BWH Senior Mental Health Counselor II

Description: The incumbent’s prime responsibilities will be maintaining a safe and therapeutic environment, assist nurse manager with milieu management, performs crisis intervention, facilitating psycho-education groups, orienting patients to the program, documents patient progress and assists with scheduling.    Incumbent performs duties in accordance with corporate, organization and department policies and procedures while adhering to the overall mission of Bournewood Health Systems.

Bournewood Health Systems is dedicated to providing quality, evidence-based and person-centered treatment for people with mental health and substance use conditions in a safe and respectful environment in partnership with the individuals and families we serve, focusing on support, hope and recovery.

Bournewood is committed to a philosophy and an environment of care in which we treat people with dignity, respect and mutuality; protect their rights; provide the best care possible; support them in returning to their natural communities; and include patients and families as partners in their treatment. Our philosophy stands for providing a safe and therapeutic environment for patients, families and staff in which restraint and seclusion are prevented through the use of a range of resources and tools. All Bournewood employees are educated in and support this philosophy. All candidates must be able and willing to promote the values of trauma-informed and patient-centered care.

Salary: Negotiable

Openings: 1 full time opening on Stedman ITU

Qualifications: Four-year degree and at least 1 year experience working with adults with mental illness and/or substance use inpatient programs, and strong group therapy skills.

Essential Functions: 

 Performs all functions of MHC job descriptions and

1. Fosters positive approach in problem solving and promotes open communication on unit.                      
2. Meets with Nurse Manager to develop directions for the milieu and plan for it.        
3. Submits monthly time schedule for MHC's to Nurse Manager by the 7th of the month.          
4. Assists Unit Secretary in securing needed supplies for unit.
5. Identifies and works with staff to provide strength based , trauma informed care.
6. Able to demonstrate range of de-escalation skills and educate others.
7. Foster the use of least restrictive measures in managing patients’ behaviors and supports using restraints only in case of imminent risk.             
8. Identifies physical plant needs of unit and communicates it to Nurse Manager.
9. Assists in orienting new MHC's and conducts ongoing in-services on unit re: safety, restraint training, and assists Nurse Manager in developing other in-service programs on unit as necessary. 
10. Works flexible hourly/shift schedule in order to accommodate changing unit needs. 
11. Fosters teamwork, shares relevant information with staff.
12. Follows organizational lines and utilizes proper route for problem solving.   
13. Assists in interviewing new candidates for MHC.                 
14. Provides input to Nurse Manager for staff MHC evaluations. 
15. Daily meetings with patients assigned individualized treatment plans fostering patient goals and utilizing nursing interventions as developed by team.             
16. Supports other MHC's in developing plans of action to deal with patient behavior.       
17. Participates, leads, and/or assists with unit groups including community meeting group therapy, and recreational therapy.  Also teaches MHC’s group leadership techniques.
18. Observes, reports, and documents on pt. behavior utilizing care plan and assists other MHC's in documenting same.    
19. Offers assistance to co-workers on unit as needed in taking vital signs, bathing patients, performing meal watch, and caring for unit cleanliness.      
20. Performs individual patient care responsibilities as assigned by RN.
21. Demonstrates responsibility and dependability through attendance and punctuality, and proper use of earned time.                                   
22. Serves as a role model re: dress guidelines.                             
23. Accepts responsibility for unit cleanliness, safety and orderliness and designates to others to maintain same.                                   
24. Requests supervision for self and encourages others to do it.            
25. Is involved in patient programs and hospital committees as designated by Nurse Manager.
26. May be assigned responsibility of Tobacco Education Coordinator for the entire Health Systems, attending required external trainings as scheduled, and assisting the nurse manager on the DD/CD unit in the development of assessment tools related to the topic and/or providing patient/staff specific educational groups. May also provide guidance to the Directors of Ambulatory Care Programs regarding integrating tobacco assessment and education in their respective programs. Provides staff inservices as scheduled by the Director of Patient Care Services to all clinical areas within the organization.
27. Participates in treatment planning and other committees as assigned.
28. Attends unit or hospital meetings regularly
29. Assists Nurse Manager in ensuring adequate and appropriate staffing on assigned unit.
30. Any other duties assigned by supervisor.
31. Ensures that groups scheduled on shift occur or collaborates with other staff regarding change.
     
     
    Essential Competencies:
     
32. Able to effectively perform standards for emergency situations (i.e., de-escalation processes and patient preferences, restraint procedure, maintain restraint documentation, and participate in hospital fire and disaster plans).
33. Knowledgeable of clinical needs of adults, adolescents, geriatrics and chemical dependency patients.
34. Knowledge of psychiatric and chemical dependency illnesses and their treatment.
35. Knowledge and understanding of hospital policies and procedures.
36. Strong communication and leadership/supervisory skills.