BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ASSOC

Woodhull Medical and Mental Health Center is attuned to the healthcare issues that matter to the people of North Brooklyn. Woodhull focuses on preventing disease and promoting healthy lifestyles by reaching out to the community at various locations.

At NYC Health + Hospitals, our mission is to deliver high quality care health services, without exception. Every employee takes a person-centered approach that exemplifies the ICARE values (Integrity, Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence) through empathic communication and partnerships between all persons.

Job Description

PURPOSE OF POSITION

Ensure and maintain a safe and therapeutic environment

AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITIES

Behavioral Health Department

SUMMARY OF DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Clinical
1. Immediately reports extreme and dangerous changes in client's condition and/or behavior to medical personnel; immediately reports hazardous conditions which can endanger the well being of clients, visitors, and hospital staff to the appropriate personnel.
2. Safely escorts patient's to and from internal and external destinations as appropriate and required; assists clinical personnel in transferring patient's to and from assigned departments as required.
3. Assists patient with ADL as needed and when assigned
4. Advises and addresses the treatment team of issues or situations that require follow-up care and/or immediate or additional attention, informing the ADN, Head Nurse of such situations.
5. Must have active American Heart BCLs card on file
6. Performs CPR as needed.
7. Must be able to lift and /push 5lbs or more

Behavioral:
1. Identifies patient characteristics and environmental variables that may trigger agitated behaviors, violence, and communicates this information to the treatment team. Demonstrates competency in dealing with potentially violent patients.
2. Effectively utilizes PMCS crisis intervention/de-escalation practices and non-physical behavioral management techniques, when necessary and appropriate, with patients whose behavior cannot be otherwise supported without such interventions.
3. Demonstrates competency and assists in the application and removal of restraints and the implementation of seclusion when deemed necessary by appropriate personnel; demonstrates awareness of the possibility of physical and/or emotional injury to the patient during the application and utilization of restraints and/or the implementation of seclusion, and ensures the physical and emotional health and safety of the patient when using such methods.

Safety:
1. Adheres to all relevant corporate, hospital, and regulatory policies and procedures regarding patient safety.
2. Performs patient checks and rounds as required or when the treatment team designates the need for more frequent rounding due to unit activity.
3. Creates an empathetic and welcoming environment, routinely providing encouragement and support; acts as a liaison among the client, family, and medical personnel.
4. First responder to Code Grey calls; ensures appropriate care of the patient, and assists staff in de-escalation techniques.
5. Assures the safety of patients and staff through scanning and safety checks prior to entry into the Behavioral Health Unit; Verifies the identification of clients and visitors; Notifies appropriate personnel of all security related issues including possession of illegal Substances/items, prohibited materials; monitors patient, family, visitor, and staff traffic flow.
6. Detects and reports presence of unauthorized personnel, contraband, and/or activities; responds appropriately to incidents according to departmental procedures. Monitors patients, family, visitor, and staff traffic flow. Reports other offensive conduct.
7. Inspects and categorizes patient's belongings at time of admission and assures that property is safely maintained and returned to patient at the time of transfer or discharge.
8. Immediately reports individuals who appear to be disoriented, confused, or unaware of their surroundings to ensure their protection; remains with or watches them until appropriate personnel arrive.
9. Participate in unit safety and environmental rounds, as assigned.
10. Able to push/pull/lift 5 lbs or more

Communication/Documentation:
1. Demonstrates effective verbal and written communication skills.
2. Participates in ongoing education and training designed to encourage non-confrontational patient care methods.
3. Performs all level of observation, monitoring of assigned patients on a one to one basis leads, or co-leads discussion groups in appropriate areas and properly documents group activity performance.
4. Perform patient vital signs when directed to do so by clinical staff and enters patient vital signs data into the EMR
5. Completes all required documentation and reporting in accordance with departmental and other regulatory schedules.
6. Communicates any pending issues to oncoming shift to ensure continuity of care, and follows-up on issues as required.

HIPPA/Confidentiality:
1. Ensures confidentiality and discretion when discussing patient matters to those outside of the treatment team.

Quality:
1. Participates in departmental quality assurance/performance improvement (QA/PI) activities, departmental and team/committee meetings, and facility - wide training as required, and completes work in a timely manner while maintaining departmental quality performance standards and standards of productivity.

Education:
1. Associates degree in criminal justice, social service or a health related field, or a
2. Minimum of a High School diploma or a G.E.D. and two years of full time experience in law enforcement, nursing or psychiatric/behavioral health in a high volume, intensive care environment, or a
3. Satisfactory equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
4. American Heart BCLS certification

Professional
1. Demonstrates effective conflict and negotiation management skills with the patient and treatment team.
2. Readily adapts to changes in procedure or workload.
3. Assists others in the department when necessary and as requested.
4. Knows when to seek assistance for performance of responsibilities.
5. Establishes and maintains a professional and courteous working relationship with other hospital staff and demonstrates ability to work in a diverse, multi-cultural environment, functions as a member of the overall health care team.
6. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

1) An Associate's degree in criminal justice, social services or a health-related area; or

2) A High School diploma or a G.E.D. and one (1) year of full-time experience in law enforcement, nursing or psychiatric/behavioral health in a high volume, intensive care environment.

3) A Valid and current certification in Basic Life Support (BLS) through the American Heart Association (AHA).

4) *Successful completion of an appropriate training program in the application and use of restraints and seclusion must be completed prior to an individual performing such work.

5) Successful completion of an appropriate training in the performance of vital signs and grooming within ninety (90) calendar days of appointment to the title.

*Special Note:
As required by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Hospital Conditions of Participation - Patients' Rights (42 CFR Part 482), before applying restraints, implementing seclusion, performing associated monitoring of the restrained or secluded individual, or providing care for such individual, staff must be trained and able to demonstrate competency in the performance of these actions.

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