The Child & Adolescent Unit CA1 is a 20-bed acute psychiatric unit serving patients between the ages of 3-18 years old with various diagnoses.

The Mental Health Safety Specialist is the unit expert in crisis management and de-escalation techniques. They are responsible for assisting in the development and maintenance of a therapeutic environment for patients experiencing emotional disturbance. Also assists with the specialized patient care needs of each individual patient using principles of adult development and knowledge of psychopathology.
Responsibilities:

• Adhere to established policies, procedures and standards of care.
• Develop supportive interpersonal relationships with individuals and groups of patients in accordance with treatment plan goals and that will continue the patient's development as an adult.
• Function within the philosophy of the Behavioral Health Center.
• Acknowledge the specific nature of the patient's dysfunction and considers the effect with community, caregivers, family members, and program staff.
• Contribute in the development and implementation of individualized patient care plans and assists in the integration into comprehensive treatment plans.
• Supervise and assist patients with personal hygiene tasks including bathing, dressing, eating, caring for clothing, and organizing personal belongings on a daily basis.
• Participate as a Treatment Team member in assessing the social and emotional needs of the patient.
• Safety continued:Assist in physical restraint techniques necessary in an attempt to control violent, combative patients and maintain a safe environment with respect to age-specific competencies and guidelines in conformance with seclusion and restraint policies and positive approaches training. Initiate debriefing sessions and provide feedback to staff after seclusion and restraint situations and any crisis situation. Assess for changes in patient behavior that may require a 1:1 interaction to provide early interventionDocument patient encounters in medical record/progress noteMay engage/encourage patients to participate in a safety related group/activity May assist with Mental Health Hearing process based on staffing needsMay meet and greet ambulance personnel bringing admissions. Assure commitment documentation is complete.Monitor visiting hour activity assuring no visiting takes place in patient rooms, no contraband is passed off by visitors to patients, and milieu remains calm.
• Demonstrate knowledge of each patient as an individual within the framework of the family.
• Plan and participates in educational, social and recreational activities for individuals and groups of patients in accordance with treatment plan goals.
• Safety: Conduct proactive safety rounds throughout the units, monitoring the milieu. Conduct Environmental Safety Rounds each shift and document/report any unsafe conditions as well as any security violations. Monitor the milieu for any safety concerns or risksProvide assistance as requested to clinical staff in the care and safety of patients, staff or visitors. Respond to all Condition M calls in a professional manner with respect to age-specific guidelines and competencies.Provide trainings in safety issues specific to the needs of the units based on specific need of patients and staff. Assist in investigating reports of incidents to include patient related issues, and any other areas considered to be of importance in the day-to-day operation of the unit.