General Summary: The Mental Health Coach is responsible for establishing a therapeutic relationship with pediatric mental health clients, modeling pro-social and positive self-coping skills. Maintains a safe and regulatory compliant treatment setting and collaborates with patient and team stakeholders to ensure an effective treatment experience. May function in on-call capacity as necessary to meet the needs of the organization.
Duties and Responsibilities: Provision of clinical care- ? Provides evidence-based skills coaching, behavioral modification and direct observation to pediatric patients with mental health diagnoses. ? Implements and reinforces strategies included in patient's treatment or behavioral plan. Relays ineffective aspects of plan back to broader team for review and adjustment. ? Completes coping cards with each patient and encourages their use. ? Completes nursing tasks, as delegated by the RN, for medically involved clients. ? Maintains a collaborative and supportive stance with patients as a means of maintaining unit calm. ? Displays expertise in de-escalation cycle and educates patients and families daily on its use.
Crisis Management- ? Maintains consistent awareness of where each assigned patient is on de-escalation cycle; utilizes skills appropriate for observed de-escalation level. ? Adopts a collaborative and reflective stance with patients with the goal of de-escalation in mind. ? Provides emotional first aid and de-briefing to individual patients and groups after behavioral escalations.
Ensure safe and compliant treatment setting- ? Manages patient's room, unit environment and team schedule, ensuring consistent structure and a priority towards safety. ? Ensures work areas are organized, safe and ready for the next activity or shift. ? Maintains constant awareness of patient location and immediately alerts nurse to changes in mental status. ? Completes regular environmental assessment.
Admission/Registration/Greeter- ? Processes admissions in a timely, organized and client-centered fashion. ? Assures anyone entering the unit is free of contraband by encouraging use of assigned lockers. ? Provides updates to parent/guardian regarding patient condition and progress, information is linked to the plan of care; if unsure of boundaries consults with treatment team prior to sharing information. ? Greets families when they are present at point of access, provides guidance on way finding and unit rules.
Emergency Department ? Oversees Emergency Department mental health flow by acting as a liaison between, provider, charge nurse, bedside nurse, evaluating therapist, admission staff, parent and child. ? Provides evidence-based skills coaching, behavioral modification and direct observation to pediatric patients with mental health diagnoses Assistance in application of restraint, when deemed medically necessary and ordered by treating physician. ? Completes nursing tasks (Activities of Daily Living (ADL's), Vital Signs, nutrition, patient weights), as delegated by the RN, for medically involved clients. ? Maintains compliant and safe environment of care including stocking, setting up rooms for admission and general cleaning. ? Attends change of shift and unit level huddles. ? Assists with de-escalation and restraint application when needed. ? Completes coping cards with each client and encourages their use. ? Maintains consistent awareness of where each assigned patient is on de-escalation cycle; utilizes skills appropriate for observed de-escalation level. ? Performs other duties as assigned.
Minimum Education and Experience Requirements: ? Undergraduate degree in Social Work, Counseling, Mental Health, Education, Arts, Healthcare or related field from an accredited college or university. ? Course work and/or previous training and employment should demonstrate an interest or expertise in children, adolescences or mental health. ? Supplemental trainings in mental health disorders, crisis response, behavioral planning preferred.
Increased Security Clearance for Job Role Required: FBI fingerprint Criminal Background Check and Child Protective Services Registry Search.
