Mental Health Specialist

About This Role

This role assists staff in the treatment and care of patients, performing standard procedures, contraband checks, and maintaining patient confidentiality. The specialist helps provide a therapeutic environment, observes patient behavior, and collaborates with interdisciplinary teams to ensure patient safety and care.

Responsibilities

• Perform standard treatment procedures and activities (e.g., vital signs, preparing patient rooms, assisting with meals, ambulating, finger sticks)
• Perform contraband checks under the direction of the RN in accordance with CCH Behavioral Health Services policies and procedures
• Keep patient information confidential and respect patient's right to privacy
• Assist with providing, structuring and maintaining a therapeutic environment in collaboration with patients and other mental health care providers
• Perform accountability for observation checks, meal watches, and safety checks on all patients and communicate findings to the interdisciplinary team
• Observe patients for escalating behavior, patient interactions, or any behavior that may affect the safety of the milieu and report to an RN immediately
• Assist with crisis management procedures during clinical/medical emergencies
• Participate in the admissions process by completing necessary components for Behavioral Health patients
• Facilitate and/or participate in occupational, recreation and patient centered programs
• Facilitate community meetings and clinical groups
• Contribute to interdisciplinary team and treatment planning
• Assist in maintaining a safe and clean environment, reporting equipment issues and cleaning assigned areas
• Complete annual and mandated continuing education programs and training courses specific to behavioral health care

Requirements

• Ability to read, write and communicate in English
• High School graduate or GED
• Successful passage of the written Cape Cod Hospital Mental Health Specialist exam
• One year (recent within the past 5 years) experience as a Mental Health worker, Mental Health assistant, or Nursing Assistant in a psychiatric facility OR one year (recent within the past 5 years) experience in a position with direct patient care within a nursing home, group home, substance, psychiatric setting, or general hospital
• BLS certification required within 30 days from hire
• Completion of an approved de-escalation Certification Course within 30 days from hire
• Ability to demonstrate therapeutic communication with patients and de-escalate patients

Qualifications

• High School graduate or GED. Associate's or Bachelor’s degree in Human Services field preferred.
• 1 year of experience as a Mental Health worker, Mental Health assistant, or Nursing Assistant in a psychiatric facility or 1 year direct patient care in a nursing home, group home, substance, psychiatric setting, or general hospital.

Nice to Have

• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Human Service field

Certifications