Behavioral Health Intern

Overview

Summary: Under the direction of Clinical Manager (Inpatient)/Program Director (Partial/Residential), the Behavioral Health Intern (BHI) is responsible for providing care and safety to children and adolescents as a member of the interdisciplinary treatment team. The BHI participates in inputting the day-to-day schedule and structure of a therapeutic milieu and the implementation, observation, and documentation of this program under the direction of the program/shift lead. Brown University Health employees are expected to model the organization's values of Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence in interactions with patients, customers, and one another. Employees are also expected to demonstrate core Success Factors in daily work: Instill Trust and Value Differences; Patient and Community Focus and Collaborate.

Responsibilities

• Participates in maintaining a safe and therapeutic environment.
• Actively engages with assigned children throughout shift.
• Participates in the development and operationalization of the milieu care plan for assigned patients according to established department and unit-based procedure/policy.
• Maintains and documents level of patient observation as ordered by the physician.
• Provides support to visiting parents as well as information according to treatment team request.
• Supervises assigned children in daily routines and actively assists with activities of daily living and basic hygiene needs.
• Identifies, reports, and resolves potential problems on the unit.
• Demonstrates appropriate critical incident follow-up skills by timely verbal reporting to charge RN or Shift Leader and documentation in medical record. Completes other documentation (e.g., incident reports, intakes) as applicable. Participates in event debriefings.
• Carries out daily assignment and reports back prior to change of shift.
• Intervenes in disruptive milieu or self/other harmful situations with timely therapeutic intervention(s) to children in distress.
• Maintains appropriate boundaries.
• Adheres to Hospital, Departmental, and Program policies and procedures.
• Actively participates in the patient care planning process under the direction of the primary/charge RN or Shift Lead.
• Works to support initial therapeutic alliance with patient and family on admission; assists with the separation process and performs other duties necessary to provide a smooth transition to the hospital environment.
• Within the 8-hour shift, documents objective observations within a shift note and shares observations with assigned RN/Shift Lead.
• Reviews milieu care plan and problem list on a daily basis and suggests revisions based on observations.
• Communicates individual patient milieu care plans in an ongoing manner to other unit staff, including liaison with other interdisciplinary treatment providers.
• Actively participates in treatment team rounds, patient-specific discussions, and hand-off shift report, as assigned.
• Accurately documents significant patient/family observations/milieu care on the Kardex and medical records in a timely fashion.
• Offers information and knowledge acquired through experience to other staff via formal/informal staff development forums.
• Adapts care to meet the needs of various children/adolescents.
• Supports and contributes to the development of care plans/behavioral management.
• Assists and teaches patients in activities of daily living and personal hygiene based upon patient abilities.
• Co-leads community meetings/milieu meetings/social skill groups and other program-specific groups (e.g., activity or recreation).
• Demonstrates ability to set consistent and supportive therapeutic limits within guidelines of hospital, unit, and department standards.
• Follows behavioral programs specific to the needs of the patient in collaboration with the assigned RN/Shift Lead and treatment team.
• Organizes unit activities and coordinates, supervises, and actively participates in children's activities (physical and social development). Arranges for transportation of materials if required.
• Participates in teaching visits/family and parent training as assigned.
• Consistently models appropriate and therapeutic staff/patient interactions with patients and families.
• Co-leads therapy groups with a clinician and actively participates in recreation therapy programs.
• Handles crisis situations in a safe, effective manner, utilizing the least restrictive, safe patient care alternative.
• Takes the initiative to seek supervision and incorporates suggestions for improvement in job performance.
• Performs other related duties as required, assigned, or directed by Charge RN/shift lead.
• May be asked to perform comparable duties in other clinical settings throughout the hospital system as program needs arise.

Basic Knowledge and Qualifications

• Current certification in Basic Life Support through the American Heart Association.
• Current matriculation in an accredited Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in human services with completed coursework in psychology and social sciences is preferred. Candidates in an Associate's Degree (AD) program may be considered.
• Demonstrated knowledge and skills necessary to provide care to patients throughout the life span with consideration of aging processes, human development stages, and cultural patterns in each step of the care process.
• Bradley Hospital Safety Care Specialist Certification: This will be provided to BHIs upon orientation.
• Employees in this position work in a psychiatric setting under stressful conditions; must utilize de-escalation techniques and remain calm during crisis situations. Must be able to participate in the physical management of patients using approved methods and, if required, physically hold and escort patients for safety, including lifting up to fifty pounds; frequent standing, walking, and sitting; and occasional running.

Minimum Qualifications

• Experience: Current matriculation in an accredited BA/BS degree program is preferred.
• Independent Action: Works under the supervision of the Registered Nurse or Program Supervisor within hospital and department policies and procedures; refers complex problems to supervisor for clarification.
• Supervisory Responsibility: None.

Pay Range: $17.00-$27.13

EEO Statement

Brown University Health is committed to providing equal employment opportunities and maintaining a work environment free from all forms of unlawful discrimination and harassment.

Location

Bradley Hospital - 1011 Veterans Memorial Pkwy East Providence, Rhode Island 02915

Work Type

All shifts

Work Shift

Variable

Daily Hours

8 and 12 hours

Driving Required

No