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Mental Health Specialist/Safety - General Adult/Behavioral Health ICU | Western Psychiatric Hospital

Description

The Mental Health Specialist/Safety will be responsible for assisting in the development and maintenance of a therapeutic environment for patients experiencing emotional disturbance on the General Adult/Behavioral Health ICU floor at Western Psychiatric Hospital, they will also assist with the specialized patient care needs of each individual patient using principles of adult development and knowledge of psychopathology.

The General Adult Unit is a 24-bed inpatient behavioral unit, which provides care to individuals in acute crisis with a range of diagnoses, including, but not limited to:  Bipolar Disorder, Major Depression, psychotic disorders, anxiety disorders and comorbid personality disorders.

The Behavioral Health ICU is a 7-bed unit designed treat patients in a severely acute phase of psychiatric illnesses that have a strong evidence base supporting responsiveness to acute pharmacotherapy. 


Responsibilities:

  • Adhere to established policies, procedures, and standards of care.
  • Develop supportive interpersonal relationships with individuals and groups of patients in accordance with treatment plan goals and that will continue the patient's development as an adult.
  • Function within the philosophy of the Behavioral Health Center.
  • Acknowledge the specific nature of the patient's dysfunction and considers the effect with community, caregivers, family members, and program staff.
  • Contribute in the development and implementation of individualized patient care plans and assists in the integration into comprehensive treatment plans.
  • Supervise and assist patients with personal hygiene tasks including bathing, dressing, eating, caring for clothing, and organizing personal belongings on a daily basis.
  • Participate as a Treatment Team member in assessing the social and emotional needs of the patient.
  • Assist in physical restraint techniques necessary in an attempt to control violent, combative patients and maintain a safe environment with respect to age-specific competencies and guidelines in conformance with seclusion and restraint policies and positive approaches training.
  • Initiate debriefing sessions and provide feedback to staff after seclusion and restraint situations and any crisis situation.
  • Assess for changes in patient behavior that may require a 1:1 interaction to provide early intervention
  • Document patient encounters in medical record/progress note
  • May engage/encourage patients to participate in a safety related group/activity.
  • May assist with Mental Health Hearing process based on staffing needs.
  • May meet and greet ambulance personnel bringing admissions.
  • Assure commitment documentation is complete.
  • Monitor visiting hour activity assuring no visiting takes place in patient rooms, no contraband is passed off by visitors to patients, and milieu remains calm.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of each patient as an individual within the framework of the family.
  • Plan and participates in educational, social and recreational activities for individuals and groups of patients in accordance with treatment plan goals.
  • Conduct proactive safety rounds throughout the units, monitoring the milieu.
  • Conduct Environmental Safety Rounds each shift and document/report any unsafe conditions as well as any security violations.
  • Monitor the milieu for any safety concerns or risks.
  • Provide assistance as requested to clinical staff in the care and safety of patients, staff or visitors.
  • Respond to all Condition M calls in a professional manner with respect to age-specific guidelines and competencies.
  • Provide trainings in safety issues specific to the needs of the units based on specific need of patients and staff.
  • Assist in investigating reports of incidents to include patient related issues, and any other areas considered to be of importance in the day-to-day operation of the unit.

Qualifications

  • Associate Degree with 2 years’ work experience within MH/MR service.

OR

  • Enrolled in Bachelor’s Degree program in associated field of study with 2 years of related work experience in hospital or community setting with psychiatric patients.

OR

  • Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services field.
  • May in the course of their job duties be in rooms where medications are stored. No contact with medications is allowed.

Licensure, Certifications, and Clearances:
CPR required based on AHA standards that include both a didactic and skills demonstration component within 30 days of hire

  • Basic Life Support (BLS) OR Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
  • Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
  • Comprehensive Crisis Management (CCMC)
  • Act 31 Child Abuse Reporting with renewal
  • Act 33 with renewal
  • Act 34 with renewal
  • Act 73 FBI Clearance with renewal

UPMC is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran

Individuals hired into this role must comply with UPMC’s COVID vaccination requirements upon beginning employment with UPMC. Refer to the COVID-19 Vaccination Information section at the top of this page to learn more.

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