Mental Health Coach

About the role

The Mental Health Coach is responsible for establishing a therapeutic relationship with pediatric mental health clients, modeling pro‑social and positive self‑coping skills. Maintains a safe and regulatory‑compliant treatment setting and collaborates with patient and team stakeholders to ensure an effective treatment experience. May function in an on‑call capacity as necessary to meet the needs of the organization. Reports to departmental leadership.

Responsibilities

• Provision of clinical care
  • Provides evidence‑based skills coaching, behavioral modification and direct observation to pediatric patients with mental health diagnoses.
  • Implements and reinforces strategies included in the patient’s treatment or behavioral plan.
  • Relays ineffective aspects of the plan back to the broader team for review and adjustment.
  • Completes coping cards with each patient and encourages their use.
  • May complete nursing tasks, as delegated by the RN, for medically involved clients.
• Collaborative and supportive stance
  • Maintains a collaborative and supportive stance with patients as a means of maintaining unit calm.
  • Displays expertise in the de‑escalation cycle and educates patients and families daily on its use.
• Crisis Management
  • Maintains consistent awareness of where each assigned patient is on the de‑escalation cycle; utilizes skills appropriate for the observed de‑escalation level.
  • Adopts a collaborative and reflective stance with patients with the goal of de‑escalation in mind.
  • Provides emotional first aid and de‑briefing to individual patients and groups after behavioral escalations.
• Safe and compliant treatment setting
  • Manages the patient’s room, unit environment and team schedule, ensuring consistent structure and a priority towards safety.
  • Ensures work areas are organized, safe and ready for the next activity or shift.
  • Maintains constant awareness of patient location and immediately alerts the nurse to changes in mental status.
  • Completes regular environmental assessments.
• Admission/Registration/Greeter
  • Processes admissions in a timely, organized and client‑centered fashion.
  • Assures anyone entering the unit is free of contraband by encouraging use of assigned lockers.
  • Provides updates to parent/guardian regarding patient condition and progress, linked to the plan of care; consults with the treatment team if unsure of boundaries.
  • Greets families at the point of access, providing guidance on way‑finding and unit rules.
• Emergency Department
  • Oversees Emergency Department mental health flow by acting as a liaison among provider, charge nurse, bedside nurse, evaluating therapist, admission staff, parent and child.
  • Provides evidence‑based skills coaching, behavioral modification and direct observation to pediatric patients with mental health diagnoses.
  • Assists in the application of restraint when medically necessary and ordered by the treating physician.
  • May complete nursing tasks (Activities of Daily Living, vital signs, nutrition, patient weights) as delegated by the RN for medically involved clients.
  • Maintains a compliant and safe environment of care, including stocking, setting up rooms for admission and general cleaning.
  • Attends change‑of‑shift and unit‑level huddles.
  • Assists with de‑escalation and restraint application when needed.
  • Completes coping cards with each client and encourages their use.
  • Maintains consistent awareness of each assigned patient’s de‑escalation cycle and utilizes appropriate skills.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Licenses and Certifications

None

Education and Experience

Must meet at least one of the following upon hire:

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Counseling, Mental Health, Education, Healthcare, or a related field.
• One (1) year of experience in psychiatric care.
• Two (2) years of