Job Description

Job Summary: 

The Mental Health Specialist provides direct patient care under the supervision of a registered nurse. Primary responsibilities include the provision of a safe and therapeutic milieu, crisis intervention and activities of daily living.

For information about the benefits we offer, please visit  UHS Benefits Service Center .

Garfield Park Behavioral Hospital is dedicated to providing behavioral health and psychiatric support to children and teens ages 3 to 17.  Above all else, we treat every patient with compassion and respect. Using evidence-based treatment approaches and individualized care, we strive to instill hope in our patients, their families and our community.  

Education: High School diploma or GED required accompanied with 5+ years of related psychiatric experience. Associates Degree accepted along with comparable experience.

Experience: One-year experience working within the mental health field, or an equivalent amount of college accredited school work or internship experience.

Licensure/Certification: State of IL EMT & Paramedic Certificate

QUALIFICATIONS DESIRED:

Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology or related field strongly preferred.

Experience:  One-year of experience working within an inpatient psychiatric hospital with children, adolescents and adults. Prior experience with utilizing crisis intervention verbal and physical techniques. Experience conducting group therapy sessions, performing vital signs and documenting nursing progress notes.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

The Essential Job Functions are defined as the fundamental job-related duties that are necessary to the position. An employee is deemed qualified for this position if he or she can perform the following duties with or without accommodations:

-Perform all crisis intervention techniques (verbal and physical) and respond to code situations

-Monitor and ensure patient safety at all times via continous Q15 minute rounding

-Ability to therapeutically communicate with patients

-Ability to recognize and communicate the physical and psychological status of the patients under their care

-Assist patient with Activities of Daily Living when necessary

NONESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

-Maintain a clean work setting and milieu

-Assist in the transporting of patients to and from the hospital when needed

-Performing vital signs on patients

-Perform other duties as assigned.

SUCCESS FACTORS/JOB COMPETENCIES:

-Positive therapeutic relationships and interventions with patients

-Service Excellence with all customers

-Ability to use least restrictive measures

-Clear and concise documentation

-Adherence to Hospital Attendance policies

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The physical demands and work environment characteristics 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:

Environmental Conditions:  Exposure to psychiatric patients who may exhibit violent/aggressive behavior. Potential for exposure to communicable diseases, blood/body fluids and other hazardous waste. General hospital environment.

Physical Demands:  Ability to communicate verbally and in writing. Physical agility to manage patients during physical interventions. Push, pull and lift up to 40 pounds. Intermittent sitting; prolonged standing, walking, bending and stooping. Ability to perform visual and auditory observation of patients. Drug and alcohol free as evidenced by negative results of post-offer, pre-employment urine drug screen.

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