Mental Health Coach PRN

About the Role

The Mental Health Coach establishes therapeutic relationships with pediatric mental health clients, models pro-social and positive self-coping skills, and maintains a safe, regulatory-compliant treatment setting. This role collaborates with patients and team stakeholders to ensure an effective treatment experience and may function in an on-call capacity as needed.

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 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.
• Maintains a Collaborative and Supportive Stance:
  • Displays expertise in the de-escalation cycle and educates patients and families on its use.
  • Provides emotional first aid and debriefing to individual patients and groups after behavioral escalations.
• Ensures Safe and Compliant Treatment Setting:
  • Manages patient’s room, unit environment, and team schedule to ensure consistent structure and 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.
  • Ensures anyone entering the unit is free of contraband by encouraging the use of assigned lockers.
  • Provides updates to parents/guardians regarding patient condition and progress, linked to the plan of care.
  • Greets families at the point of access, provides guidance on wayfinding and unit rules.
• Emergency Department:
  • Oversees Emergency Department mental health flow as a liaison between providers, nurses, therapists, admission staff, parents, and children.
  • Provides evidence-based skills coaching, behavioral modification, and direct observation to pediatric patients.
  • Assists in the application of restraint when medically necessary and ordered by the treating physician.
  • May complete nursing tasks (ADLs, vital signs, nutrition, patient weights) as delegated by the RN.
  • Maintains a compliant and safe environment of care, including stocking and setting up rooms for admission.
  • Attends change-of-shift and unit-level huddles.
  • Assists with de-escalation and restraint application when needed.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Undergraduate degree in Social Work, Counseling, Mental Health, Education, Arts & Science, Healthcare, or a related field from an accredited college/university, or equivalent coursework and/or previous training and direct care employment experience demonstrating knowledge or expertise in children, adolescents, or mental health.
• Undergraduate degree in the noted disciplines preferred.
• Supplemental trainings in mental health disorders, crisis response, and behavioral planning preferred.
• Increased security clearance may be required, including FBI fingerprinting, criminal background check, and Child Protective Services registry search.

Working Conditions

Inpatient hospital or outpatient practice with minimal exposure to environmental factors such as dust or temperature variations.