BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ASSOCIATE

This is a crisis intervention role under the direction of a Registered Nurse (RN) and/or physician, and in collaboration with the interdisciplinary team, selected candidates will  perform crisis and/or de-escalation interventions, therapeutic observations, engagements, client supervision and other behavioral health related duties, including assisting in the implementation of seclusion for patients presented to behavior health services for psychological assessment and treatment. Acting  in compliance with corporate, hospital and all relevant regulatory policies.

• Utilizes crisis and/or de-escalation intervention practices, when necessary and appropriate, with patients whose behavior cannot be otherwise supported without such interventions.
• • Assist in the application and removal of restraints and the implementation of seclusion, when deemed necessary by appropriate personnel; ensures the physical and emotional health and safety of the client when using such method.
• • Identifies patient characteristics and environmental variables that may trigger agitated behaviors(s) and communicates such information to the treatment team.
• • Performs observation and monitoring of assigned patients on a one-to-one basis.
• • Performs patients checks/rounds and video surveillance, as required, and reports observations, interactions and patients’ activity to assigned nursing staff.
• • Communicates clinical matters to assigned RN or other professional staff as required.
• • Escorts patients to required location(s), on and off facility premises.
• • Monitors and controls patients. Family, visitors, and staff traffic flow through behavioral health services.
• • Assures the safety of patients through electronic scanning and safety checks prior to entry to behavioral health services.
• • Inspects and categorizes patient’s belongings at time of admission and assures that property is safely maintained and returned at the time of transfer or discharge; notifies appropriate personnel of illegal items for proper handling.
• • Participates in staff, departmental and team/committee meetings.
• • Participates in departmental quality assurance/performance improvement (QA/PI) activities.
• • Participates in departmental and/or facility-wide training as required.
• • Performs related work as assigned