Milieu Counselor

Milieu Counselor

The Milieu Counselor is a member of the multidisciplinary team who, under the supervision of a Registered Nurse is responsible for a safe and structured service as well as attending to the individual needs of patients in crisis on an inpatient psychiatric setting. Milieu Counselor will provide quality patient care according to The CHA standards of nursing practice to assess, plan, implement, evaluate, and document that care and to develop professionally.

Responsibilities include performing specific nursing care under the supervision of staff nurse, delivering care according to the Nursing Department Standard of Care, accurately taking and recording patients' B/P, TPR and weight, notifying RN of changes in vital signs, assisting patient in maintaining nutritional and hydration needs, monitoring and assisting with elimination needs as appropriate for the patient's age, development and physical status, accurately measuring and documenting patient's input and output as needed, providing constant observation, when needed, as directed by the Registered Nurse, assisting patients in following through with ADLs (i.e. bathing, laundry, organizing room), as appropriate for the patient's age, development, and clinical needs, communicating accurately and in a timely manner via verbal reports to the charge nurse and other members of the clinical team, written reports, and the electronic medical record as appropriate and required by unit procedure, performing appropriate daily documentation, entering progress notes, group notes, vital signs, patient belonging information, and other data as indicated or assigned, into the medical record, collaborating with the primary nurse/charge nurse regarding implementation of a patient's daily plan, participating as a member of an interdisciplinary team, sharing observations of patient behavior in clinical meetings, attending nursing staff meetings and team meetings when scheduled, participating in unit based Quality Improvement Plans, attending meetings and participating in committees as required, participating in unit monitoring and unit safety, following unit safety maintenance and checks procedures at all times, and demonstrating accurate and timely documentation of safety checks surveillance, and close observation.

Additional responsibilities include being knowledgeable about hospital fire and safety procedures and completing annual reviews, maintaining current BLS certification for Healthcare Providers, having completed training, and being able to act appropriately in a physical hold/restraint procedure, familiar with DMH guidelines and regulations on restraint and seclusion of children and adolescents, understanding and implementing the Physical Hold Restraint Policy when indicated, demonstrating an understanding of the principles of caring for patients across the lifespan and trauma informed care, demonstrating responsibility for maintaining unit supplies and electronics, including checklists and inventory lists, participating in maintaining the cleanliness of the unit on each shift, assisting in emergency situations and drills as appropriate (fire, disaster first responder), participating in facilitating a therapeutic milieu utilizing communication and interactional skills, participating as an integral member of the unit-based group treatment program team, leading and co-leading a variety or groups as assigned by the nurse manager/charge nurse, planning unit activities with the charge nurse and accompanying patients on walks and outings as assigned, reviewing and following the nursing care plan for each patient assigned to him/her, demonstrating initiative in establishing relationships with patients through walks, group activities, individual meetings and activities, demonstrating availability to patients and active engagement in the development and maintenance of the therapeutic milieu, demonstrating appropriate use of collaboration, negotiation, limit setting and other strategies to promote a positive learning experience for the child and adolescent patient, working with individual patients to plan and utilize milieu therapeutically, incorporating the principles of trauma informed care and strength-based approaches to formulations and care, learning from work experience, colleagues, and supervision, and applying new knowledge to further develop skills, complying with all policies and procedures of the Cambridge Health Alliance, following Hospital and Department of Nursing policies and procedures, delivering care according to the Nursing Department's Standards of Care, complying with the Alliance policy on confidentiality of information regarding patients, families and coworkers, identifying the unique needs and implementing appropriate interventions for the Pediatric, Adolescent, Geriatric and Adult patient populations, integrating growth and development needs into the delivery of patient care for the population served, using communication methods appropriate for the patient's developmental stage and/or as appropriate to the age of the patient, assessing the patient's ability to follow directions for the completion of treatment, and making adjustments as appropriate, in collaboration with the multidisciplinary team, identifying and managing any special issues, concerns and risks for the patient population, performing other related duties as assigned or directed, and completing annual educational requirements and in-service training as required.

Minimum qualifications include a high school diploma required; B.A, B.S., or M.A. preferred or equivalent years human service experience. Certification (BLS) Human Services experience preferred Newly hired candidates are required to successfully complete a job specific agility test.

In keeping with federal, state and local laws, Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA) policy forbids employees and associates to discriminate against anyone based on race, religion, color, gender, age, marital status, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by law. We are committed to establishing and maintaining a workplace free of discrimination. We are fully committed to equal employment opportunity. We will not tolerate unlawful discrimination in the recruitment, hiring, termination, promotion, salary treatment or any other condition of employment or career development. Furthermore, we will not tolerate the use of discriminatory slurs, or other remarks, jokes or conduct, that in the judgment of CHA, encourage or permit an offensive or hostile work environment.

Cambridge Health Alliance brings Care to the People - including your neighbors, friends and family. Our local hospitals and care centers serve our vibrant, diverse communities, and play an integral role in improving health. As passionate advocates for the underserved, we actively partner with our communities to take on challenging public health issues, and conduct important research to help reduce barriers to care. We believe that everyone deserves access to high quality, convenient health care. This is why our employees believe in where they work and why many build long, rewarding careers at CHA.

Healthcare is changing rapidly. CHA has a strategic plan that charts a proactive course for our future. It is built on a vision of equity and excellence for everyone, every time. It also recognizes that our workforce is our most valuable asset and prioritizes competitive salaries, benefits and professional development opportunities for employees. The strategic plan is changing the way we provide care and improving the health and experience of our patients; we are looking for smart, committed, compassionate people who want to be part of making our vision of better health and equity a reality.

At CHA, you can believe in where you work and go home every day knowing you made a difference. Join our team and help us bring Care to the People.