Behavioral Health Specialist I

SUMMARY

Under the direction of the Clinical Nurse Manager (Inpatient)/Program Director (Partial) and Unit Charge RN, the Behavioral Health Specialist I (BHS I) provides care and ensures the safety of children and adolescents as part of an interdisciplinary treatment team. The BHS I contributes to the daily structure of the therapeutic milieu and implements, observes, and documents care under the direction of a Registered Nurse.

All Brown University Health employees are expected to role model the organization’s values of Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence, which guide daily interactions with patients, families, customers, and colleagues.

Employees are also expected to demonstrate the organization’s Success Factors:

• Instill trust and value differences
• Maintain patient and community focus through collaboration

RESPONSIBILITIES

A. Therapeutic Milieu and Patient Safety

• Maintains a safe, therapeutic environment and actively engages with assigned patients throughout the shift
• Participates in the development and implementation of patient‑specific milieu care plans
• Maintains and documents patient observation levels as ordered
• Supervises daily routines and assists with activities of daily living and hygiene
• Provides support and information to parents as directed by the treatment team
• Identifies, reports, and assists in resolving potential or actual unit concerns
• Responds to critical incidents with timely reporting and accurate documentation
• Completes all required documentation, including shift notes, intakes, and incident reports
• Participates in restraint debriefings
• Carries out assignments delegated by the Charge RN and reports prior to shift change
• Intervenes therapeutically in disruptive or self/other‑injurious behaviors using least restrictive interventions
• Maintains appropriate professional boundaries

B. Policy Compliance and Professional Requirements

• Adheres to hospital, departmental, and program policies and procedures
• Attends peer review, staff meetings, and required trainings
• Maintains current certifications in Crisis Management, CPR, OSHA, ERS, and Safety
• Participates in unit and hospital staff development as assigned

C. Care Planning, Documentation, and Communication

• Participates in patient care planning under the direction of the primary/Charge RN
• Supports therapeutic alliance development with patients and families upon admission
• Assists with separation and transition into the hospital environment
• Documents objective patient observations each shift and communicates findings to the RN
• Reviews care plans and problem lists daily and suggests revisions based on patient needs
• Communicates patient care plans to unit and interdisciplinary staff
• Participates in treatment team meetings, rounds, and hand‑off reports
• Accurately documents significant patient and family interactions in the medical record
• Shares clinical knowledge with staff through formal and informal development opportunities
• Adapts care approaches to meet the developmental needs of diverse children and adolescents

D. Programming, Groups, and Behavioral Support

• Supports and contributes to behavioral management and care plan development
• Assists and teaches activities of daily living based on patient ability
• Co‑leads community meetings, milieu meetings, social skills groups, and recreation activities
• Sets consistent therapeutic limits in accordance with hospital and unit standards
• Implements behavioral programs in collaboration with the RN and treatment team
• Organizes and participates in unit activities supporting physical and social development
• Coordinates materials and transportation as needed
• Participates in family teaching visits and parent training
• Models therapeutic staff‑patient interactions
• Co‑leads therapy groups with a clinician and participates in recreation therapy
• Responds safely and effectively to crisis situations
• Seeks supervision and integrates feedback to improve performance
• Performs other duties as assigned

Employees may be required to perform comparable duties in other clinical settings throughout the hospital system as program needs arise.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education:
Bachelor’s degree in a Human Services field preferred. Equivalent education and experience may be substituted at the discretion of the Hiring Manager.

Knowledge and Skills:
Demonstrated ability and willingness to learn role‑specific skills. Knowledge of lifespan development, aging processes, and cultural considerations in patient care.

Safety and Physical Requirements:
Works in a psychiatric setting with potentially aggressive or self‑injurious patients. Must use de‑escalation skills and remain calm during crisis situations. Must be able to participate in physical management of patients using approved methods, including maintaining safe body positioning and escorting patients when necessary. Physical requirements include lifting up to 50 pounds; frequent standing, walking, and sitting; bending, squatting, kneeling; and occasional running for short distances.

Experience:
Six months to one year of direct childcare experience with emotionally impaired youth.

Independent Action:
Performs duties independently within program policies, referring complex issues to a supervisor when necessary.

Supervisory Responsibility:
None.