Mental Health Counselor Psych Unit

Schedule

This position is 32 hours per week, rotating day shifts with some nights as needed, and rotating every other weekend shifts. Includes rotating holidays.

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.

• Bachelor’s degree in psychology, sociology, or related human service field.
• One (1) year of previous direct patient care experience.

• At the beginning of shift, read all progress notes, test results and other patient data to determine patient status for past several shifts.
• Reviews and implements treatment plan/behavior management plan to achieve patient goals.
• Reads Kardex and care plan entries on patients to ensure consistent and accurate delivery of care.
• Identifies tests or appointments scheduled for patients that shift and provides supportive education.
• Meets with patient early in shift to review the day’s schedule.
• During the shift, talks with patient about mental status, behavior and progress patient is making towards identified treatment and discharge goals.
• 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.
• Gives observation and input regarding the patient to Nurse Manager/Charge RN when unable to communicate directly at treatment team meetings.
• Shares observations and pertinent information with social worker, clinical colleagues, and patient family/caregivers.
• Documents patient activities, behavior and mental status each shift as it relates to the problem list and treatment plan.
• Conducts individual contacts with patient throughout shift to introduce self and review patient needs.
• Identifies patients teaching needs and reports them to the RN.
• Identifies issues related to progress towards discharge or any barriers to discharge.
• Encourages participation in therapeutic group programs and initialized behavior plans.
• Provides patient/family education and supports regarding milieu programming, goals of hospitalization and therapeutic interventions in support of meeting those goals.
• 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.
• Conducts patient safety checks as assigned to monitor both individual patient safety as well as unit mood and rising acuity concerns in the milieu.
• On admission, conducts and/or assists RN with patient search for contraband, vital signs, height, weight and orientation to the unit.
• Clarifies and implements unit rules indicated in patient guidelines packet.
• Continuously evaluates patient progress toward goals clearly evident in documentation, participation in treatment planning, shift report and report to charge RN.
• Serves as role model for other mental health counsellors and provides constructive peer feedback.
• Orients new staff to unit under the direction of the RN.
• Assists RN in administering physical care and personal hygiene measures to assigned patients as appropriate.
• Leads and co-leads therapeutic process oriented and activity groups.
• Preserves patient rights relative to all aspects of patient care.
• 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.
• Accepts and responds to feedback regarding clinical and professional issues from peers and nurse manager and utilizes the feedback to improve practice and skill.

• Prolonged, extensive, or considerable standing/walking.
• Lifts, positions, pushes and/or transfer patients and equipment.
• Considerable reaching, stooping, bending, kneeling, crouching.
• Frequent exposure to hazardous chemicals, sick patients, bodily substances,…