Mental Health Counselor - Psych Unit

Job ProfileSummary

​This role focuses on providing medical and clinical support services to patients. In addition, this role focuses on performing the following Medical/Behavioral Health duties: Provides behavioral evaluation services to patients and are specialized in the evaluation and treatment of mental, emotional, and/or behavioral issues. A professional individual contributor role that may direct the work of other lower level professionals or manage processes and programs. The majority of time is spent overseeing the design, implementation or delivery of processes, programs and policies using specialized knowledge and skills typically acquired through advanced education. An entry level role that applies broad theoretical job knowledge typically obtained through advanced education. May require the following proficiency: work is closely supervised, problems faced are not typically difficult or complex, and explains facts, policies and practices related to job area.

Job Overview

The Mental Health Counselor is a member of the multidisciplinary patient treatment team. This position implements clinical care responsibilities in accordance with unit/departmental policies, procedures, and standards under the supervision of a registered nurse.

Minimum Qualifications:

1. Bachelor's degree in psychology, sociology, or related human service field.

2. One (1) year of previous direct patient care experience.

Duties and Responsibilities: The duties and responsibilities listed below are intended to describe the general nature of work and are not intended to be an all-inclusive list. Other duties and responsibilities may be assigned.

1. At the beginning of shift, read all progress notes, test results and other patient data to determine patient status for past several shifts.

2. Reviews and implements treatment plan/behavior management plan to achieve patient goals.

3. Reads Kardex and care plan entries on patients to ensure consistent and accurate delivery of care.

4. Identifies tests or appointments scheduled for patients that shift and provides supportive education.

5. Meets with patient early in shift to review the day's schedule.

6. During the shift, talks with patient about mental status, behavior and progress patient is making towards identified treatment and discharge goals.

7. Throughout the shift, reports pertinent information to charge RN such as level of safety, changes in behavior, increase in agitation, physical complaints, any signs of physical illness, vital signs, intake and output, and activity of daily living status.

8. Gives observation and input regarding the patient to Nurse Manager/Charge RN when unable to communicate directly at treatment team meetings.

9. Shares observations and pertinent information with social worker, clinical colleagues, and patient family/caregivers.

10. Documents patient activities, behavior and mental status each shift as it relates to the problem list and treatment plan.

11. Conducts individual contacts with patient throughout shift to introduce self and review patient needs.

12. Identifies patients teaching needs and reports them to the RN.

13. Identifies issues related to progress towards discharge or any barriers to discharge.

14. Encourages participation in therapeutic group programs and initialized behavior plans.

15. Provides patient/family education and supports regarding milieu programming, goals of hospitalization and therapeutic interventions in support of meeting those goals.

16. Participates in crisis intervention through the use of verbal and physical de-escalation of potentially unsafe or aggressive behavior per CPI technique and seclusion/restraint policies/procedures.

17. Conducts patient safety checks as assigned to monitor both individual patient safety as well as unit mood and rising acuity concerns in the milieu.

18. On admission, conducts and/or assists RN with patient search for contraband, vital signs, height, weight and orientation to the unit.

19. Clarifies and implements unit rules indicated in patient guidelines packet.

20. Continuously evaluates patient progress toward goals clearly evident in documentation, participation in treatment planning, shift report and report to charge RN.

21. Serves as role model for other mental health counsellors and provides constructive peer feedback.

22. Orients new staff to unit under the direction of the RN.

23. Assists RN in administering physical care and personal hygiene measures to assigned patients as appropriate.

24. Leads and co-leads therapeutic process oriented and activity groups.

25. Preserves patient rights relative to all aspects of patient care.

26. Promotes improvement of unit program through individual, committee, or quality assurance activities i. e. , completing patient profiles, task force membership, quality assurance monitoring, and unit based supporting activities.

27. Accepts and responds to feedback regarding clinical and professional issues from peers and nurse manager and utilizes the feedback to improve practice and skill.

Physical Requirements:

1. Prolonged, extensive, or considerable standing/walking.

2. Lifts, positions, pushes and/or transfer patients and equipment.

3. Considerable reaching, stooping, bending, kneeling, crouching.

4. Frequent exposure to hazardous chemicals, sick patients, bodily substances, noise and possible exposure to radiation, lasers, electric shock, etc.

5. Regularly exposed to the risk of blood borne diseases and other transmissible infections.

6. Contact with patients under wide variety of circumstances.

7. Subject to varying and unpredictable situations.

8. Subjected to irregular hours.

9. May have contact with hazardous materials.

Skills & Abilities:

1. Ability to demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to patients ranging in age from pre-school to adolescence on the Child Unit and ages 19 through senior adulthood on the adult unit.

2. Ability to gather data reflective of the patient's age and developmental level in determining treatment needs.

3. Demonstrated skill in developing helpful relationships with patients, families, and staff.

4. Ability to use a variety of medical equipment necessary in the delivery of quality patient care.

5. Demonstrates assertive, professional and constructive communication to other members of the healthcare team and demonstrates overall teamwork spirit.

6. Utilizes professional problem-solving techniques to manage conflict.

7. Ability to handle emergency and crisis situations.

Tufts.