INPATIENT MENTAL HEALTH SPECIALIST, FULL TIME, ROTATING SHIFTS

GENERAL SUMMARY/ OVERVIEW STATEMENT:

Under the direction of the Registered Nurse, the Mental Health Specialist assists in the management of the inpatient unit and engages with patients experiencing a wide range of acute psychiatric conditions in the Inpatient Psychiatry Unit.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Mental Health Specialist is a member of the multidisciplinary team who, under the supervision of the Registered Nurse, performs a variety of duties on the unit that include patient monitoring and coordination of and execution of inpatient groups. Monitors the tone and activity of the unit to ensure a safe environment. Provides age-appropriate care by following Nursing policies, procedures, and protocols. Utilizes de-escalation strategies to assist patients with self-regulation within the mission of reduction of restraints. Develops relationships with patients using therapeutic communication to establish trust and safety.

Relevant activities include, but are not limited to the following:

* PROVISION OF A SAFE ENVIRONMENT
* Introduces self at the beginning of all shifts and informs patients that they are the counselor who will be working with them.
* Demonstrates the use of a partnership model marked by problem solving and shared decision making.
* Finds ways to negotiate with patients that reverses escalation and provides reasonable alternatives to a patient's requests.
* Develops relationships with patients in a slow, methodical, deliberate, and consistent way to establish trust.
* Understands that patients will have better outcomes through engagement.
* Supports relationships based on normal rather than mentally ill.
* Contributes to a calm, peaceful, and safe environment through deliberate relationship building and values every individual's recovery experience.
* Contributes to environment that is supportive, integrated and empowering for trauma survivors.
* Assists patients in articulating personal goals for recovery by helping patients to recover their identities through hope and motivation.
* Teaches patients how to identify and combat negative self-talk and how to overcome their fears by focusing on their strengths.
* Engages in frequent, respectful interactions with patients with the intent to develop therapeutic relationships.
* Facilitates the reduction of self-stigma in patients.
* Modulates style of communication depending the patient's clinical presentation.
* Shares knowledge of the recovery process to instill hope.
* Facilitates problem solving strategies to support individual clients in self-directed recovery.
* Understands the signs and symptoms of mental illness (i.e., auditory/visual hallucinations, aggressive talk and behavior, thoughts of self-harm or harm towards others, isolation) and develops strategies for engaging with patients who suffer from these symptoms.
* Able to recognize warning signs indicative of an increase in potential for violence against self or others and intervenes to reverse escalation
* Demonstrates proper use of limit setting and behavioral intervention strategies.
* Understands and supports the mission of restraint/seclusion reduction and maintains annual de-escalation training.
* Prevents the use of restraint and seclusion by strategically intervening and effectively de-escalating potentially violent situations.
* Trained to participate in the trauma informed restraint/seclusion of patients when all other less restrictive measures have failed.
* Provides 1:1 observation to patients at risk for harm to self or others, or elopement.
* Works collaboratively with Police and Security partners to decrease assaults through engagement in workplace safety activities.
* Follows safety checks procedures at all times. Demonstrates accurate documentation of safety checks. Rounds with on-coming shift to hand off safety checks.
* Demonstrates understanding of and utilizes appropriate therapeutic boundaries with patients, families, and co-Counselors.
* In collaboration with the weekday Occupational Therapist and weekend resource nurse, the MHS evaluates the group needs of the patients on the unit and plans accordingly.
* Coordinates and runs 3 groups daily to provide therapeutic and supportive counseling in the absence of OT or group support from other disciplines.
* Demonstrates proper management of sharps per Safety policy.
* Recognizes changes in patient behaviors and communicates them to the patient's Nurse and the Resource Nurse.
* Manages and negotiates safe entry to and exit of persons from the locked unit.
* PATIENT CARE
* Follows established Nursing policies, procedures, and protocols
* Demonstrates appropriate hand hygiene and follows infection control procedures.
* Maintains CPR certification.
* Monitors patients in restraints, seclusion and/or provides constant observation per policy.
* Responsible for coordinating and working in partnership with assigned RN to execute the patient's plan of care.
* Notifies RN of any deterioration of the patient's physical status (per RRT and stroke criteria).
* Performs vital signs, glucose monitoring, and phlebotomy.
* Assists patients as needed with all necessary aspects of ADLs (bathing, laundry, organizing room, maintenance of nutritional/hydration needs, assistance with and monitoring of elimination needs).
* Assists patients with managing/organizing their time on the milieu.
* Assists in the admission process by performing a complete and accurate search of patient belongings. Labels and stores belongings per unit policy.
* Accurately documents patient belongings with location of where belongings are stored.
* Maintains patient's personal belongings that are in the patient belongings closet.
* Utilizes appropriate equipment for the management of patients with physical disabilities (wheelchairs, geri-chairs, side rails, handicapped shower facilities, physical lifts).
* Identifies the unique needs and implements appropriate interventions for age specific populations.
* COLLABORATIVE INTERDISCIPLINARY CARE
* Collaborates with other health care team members to provide interdisciplinary patient care by attending assigned team meetings.
* Shares observations of patient behavior information with interdisciplinary team members.
* Acts as a patient advocate within the interdisciplinary team.
* Work effectively and respectfully with all members of the health care team.

SKILLS & COMPETENCIES REQUIRED:

* Excellent customer service skills
* Ability to multi-task and work efficiently in a busy environment
* Strong verbal and written communication skills
* Computer proficiency
* Completes annual required training and updates knowledge through periodic in-service programs.

EXPERIENCE:

* Prior group facilitator experience preferable
* Prior experience providing milieu and safety management in a behavioral health care setting required

WORKING CONDITIONS:

* Work is performed in a locked inpatient psychiatric setting. Works in a fast paced inpatient psychiatric care environment where there is potential exposure to blood, blood products, body fluids, infectious materials, electrical, fire, chemical, radiation, physical contact and equipment hazards.
* Must have sufficient mobility to negotiate physical plant including the strength and endurance to perform physically for long periods of time.
* Must have the physical ability to transfer and lift patients with and without mechanical devices.
* Physical dexterity and psycho-motor skills to respond adequately and appropriately to routine and emergent patient care needs.

EDUCATION, LICENSES, CERTIFICATIONS, and/or REGISTRATIONS

Minimum Required: High School diploma required but prefer college credits in behavioral health sciences or a Bachelor's degree in behavioral health sciences

---