Mental Health Coach

Summary

• 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. Reports to departmental leadership.

• ESSENTIAL 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.

• May complete 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.

• May complete nursing tasks (Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), 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.

• LICENSES AND/OR CERTIFICATIONS

• Required Licenses and/or Certifications

• None

• MINIMUM EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

• Required Education and Experience

• Must meet at least one of the following education or experience requirements upon hire:

• bachelor's degree in Social Work, Counseling, Mental Health, Education, Healthcare, or a related field; or

• one (1) year of experience in psychiatric care; or

• two (2) years of experience in direct patient care.

• Increased Security Clearance Required: FBI fingerprinting, criminal background check, and Child Protective Services registry search.

• Preferred Education and Experience:

• Supplemental trainings in mental health disorders, crisis response, behavioral planning preferred.

• WORKING CONDITIONS

• Inpatient hospital or outpatient practice with little exposure to dust, temperature and the like.

• PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Click here to view physical requirements.