Milieu Counselor - Pediatric Psychiatric Development - 32 Hrs/wk, D/E

Cambridge Health Alliance; Somerville (MA); On-site; USD 34,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Sign-on bonus

Job summary

Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA) seeks a Milieu Counselor for its Inpatient Child and Adolescent Psychiatry unit at the Somerville Campus. The role supports patients in crisis, assists with ADLs, leads groups, and documents care under RN supervision.

The position requires a high school diploma (BA/BS/MA preferred) and BLS certification; inpatient psychiatric experience is favored. A job-specific physical test is required for new hires, with a $5,000 sign-on bonus for 32–40 hours/week.

Qualifications

• High school diploma required; BA/BS/MA preferred or equivalent years of human service experience.
• Current American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.
• Prior human services, behavioral or psychiatric experience strongly preferred; inpatient psychiatric experience preferred.
• New hires must successfully complete a job-specific physical test.

Responsibilities

• Provide safe, structured service under supervision of a registered nurse.
• Assist with activities of daily living and 1:1 patient meetings.
• Lead or co-lead groups and perform safety checks; monitor vital signs and document intake/output.

Skills

Crisis intervention

ADL support

Group facilitation

Documentation

Education

High school diploma; BA/BS/MA preferred

BLS certification (American Heart Association)

Job description

Location: CHA Somerville Campus

Category: Human and Social Services

Department: Child and Adolescent Neurodevelopment

Job Type 32 Hrs/wk

Union Name: SH Laborers 381

Shift: 8 hour shifts, days and evenings, from7am-3:30pm and 3pm-11:30pm, with every other weekend rotation and holidays as assigned

Hours/Week: 40.00

CHA is offering a $5,000 sign on bonus for all Milieu Counselor positions that are 32-40 hours per week.

Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA) is a vibrant, innovative health system dedicated to providing essential services to all members of the community. With almost 140,000 patients in Cambridge, Somerville, and Boston’s Metro North region, CHA is a local provider of choice for primary care, specialty care, emergency services, hospital care, maternity care and behavioral health.

CHA recently opened a new inpatient center for youth with acute behavioral health needs. Located in Somerville, the beautiful new facility offers care for children 3-12, adolescents 13-17, and children with neuro-developmental disorders. The new Center for Inpatient Child & Adolescent Psychiatry at Somerville will provide a transformative continuum of patient and family-centered care for diverse youth with mental health needs.

Cambridge Health Alliance's Child and Adolescent inpatient Neurodevelopment Unit provides specialist assessment and care for children and adolescents who have severe mental health and neurodevelopmental needs. CHA provides services for children experiencing complex and persistent emotional and behavioral difficulties due to neurodevelopmental challenges. We care for our patients in a newly renovated secured 6-bed unit at the CHA Somerville Campus. Our unit offers private rooms, communal eating and living areas, an outdoor activity space, an active sensory room, quiet ‘calming’ spaces for both individual and group play and learning.

Job Purpose

The Milieu Counselor is a member of the multidisciplinary team who, under the supervision of a registered nurse, is responsible for a safe and structured service as well as attending to the individual needs of patients in crisis in an inpatient psychiatric setting.

The role of a Milieu Counselor will assist with ADL's (Activities of Daily Living), lead or co-lead groups, perform safety checks, 1:1 meetings with patients, and will accurately chart patients B/P, TPR & weight. Notifies RN of any changes in vital signs. Accurately measures and documents patient's intake and output. Assists patients following through with ADL's, maintaining nutritional and hydration needs, and assisting and monitoring the patient’s needs and other tasks as assigned by the charge RN.

Qualifications/Experience

• High school diploma required; B.A, B.S., or M.A. preferred or equivalent years of human service experience.
• Current American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) certification
• Prior human services, behavioral or psychiatric experience strongly preferred. Inpatient psychiatric experience is preferred.
• All newly hired candidates must successfully complete a job specific physical test.

Please note that the final offer may vary within the listed Pay Range, based on a candidate's experience, skills, qualifications, and internal equity considerations.

In keeping with federal, state and local laws, Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA) policy forbids employees and associates to discriminate against anyone based on race, religion, color, gender, age, marital status, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by law. We are committed to establishing and maintaining a workplace free of discrimination. We are fully committed to equal employment opportunity. We will not tolerate unlawful discrimination in the recruitment, hiring, termination, promotion, salary treatment or any other condition of employment or career development. Furthermore, we will not tolerate the use of discriminatory slurs, or other remarks, jokes or conduct, that in the judgment of CHA, encourage or permit an offensive or hostile work environment.

Cambridge Health Alliance brings Care to the People - including your neighbors, friends and family. Our local hospitals and care centers serve our vibrant, diverse communities, and play an integral role in improving health. As passionate advocates for the underserved, we actively partner with our communities to take on challenging public health issues, and conduct important research to help reduce barriers to care. We believe that everyone deserves access to high quality, convenient health care. This is why our employees believe in where they work and why many build long, rewarding careers at CHA.

Healthcare is changing rapidly. CHA has a strategic plan that charts a proactive course for our future. It is built on a vision of equity and excellence for everyone, every time. It also recognizes that our workforce is our most valuable asset and prioritizes competitive salaries, benefits and professional development opportunities for employees. The strategic plan is changing the way we provide care and improving the health and experience of our patients; we are looking for smart, committed, compassionate people who want to be part of making our vision of better health and equity a reality.

At CHA, you can believe in where you work and go home every day knowing you made a difference. Join our team and help us bring Care to the People.