Behavioral Health Intern

Responsibilities

• Participates in maintaining a safe and therapeutic environment.
• Actively engages with assigned children throughout shift.
• Provides support to visiting parents as well as information according to treatment team request.
• Maintains and documents level of patient observation as ordered by the physician.
• Supervises assigned children in daily routines and actively assists with activities of daily living and basic hygiene needs.
• Identifies, reports, and resolves potential problems on the unit.
• Carries out daily assignment and reports back prior to change of shift.
• Intervenes in disruptive milieu or destructive to self/other patient situations providing timely therapeutic intervention(s) to children in distress.
• Maintains appropriate boundaries.
• Adheres to Hospital, Departmental, and Program policies and procedures.
• Participates in the patient care planning process under the direction of the primary/charge RN or Shift Lead.
• Works to support initial therapeutic alliance with patient and family on admission. Assists with the separation process and performs other duties necessary to provide a smooth transition to the hospital environment.
• Reviews milieu care plan and problem list on a daily basis and suggests revisions based on observations.
• Communicates individual patient milieu care plans in an ongoing manner to other unit staff including liaison with other interdisciplinary treatment providers.
• Accurately documents significant patient/family observations/milieu care on the Kardex and medical records in a timely fashion.
• Offers information and knowledge acquired through experience to other staff via formal/informal staff development forums.
• Absolutely supports and contributes to the development of care plans/behavioral management.
• Assists and teaches patients in activities of daily living and personal hygiene based upon patient’s abilities.
• Co-leads community meeting/milieu meeting/social skill group.
• Co-leads other program specific groups such as activity or recreation.
• Demonstrates ability to set consistent and supportive therapeutic limits within guidelines of hospital, unit, and department standards.
• Follows behavioral programs specific to the needs of the patient in collaboration with the assigned RN/Shift Lead and treatment team.
• Organizes unit activities.
• Captures and supervises children’s activities such as physical & social development activities. Arranges for transportation of materials if required.
• Participates in teaching visits/family and parent training as assigned.
• Consistently models to patient/families appropriate and therapeutic interpersonal staff/patient interactions.
• Co-leads therapy groups with a clinician.
• Supports and actively participates in recreation therapy programs.
• Handles crisis situations in a safe, effective manner, utilizing the least restrictive, safe patient care alternative.
• Takes the initiative to seek formal/informal supervision, incorporating suggestions for improvement/changes in job performance.
• Performs other related duties as required, assigned, or directed by Charge RN/shift lead.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in human services with completed coursework in psychology and social sciences is preferred.
• Current certification in Basic Life Support through the American Heart Association.
• Demonstrated knowledge and skills necessary to provide care to patients throughout the life span with consideration of aging processes, human development stages, and cultural patterns in each step of the care process.
• Bradley Hospital Safety Care Specialist Certification: This will be provided to BHIs upon orientation.