It takes a lot of very smart, hard-working and talented people to provide the level of care that we give to our patients. Tufts Medical Center is an internationally respected academic medical center and we pride ourselves not only on the sophistication of the care we deliver, but the compassionate way in which we provide it. And that starts with our employees.

The Mental Health Specialist is a member of the multidisciplinary patient treatment team. They implement clinical care responsibilities in accordance with unit/departmental policies, procedures and standards under the supervision of a registered nurse. The Mental Health Specialist provides 1:1 support to patients who are experiencing an acute mental health crisis, including suicide ideation and/or self-harm.

The Mental Health Specialist must be able to demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to patients ranging in age from pre-school to older adult throughout Tufts Medical Center. The Mental Health Specialist must possess the knowledge and ability to gather data reflective of the patient’s age and developmental level in determining treatment needs.

PRINCIPLE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• At the beginning of shift, read all progress notes, test results and other patient data to determine patient status for past several shifts. Receives report from RN.
• In partnership with a Behavioral Health Occupational Therapist, the Mental Health Specialists reviews and implements treatment plan/behavior management plan to achieve patient goals.
• Reads care plan entries on patients to ensure consistent and accurate delivery of care.
• During the shift, talks with patient about mental status, behavior and progress patient is making towards identified treatment and discharge goals.
• Throughout the shift, reports pertinent information to charge RN such as:
  • Level of safety
  • Changes in behavior
  • Increase in agitation
  • Physical complaints or any signs of physical illness
  • Vital signs, intake and output, activity of daily living status
• Gives observation and input regarding the patient to Nurse Manager/Charge RN when unable to communicate directly at treatment team meetings.
• Shares observations and pertinent information with OT, social worker, clinical colleagues, and patient family/caregivers.
• Documents patient activities, behavior and mental status each shift as it relates to the problem list and treatment plan. 
• Identifies patients teaching needs and reports them to the RN.
• Identifies issues related to progress towards discharge or any barriers to discharge.
• Encourages participation in therapeutic group programs and individualized behavior plans.
• Provides patient/family education and supports regarding milieu programming, goals of hospitalization and therapeutic interventions in support of meeting those goals.
• Participates in crisis intervention through the use of verbal and physical de-escalation of potentially unsafe or aggressive behavior per CPI technique and seclusion/restraint policies/procedures.
• Conducts patient safety checks as assigned to monitor both individual patient safety as well as unit mood and rising acuity concerns in the milieu.
• Provides 1:1 support to the assigned patient during the entire shift.
• Float to all units in Tufts Medical Center to support identified patients.
• Engage with patient using identified coping skills from safety plan and encourage the use of sensory interventions if appropriate.
• Educates staff on the patient’s triggers warning signs, and coping skills.
• On admission, conducts and/or assists RN with patient search for contraband, vital signs, height, weight and orientation to the unit.
• Clarifies and implements unit rules indicated in patient guidelines.
• Provides constructive peer feedback. 
• Orients new staff to unit under the direction of the RN.
• Serves as role model for other mental health specialist.
• Leads and co-leads therapeutic process oriented and activity groups.
• Preserves patient rights relative to all aspects of patient care.
• Attends and participates in psychiatry unit-based meetings and reads minutes when absent.
• Completes annual mandatory education and accepts responsibility for developing education plan in meeting learning needs with clinical nurse director and/or professional development director.
• Demonstrates ability to accept and respond to feedback regarding clinical and professional issues from peers and nurse manager and utilizes the feedback to improve practice and skill.
• Promotes improvement of unit program through individual, committee, or quality assurance activities i.e., completing patient profiles, task force membership, quality assurance monitoring, and unit based supporting activities.
• Assists in maintaining a clean, safe and respectful environment.
• Demonstrates assertive, professional and constructive communication to other members of the healthcare team and demonstrates overall teamwork spirit.
• Utilizes professional problem-solving techniques to manage conflict.
• Cross trained to the inpatient psychiatric unit to work as a Mental Health Counselor when needed.

JOB KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS 

• Demonstrated skill in developing helpful relationships with patients, families and staff.
• Experience working with LGBTQ individuals and individuals from different cultures.
• Ability to use a variety of medical equipment necessary in the delivery of quality patient care.
• Current basic cardiac life support certification.
• Basic computer proficiency.
• Multilingual skills in languages appropriate to the patient populations served at TMC are preferred.
• Physical ability to meet the core job responsibilities following practice setting demands for the patient populations served.

AGE SPECIFIC COMPETENCIES

Has the skills and knowledge to provide care to the age groups of the population served including:

• Knowledge of growth and development
• Provide age appropriate communication

EDUCATION

• Graduate of college program with a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology, sociology or related human service field preferred.

EXPERIENCE

• Patient care skills acquired through one year of previous direct patient care experience preferred.
• Experience working in psychiatric settings preferred.
• Experience working with behaviorally dysregulated patients preferred.
• Experience working with suicidal patients and patients who engage in self-harm preferred.
• Customer service experience preferred.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS/WORKING CONDITIONS

• Prolonged, extensive, or considerable sitting/standing/walking
• Lifts, positions, pushes and/or transfer patients and equipment
• Considerable reaching, stooping, bending, kneeling, crouching
• Frequent exposure to hazardous chemicals, sick patients, bodily substances, noise and possible exposure to radiation, lasers, electric shock, etc.
• Regularly exposed to the risk of blood borne diseases and other transmissible infections
• Contact with patients under wide variety of circumstances
• Subject to varying and unpredictable situations
• Handle emergency and crisis situations
• Subjected to irregular hours
• May have contact with hazardous materials