Mental Health Specialist II (Per Diem) Job Opening

Mental Health Specialist II (Per Diem)

North Star Behavioral Health

• Palmer, Alaska
Category: Physical Therapist

The Mental Health Specialist II is responsible for providing direct care to patients with psychiatric disorder; to ensure the safety and well-being of patients; to support the maintenance of therapeutic milieu. The MHS II is also responsible for providing leadership and direction to new MHS II staff based upon experience and special training in various areas of mental health service delivery; as well as supporting and actively participating with the recreation therapist in leading group activities for patients.. Additionally, the MHS II:

  • Observes patients for changes that require immediate intervention and take appropriate action; communicate regularly with supervisor regarding patient care concerns; carries out designated interventions
  • Accepts assignments from Unit Nurse or MHS III to provide specific skill training to less experienced staff.
  • In the absence of senior staff, or when assigned, takes initiative in ensuring care, delivery, safety, adherence to schedule appropriate MHS II staff.
  • Help identify patient’s problems, needs and strengths and communicate this information to the treatment team in a timely manner.
  • Understands and properly uses the chain of command, proactively seeking out the unit nurse for medical issues, MHS III or Supervisor for safety concerns, or therapists for clinical concerns.
  • Safely assists patients with activities of daily living (i.e. grooming, room cleaning, etc.)
  • Takes and records vital signs as directed and reports abnormal values to nurse/medical provider in timely manner.
  • Assists in orienting patients to units; ensuring safety check-in, conducting effective contraband search, property inventory, assisting patients in completing de-escalation packet, orientation checklist, and review of patients rights as assigned.
  • Assists patients in preparing for discharge (property inventory, packing, other discharge requirements).
  • Effectively demonstrates skills in active listening, reflection, appropriate use of tone of voice, body language, word choice so as to convey appropriate degree of compassion, professionalism, caring and respect in delivering patient care; displays good boundaries in relationships with patients; relationships are of a professional quality and appropriate to clinical role.
  • Maintains effective patient oversight; resident location log and status-based check sheets are completed accurately on a continuous basis with face-to-face visualization of patients.
  • Adheres to guidelines for patients on special status (i.e. suicide, sexual abuse or AWOL precautions).
  • Maintains safe and effective therapeutic milieu; implements point/level system and special programs consistently and within written guidelines; assists patients in following community rules/guidelines and in forming positive peer relationships; initiates, organizes and participates in activities to provide positive structure for patients; actively organizing and leading therapeutic/educational groups, primarily spending time directly with patients on the unit and ensuring adherence to activity/group schedule
  • Complete relevant flow sheets and other medical record forms accurately and in a timely manner; point sheets are consistently completed with documented rationale for scores.
  • Demonstrates working familiarity with treatment plan goals/objectives of assigned primary residents; charting reflects treatment plan goals/objectives and provides useful information for treatment plan revision and comprehensive integration of observations and relevant clinical data that is cumulative and details resident progress or lack thereof in reaching treatment objectives.
  • Performs other duties as assigned.

Job Requirements

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE: High School Diploma or equivalent required. Bachelors degree preferred; preferably in psychology, social work, or related field. Will accept a minimum of four (4) years related work experience or a combination of education and experience.

KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS:

  • Ability to interact positively with patients on a daily basis whose behavior may be difficult, uncooperative or aggressive.
  • Ability to perform concentrated and/or complex mental activity with frequent involvement in complex and/or highly technical situations;
  • Ability to work successfully under highly stressful conditions;
  • Ability to make sound, independent judgments based on scientific and/or ethical principles;
  • Ability to comprehend and perform oral and written instructions and procedures;
  • Ability to collaborate with other multidisciplinary team members in an appropriate fashion;
  • Ability to adapt to varying workloads and work assignments on a constant basis;
  • Must have effective comprehensive reading skills, strong communication skills, written and verbal.
  • Must possess a valid Drivers License in order to transport patients and/or staff, or drive hospital vehicles

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS OF THE POSITION:

  • Must be willing and able to execute the patient de-escalation methods, both verbal and physical.
    Must be able to complete new hire requirements such as State of Alaska Background Check and Drug Testing.
    Must be able to demonstrate special training, knowledge and skills specific to age groups, as well as job and/or program specific competency within three (3) months of hire date.
    Must be certified in CPR and Handle with Care Training upon completion of orientation and annually thereafter.
    Must complete all mandatory in-services annually.
    Must be tested for Tuberculosis with a PPD skin test annually or by a chest x-ray annually.
    Must be at least 21 years of age.

GENERAL WORKING ENVIRONMENT: Working conditions for all employees are as follows, but not limited to a psychiatric hospital/RTC setting; some risk involved in the event of aggressive patient(s); work load may include day, evening, night, weekend and/or holiday shifts. The Mental Health Specialist is occasionally exposed to outdoor weather conditions, fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, blood borne pathogens and body fluids, and loud noise levels. Mental demands described herein are representative of those which must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job, but are not limited to the ability to remain calm in a stressful environment; and the emotional stability, physical stamina and agility to handle stress and respond quickly and effectively to emergency situations.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Requirements include, but are not limited to the ability to communicate effectively with employees; the ability to effectively utilize communication equipment; the physical agility to manage cleaning equipment; the ability to read, write.

  • Frequently utilize physical ability for standing or sitting for long periods of time.
  • Regularly utilize physical ability for speaking, hearing, and seeing with correction for close and distance vision, color discrimination, peripheral vision, depth perception and focusing ability.Speaking and hearing may be necessary for conversing with and assessing employees.
  • Able to ascend/descend stairs and ramps; body agility is emphasized.
  • Able to bend body downward and forward by bending spine at the waist; bend legs at knee to come to a rest on knee(s)
  • Able to extend hands and arms in any direction
  • Able to use upper and lower extremities to exert force in a pulling or pushing motion. Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects
  • Able to raise objects from a lower to higher position or from side-to-side.
  • The worker is subject to both environmental conditions: Activities occur inside and outside.
  • The worker is subject to hazards: Includes a variety of physical conditions
  • Must be able to concentrate amidst distractions; must be able to perform work of a repetitive nature; must respond calmly to potentially volatile clients
  • Mental demands include but are not limited to emotional stability, physical stamina and agility to handle stress and respond quickly and effectively to emergency situations.

EQUIPMENT/MATERIALS USED: Telephone, computer, copier, fax machine, video player small hand tools and writing instruments.