Behavioral Health Associate

Overview

NeproPsychiatric Hospitals is seeking Behavioral Associates at its Mishawaka location. As the national leader in providing medical and neurobehavioral care, NPH is dedicated to delivering high-quality, patient-centered care to patients in acute psychiatric distress.

Responsibilities

• Identify high-risk patients and use crisis intervention practices and support safety plan intervention techniques to maintain a safe environment.
• Perform environmental/patient safety rounds and implement a higher level of observation in emergencies.
• Report observations, interactions, and patient activity to assigned nursing staff promptly.
• Understand patient characteristics, triggers, through trauma-informed care and patient/environmental variables to assist in preventing patients from losing control.
• Participate in shift hand-off meetings, unit rounds, community meetings, team meetings, and committee meetings as required.
• Participate in debriefings after codes, incidents, and use of restraints.
• Assist in the assessment of need for as well as the application and removal of restraints.
• Lead or co-lead discussion groups on topics such as anger and safety.
• Review incident reports as needed to identify possible preventable factors and present these to the treatment team.
• Escorts patients during transfer, for testing, or for admission on or off facility premises as required.
• Participate in quality assurance/performance improvement activities and departmental and/or facility-wide training as required.
• Provide ongoing training to unit-staff in implementation of de-escalation training and physical interventions.
• Assists the nursing staff in performing selected nursing procedures and functional tasks to specific patients.
• Provides direct physical care, and/or one-to-one observation to selected patients under supervision.
• Aids in the lifting, positioning, moving, and ambulating of patients using body mechanics as instructed.
• Transports patients by wheelchair, stretcher, or bed.
• Escorts ambulatory patients.
• Escorts patients outside of the hospital as necessary.
• Obtains and records blood pressure, temperature, pulse, and respiration rate in accordance with hospital policy.
• Provides direct assistance to patients with Activities of Daily Living as needed.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• Associate's degree or some college coursework in psychology, social work, or social services field preferred.
• Prior experience in a behavioral health setting preferred.
• At least 2 years of experience in a direct care role strongly preferred.