger sticks utilizing the Cape Cod Hospital (“CCH”) Glucometer, etc.).
3. Assisting patients with use of laundry room.
4. Assists with the operating of showering facilities for patient use.
5. Responsible for Dining cart, menu’s, distributing trays, food orders, and temperature logs.
6. Assists nursing and unit staff with operations for all Codes and emergency calls.
7. Participates in managing the safety of patients by observing patients for escalating behavior, patient interactions, or any behavior that may affect the safety of the milieu. Promptly reports changes, concerns, risks, or observations to the RN.
8. Understands, assumes, and demonstrates accountability for observation checks on all patients and communicates findings to interdisciplinary team and others as appropriate.
9. -Provides direct patient care under the direction of the RN, and manager, in accordance with CCH Behavioral Health Services policies and procedures.
10. -Respects patient rights and keeps information confidential in accordance with CCH policies and procedures and State and Federal regulations.
11. Assists with providing, structuring, and maintaining a therapeutic environment in collaboration with the patients, other mental health care providers and other related hospital departments..
12. Performs accountability for observation checks, meal watches, and safety checks on all patients and communicates findings to interdisciplinary team and others as appropriate.
13. Assists with crisis management procedures during clinical/medical emergencies.
14. Facilitates in occupational, recreation and patient centered programs.
15. Escorts patient to other units, program areas, other hospital departments or other locations as needed.
16. Facilitates community meetings and clinical groups, and maintains documentation in the EMR.
17. Contributes to interdisciplinary team and treatment planning.
18. Assists in maintaining a safe and clean environment, reporting equipment out of order, clean equipment assigned, clean bed side stands and tables, clean and maintain utility, treatment and nourishment areas.
19. Participates in Process Improvement activities
20. Completes annual and mandated continuing education programs and training courses specific to providing behavioral health care for the population being treated.
21. Consistently provides service excellence to all patients, family members, visitors, volunteers and co-workers.
22. Performs other work-related duties as assigned or requested.

• Ability to read, write and communicate in English.
• High School graduate or GED.
• Associates or Bachelor’s degree in Human Service field preferred.
• Successful passage of the written Cape Cod Hospital Mental Health Specialist exam (study guide provided).
• Must meet at least one of the following qualifications:
  • One (1) year (recent within the past five (5) years) experience as a Mental Health worker, Mental Health assistant, or Nursing Assistant in a psychiatric facility.
  • One (1) year (recent within the past five (5) years) experience in a position with direct patient care within a nursing home, group home, substance, psychiatric setting, or general hospital.
• BLS certification required within 30 days from hire (course offered within CCH).
• (De-escalation) - Completion of an approved De-escalation Certification Course (obtain within 30 days, offered within)
• Candidate must be able to demonstrate therapeutic communication with patients and the ability to de-escalate patients.