Mental Health Specialist I - Child Unit (Evenings)

				Overview:

Evening Shift 3:00pm-11:30pm- every other weekend included

0.6 FTE (24 hours) or 0.8 FTE (32 hours)

Every other weekend required; Benefits eligible.

Position starts at $19.387 an hour, plus $1.50 shift differential for evenings and $1.50 for weekends.

Pay to commensurate with relevant experience.

Responsible for performing basic supportive, Trauma Informed care to specified patients/families under the direction and supervision of an RN/Care Manager. Responsibilities include the provision of a safe and therapeutic milieu, crisis intervention and assistance with activities of daily living. Collects, documents, and reports data to the RN Care Manager but does not interpret data. Demonstrates competence in providing age-appropriate, Trauma Informed care and service for pediatric patients.

Responsibilities:

Clinical:

1. Participates with the interdisciplinary team in specialized patient care activities.

a. Provides encouragement support and reinforces positive behavior with a therapeutic, calm approach while maintaining therapeutic boundaries, setting limits, and utilizing de-escalation techniques, including physical intervention skills.

b. Demonstrates ability to identify and record relevant information for the most common diagnostic groups including:
i. Major Depression (with and without psychotic features).
ii. Bipolar Affective Disorder (including manic, depressed and mixed episode).
iii. Psychotic Disorder (Including Schizophrenia & Subtypes)
iv. Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders.
v. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
vi. Autism Spectrum Disorders.
vii. Intermittent Explosive Disorder.

c. Effectively establishes therapeutic relationships with patients and families on the unit.

d. Utilizes Trauma Informed Care philosophies when interacting with patients and families.

e. Leads, or co-leads and/or reinforces teaching of symptom management, including relaxation techniques, anger management, therapeutic goal-setting, problem solving, coping skills, etc.

f. Assists with Admission & Discharge Process as directed by unit RN. Completes unit/room orientation; reinforces information given to patients.

g. Utilizes therapeutic, Trauma Informed intervention techniques before, during and after the time of crisis to support safe patient de-escalation.

h. Assists with physical crisis intervention techniques and physical restraint during specific crisis situations per NCH policy.

2. Collects, documents, and reports the following data:

a. Vital signs
b. Temperature (oral, axillary, rectal); pulse (apical and radial); respirations; blood pressure using the non-invasive automatic blood pressure machine.
c. Heights, weights, and abdominal girth.
d. Oxygen saturation.

3. Provides basic supportive care:

a. Hygiene: (bath, shampoos, mouth care).
b. Bed making and keep patient room clean and orderly
c. Nutrition:
Oral feedings; gravity tube feedings (G-tube; for O-G or N-G feedings, placement must be checked by an RN or LPN prior to initiation of feeding. When using an enteral feeding pump, the Mental Health Technician can fill the bag and prime the tubing. The LPN or RN must set the rate and initiate the feeding. Measures intake. Delivers and collects meal trays and record I & O, calorie counts.
d. Mobility: Assists with transfer (wheelchair, etc.) Ambulates patients
e. Elimination:
Assists with urinary catheter insertion.
Performs peri-care using soap and water for patients with a Foley catheter during daily bath and as needed to maintain cleanliness of area around foley catheter.
Empties catheter bag.
Measures output (from catheter bag or collection device).
Empties urine or stool.
f. Provides basic skin care and applies NCH approved over the counter skin products that provide a protective barrier to prevent skin breakdown.
g. Reposition patients and documents per NCH Skin Risk Protocol.
h. Performs the constant attendant responsibilities for patients as delegated.
i. Cares for patients with restraints and documents observations per policy.
j. Promotes general patient safety.

4. Performs the following procedures:

a. Specimen collection: (urine for urinalysis and culture, stool for stool studies, sputum for culture, gastric drainage, blood by capillary puncture). Obtains clean catch urine.
b. Specimen testing per unit policy.
c. Cast/traction/pin care.
d. Simple (clean/non-sterile) dressing changes: band aid, established G-tube site, surgical skin prep, covers surgical wounds for shower, established ostomy site (change bag, clean site).
e. Holds, positions patient and assists with procedures (examples: IV insertion, lumbar puncture, chest tube insertion and removal).
f. Observes and reports appearance of peripheral IV site.
g. Gather/open/set up supplies (including sterile trays) to assist RN/Care Manager and others.

Qualifications:

KNOWLEDGE , SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED 
1. High school graduate or equivalent. 
2. Students in Bachelors of Psychology, Social Work, Nursing or related field can apply after half of their undergrad program has been completed OR One year of comparable experience in a hospital setting within the past 3 years.
3. Good written and verbal communication, interpersonal and problem-solving skills. 
4. Neat appearance, good grooming and professional manner. 
5. Must be CPR trained (American Heart Association CPR for Family and Friends) course or Health Care Provider course or Red Cross equivalent. 

MINIMUM PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS 
1. Must be able to see, hear, stand, walk, speak, read, and perform basic math calculations (add, subtract, multiply and divide), and perform manual tasks with or without accommodation, and care for oneself with little or no difficulty. 
2. Applies the principles of body mechanics in lifting or moving patients and/or equipment. 
3. Must be able to independently lift up to 25 pounds. 
4. Must be able to move or reposition patients of any weight or size with the assistance of another person(s) and/or equipment. 

The above list of duties is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by individuals assigned to this classification. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive list of duties performed by the individual so classified, nor is it intended to limit or modify the right of any supervisor to assign, direct, and control the work of employees under his/her supervision.

EOE/M/F/Disability/Vet
			

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