Behavioral Health Specialist

About the role

The Behavioral Health Specialist at Stony Brook Medicine is responsible for orienting patients to the treatment setting, participating in team treatment, reviewing and implementing the patient treatment plan, conducting rounds, and monitoring mental status. They take a primary role in maintaining a safe, therapeutic environment, recognizing and managing aggressive or crisis situations, and facilitating various patient treatment activities.

Responsibilities

• Orients patients to the treatment setting and participates in team treatment.
• Takes a primary role in maintaining a safe, therapeutic environment.
• Conducts a variety of patient treatment activities such as individual and group therapy.
• Maintains patient safety and protects patient rights through observation, communication, and interaction.
• Recognizes and manages aggressive or crisis situations, carrying out behavior monitoring, re-direction, de-escalation interventions, restraint/seclusion, behavior plan development, and safety plan development.
• Facilitates daily group psychotherapy activities and assesses interactions with patients and families during visiting hours.
• Provides treatment that promotes patient dignity, independence, individuality, strengths, privacy, and choice.
• Demonstrates respect for cultural diversity and patient boundaries.
• Maintains up-to-date knowledge of symptoms and treatments relevant to the position.

Requirements

• Master’s or doctoral degree in Social Work, Mental Health Counseling, Rehabilitation Counseling, Psychiatric Nursing, Psychology, or an equivalent field.
• In lieu of a Master’s or Doctoral Degree, a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in a human service field and either a CASAC credential or BCBA certification in NYS is required.
• A minimum of 3 years’ experience working in an inpatient hospital setting serving those with mental illness is required. Alternatively, 5 or more years of experience in outpatient, partial hospital, or residential settings can be substituted for the inpatient requirement.

Qualifications

• Required: Master’s or doctoral degree in a relevant field, or a Bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 3 years’ experience in a mental health setting.
• Preferred: Master’s or doctoral degree.

Skills

Knowledge of symptoms and treatments relevant to the position, ability to maintain a safe, therapeutic environment, and proficiency in conducting various patient treatment activities.

Benefits

Details of benefits are not provided in the job posting.

Pay

The salary range for this position is $71,400 - $101,801.

Schedule

The schedule is Full-time.