Mental Health Coach (Resource Pool)

General Summary

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 on-call capacity as necessary to meet the needs of the organization. Reports to the Nurse Manager.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Provides evidence-based skills coaching, behavioral modification and direct observation to pediatric patients with mental health diagnoses.
• Implements and reinforces strategies included in patient’s treatment or behavioral plan. Relays ineffective aspects of plan back to 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 with patients as a means of maintaining unit calm.
• Displays expertise in de-escalation cycle and educates patients and families daily on its use.
• Provides emotional first aid and de-briefing to individual patients and groups after behavioral escalations.
• Safeguards and manages patient’s room, unit environment and team schedule, ensuring consistent structure and a priority towards safety.
• Maintains constant awareness of patient location and immediately alerts nurse to changes in mental status.
• Completes regular environmental assessment.
• 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, information is linked to the plan of care; if unsure of boundaries consults with treatment team prior to sharing information.
• Greets families when they are present at point of access, provides guidance on way finding and unit rules.
• Oversees Emergency Department mental health flow by acting as a liaison between 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.
• Aids in the application of restraint when deemed medically necessary and ordered by treating physician.
• Completes nursing tasks (Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), Vital Signs, nutrition, patient weights), as delegated by the RN, for medically involved clients.
• Maintains 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 where each assigned patient is on de-escalation cycle; utilizes skills appropriate for observed de-escalation level.

Licenses and/or Certifications

None required.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements

• Undergraduate degree in Social Work, Counseling, Mental Health, Education, Arts & Science, Healthcare or related field from an accredited college/university or equivalent course work and/or previous training and direct care employment experience to demonstrate knowledge or expertise in children, adolescences or mental health.
• Undergraduate degree in noted disciplines preferred.
• Supplemental trainings in mental health disorders, crisis response, behavioral planning preferred.
• Increased Security Clearance may be Required: FBI fingerprinting, criminal background check, and Child Protective Services registry search.

Working Conditions

Inpatient hospital or outpatient practice with little exposure to dust, temperature and the like.

Physical Requirements

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Additional Information

CHKDHS is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Equal Employment Opportunity is the Law - click here for more information Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, gender identity, national origin, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local law. If assistance is needed, please reach out to us at TalentTeam@chkd.org