Behavioral Health Specialist

Behavioral Health SpecialistAt Stony Brook Medicine, our Behavioral Health Specialist: Orients patients to treatment setting and participates in team treatment. Reviews and participates in implementation of the patient treatment plan, makes rounds with team, monitors mental status and reports progress or changes routinely to nursing/physician staff. Takes a primary role in maintaining a safe, therapeutic environment. Maintains patient safety and protects patient rights through patient observation, communication and interaction. Recognizes patients who are behaving aggressively, acting as a danger to themselves or others, or are in a crisis or medical emergency situation. Carries out behavior monitoring, re-directing, de-escalation interventions, restraint/seclusion, behavior plan development and safety plan development, utilization and monitoring. Conducts a variety of patient treatment activities such as individual and group. Plans and facilitates daily group psychotherapy activities. Assesses and interacts therapeutically with patients and families during visiting hours. Provides treatment that promotes patient dignity, independence, individuality, strengths, privacy, and choice. Demonstrates respect for cultural diversity and patient boundaries. Provides quality patient care by maintaining knowledge and skill level related to the symptoms and treatment of behavioral disorders relevant to position responsibilities and in accordance with state agency regulations.Duties of a Behavioral Health Specialist may include the following but are not limited to: Orients patients to treatment setting and participates in team treatment. Takes a primary role in maintaining a safe, therapeutic environment. Conducts a variety of patient treatment activities such as individual and group.Qualifications Required:The individuals should have a Master's or doctoral degree in Social Work, Mental Health Counseling, Rehabilitation Counseling, Psychiatric Nursing, Psychology or an equivalent field. In lieu of a Master's or Doctoral Degree, the individual should have a minimum of a Bachelor's degree in a human service field and be either credentialed as an alcoholism and substance abuse counselor (CASAC) or be a Board Certified Behavioral Analyst (BCBA) within NYS. A minimum of 3 years' experience working in a position focused on serving those with mental illness in an inpatient hospital setting is required. Five (5) or more years of working in a mental health outpatient, partial hospital or residential setting can be substituted for the inpatient hospital requirement if deemed sufficient by the recruiting team.Preferred: A master's or doctoral degree is preferred.Please note that the successful candidate must frequently move about the hallways, patient rooms, and multiple floors to service patients. The successful candidate will also aid with the transport of patients. The successful candidate is responsible for responding to alarms/codes, detecting and communicating situations that may cause harm to the patient, or others, responding to and communicating requests for assistance. In addition, they must, as necessary, use physical interventions and techniques when securing and applying restraints on patients and move restrained patients; as necessary. The successful candidate will also restrain agitated patients and aid with lifting patients.