Mental Health Specialist - Emergency Department

Part Time

680 Centre Street

Allied Health

Days 1st Shift

Signature Healthcare is Southeastern Massachusetts' premier local provider of quality, personalized medical services. We are comprised of the award-winning not-for-profit Signature Healthcare Brockton Hospital; Signature Medical Group (SMG), a multi-specialty physician group of more than 150 physicians practicing in 18 ambulatory locations. We believe our distinctive Signature Healthcare team approach is the way healthcare should be: medical professionals across many locations communicating and collaborating, taking advantage of technologies and resources to make a difference in the lives and health of our patients.

Position Summary:

Under the direction of the Registered Nurse, Mental Health Specialists provide routine direct patient care to stabilize and maintain the psychological and physical well-being of all patients admitted to the ED Behavioral Health unit. Mental Health Specialists ensure a safe and engaging milieu by implementing patient-centered interventions based on each patient's individual needs. Mental Health Specialists monitor patients and communicates patients' level of safety to the Behavioral Health team.

Location: Brockton, MA

Department: Emergency Department

This is a part-time day position with approximately 32 hours weekly.

Responsibilities:

• Demonstrates respect and regard for the dignity of all patients, families, visitors, and fellow employees to ensure a professional, responsible, and courteous environment.

• Commits to recognize and respect cultural diversity for all customers (internal and external).

• Communicates effectively with internal and external customers with respect of differences in cultures, values, beliefs and ages, utilizing interpreters when needed.

• Performs other duties as assigned

• Provides care for patients' physical needs including vital sign assessment and assisting with activities of daily living

• Performs patient safety checks, environmental safety checks and one-to-one safety observations as required

• Documents in patients EHR to record patients' status

• Establishes therapeutic relationships/rapport with patients while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries

• Attuned to environmental and patient safety risks and immediately communicates risks to Registered Nurse

• Observes for changes in patients' behavior, mental or physical status, safety and functionality and provides appropriate interventions as indicated to keep patients safe

• Documents and communicates changes in patients behavior, mental status, functionality and safety

• Identifies patient behaviors and verbal/non-verbal communications that may signify the risk of crisis development

• Utilizes verbal and non-verbal therapeutic communication techniques to de-escalate crisis situations

• Completes required non-violent crisis intervention training and implements training as needed for crisis management

• Serves as a role model by exemplifying professional boundaries, behavior and communication techniques

• Ensures compliance with infection control policies/procedures by patients, visitors and employees

• Interacts with patients, visitors, collaterals and all employees of the SHBH Organization in a professional manner

• Completes all other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the Registered Nurse

BASIC KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/APTITUDE/EXPERIENCE:

• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of variables in situations where only limited standardization may exist.

• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

• Must be able to reasonably make appropriate judgment in communications and actions with patients, physicians, other associates, outside agencies, and vendors.

• Strong therapeutic communication and interpersonal skills

• Ability to adapt to an ever-changing milieu and patient population

• Effective time management and organizational skills

• Exercise independent judgment and problem solving in managing the therapeutic milieu within their scope of practice

• Ability to effectively de-escalate crisis situations with verbal and non-verbal skills

Education/Experience/Licenses/Technical/Other:

• Education: High School Diploma or equivalent required. Associate's Degree or Bachelor's Degree in a related field preferred.

• Experience (Type & Length): Minimum of one year experience working within the mental health field. Experience working on an inpatient psychiatric unit preferred.

• Certification/Licensure: Complete and maintain Basic Life Support CPR Certification through the American Heart Association

• Software/Hardware:

• Other: Complete and maintain Non-violent Crisis Intervention training