Mental Health Specialist

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

EDUCATION, CERTIFICATION, AND/OR LICENSURE:

1. Obtain certification in HeartSaver First Aid within 30 days of hire date.

2. Successful completion of the criminal identification bureau check and maintenance of a personal record that would not disqualify him/her for employment due to illegal activities.

3. West Virginia state criminal background check, and federal, if applicable, required for DHHR regulated area.

EXPERIENCE:

1. Two years of college studyORTwo years of experience in inpatient acute psychiatric care.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

EDUCATION, CERTIFICATION, AND/OR LICENSURE:

1. Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Social Work, or Nursing preferred.

CORE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:The statements described here are intended to describe the general nature of work being performed by people assigned to this position.They are not intended to be constructed as an all-inclusive list of all responsibilities and duties.Other duties may be assigned.

1. Facilitates and/or co-facilitates the therapeutic group process.

2. Applies effective communication techniques in collaborating with members of the interdisciplinary team and in interacting with patients and significant others in therapeutic relationships.

3. Provides structure and maintains a therapeutic milieu, as an active member of the mental health team, taking developmental age of patient into account (as determined and directed by the master treatment plan).Maintenance of the therapeutic milieu includes providing care to patients in a manner that considers safety (i.e. rounds), patients' rights and comfort.

4. Utilizes the master treatment plan for assistance in identifying and implementing developmental age appropriate interventions with patients. This includes setting limits in a therapeutic and consistent manner on a patient's behavior with the assistance of a registered nurse within program guidelines and identification of verbal and non-verbal cues for potential aggressive behavior and application of de-escalation techniques to the situation.

5. Implements appropriate interventions and documents patient's responses in the medical record using the DAR format under the supervision of a registered nurse.

6. Identifies thought patterns and behaviors associated with different types of psychiatric diagnoses and developmental ages and intervenes appropriately utilizing the master treatment plan.

7. Provides assistance to visitors and families in accordance with hospital and unit policies.

8. Performs basic medical tasks (i.e. obtains and documents vital signs, collects urine and stool specimens, weighs patients) and exhibits a willingness to learn additional tasks.

9. Assists patients in their activities of daily living (bathing, toileting, eating, and ambulation) as needed.

10. Provides total care within scope of practice when assigned sitter or constant visual responsibilities.

11. Assists with therapeutic intervention, which may include verbal de-escalation and physical intervention.

12. Organizes and facilitates specific recreation, physical fitness and age appropriate leisure time activities.

13. Answers the telephone and responds to all calls, including Helpline calls, in an appropriate and professional manner.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT:The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

1. Heavy/hard work:work requires strength and/or stamina, lifting, moving, stooping, reaching, standing, walking, and occasionally physical restraint of a patient.

Additional Job Description:

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