Behavioral Health -Safety Specialist ( Night shifts

• Job Category Nursing Support
• Employee Type Full-Time

Description

The Behavioral Health Safety Specialist (BHSS) functions as a Mental Health Technician (MHT) with advanced responsibilities in violence prevention, behavioral risk identification, environmental safety, patient observation compliance, and de-escalation support. The BHSS works collaboratively with nurses, providers, security personnel, and leadership to maintain a safe, therapeutic environment while supporting patient care and recovery

The role combines direct patient care responsibilities with proactive safety oversight and serves as a unit resource for workplace violence prevention, crisis intervention, and safety initiatives. This position remains therapeutic in nature and is not intended to function as a security office.

Perform patient observation rounds in accordance with physician orders and unit standards.

Monitor patients for behavioral escalation, self-harm risk, aggression, and safety concerns.

Assist with line-of-sight and enhanced observation assignments.

Ensure environmental safety hazards are identified and addressed promptly.

Assist with contraband searches and patient belongings inventories according to policy.

Support fall prevention interventions and patient-specific safety precautions.

Identify early warning signs of agitation, aggression, and behavioral escalation.

Use approved verbal de-escalation techniques to reduce the potential for violence.

Assist staff during behavioral emergencies and Code White events.

Participate in violence-risk assessments and safety huddles as assigned.

Communicate safety concerns to nursing leadership promptly.

Support implementation of workplace violence prevention initiatives and unit safety plans.

Conduct routine environmental safety rounds.

Identify and report ligature risks, contraband concerns, and environmental hazards.

Monitor compliance with patient safety standards.

Ensure therapeutic areas remain safe and free from prohibited items.

Assist with security rounding and unit safety initiatives as appropriate.

Complete required observation documentation accurately and timely.

Document behavioral concerns, safety incidents, and interventions per organizational policy.

Complete incident reports for safety events, aggressive behavior, and workplace violence incidents.

Participate in post-incident reviews and debriefings.

Serve as a safety resource for MHTs and nursing staff.

Assist with onboarding and mentoring of new staff regarding safety practices.

Reinforce observation standards, de-escalation techniques, and workplace violence prevention strategies.

Participate in unit-based safety committees and performance improvement activities.

• Minimum one (2) years of experience inpublic safety, corrections, law enforcement, military police, or related safety/security field; OR
• Equivalent combination of behavioral health and security/safety experience.

• High school diploma or GED required .
• Associate degree in Behavioral Health, Criminal Justice, Psychology, Sociology, Human Services, or related field preferred.

• MOAB (Management of Aggressive Behavior) or equivalent training.
• BLS Certification.
• Security officer training certification preferred.

• Excellent observation and situational awareness skills.
• Ability to identify behavioral escalation and potential violence risk .
• Knowledge of trauma-informed care principles.
• Effective verbal de-escalation and conflict resolution skills.
• Ability to remain calm in high-stress situations.
• Strong teamwork and communication skills .
• Ability to safely intervene during behavioral emergencies within scope of training.
• Ability to document observations and incidents accurately.
• Knowledge of patient safety, workplace violence prevention, and behavioral health operations.

HIPAA
- Maintains knowledge of and adherence to all applicable HIPAA regulations appropriate to Job Position including but not limited to:
Medical records without limitation both paper and electronic, patient demographics, lab and radiology results, patient information related to surgery or appointment schedules, medical records related to quality data, patient financial information, patient billing 3rd party,…