Behavioral Health Associate - Inpatient

Overview

The inpatient program at Southwood Psychiatric Hospital offers individualized care for children and adolescents ages 4-18 whose lives have been disrupted by severe mental health challenges. Our inpatient facility near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, helps families start to heal so they can return to their daily lives.

Individuals working with our patients/residents, must be 21 years of age or older.

Please note: Southwood is not on a public transportation route.

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PURPOSE STATEMENT: 

Responsible for providing personal care services to patients at the facility under the direction of clinical or nursing leadership. Demonstrate a positive, empathetic and professional attitude towards customers always. When patient needs are not met, acknowledge and work to resolve complaints. Recognize that patient safety is a top priority.

This position works 12-hour shifts on the Inpatient unit - either 7am-7pm or 7pm-7am.

Responsibilities

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Demonstrate a sense of urgency related to the importance of patient safety and provide excellent customer services. 
• ​Ensure the well-being of patients and provide a positive, supportive and structured environment. 
• ​Responsible for conducting safety checks and ensuring that supervision is conducted at 15 minute intervals, as noted in special precautions, or in accordance with individualized supervision guidelines as needed.  
• ​Document timely, accurate and appropriate clinical information in patient's medical record.  
• ​Assist in providing a safe, secure and comfortable environment for patients, significant others and staff. 

• ​Interact routinely with patients, observe behaviors and communicate significant observations to nursing staff. 
• ​May oversee or assist patients with activities of daily living, including toileting, bathing, dressing, grooming, oral hygiene, meals, snacks, hydration and changing bed linens.   
• ​May obtain patient's vital signs, height and weight as assigned and document in patient record.  
• ​Facilitate patient educational-rehabilitative groups which cover a variety of topics including social skills, coping skills, anger management and independent living skills. 
• ​Engage patients in activities and interactions designed to encourage achievement of treatment goals.  

• ​Complete and maintain required documentation.  Assist with follow-up and paperwork as required on incidents and events that may take place in the facility.   
• ​May provide transportation for patient or coordinate transportation with appropriate staff member. 
• ​Demonstrate a positive, empathetic and professional attitude towards customers always.  When patient needs are not met, acknowledge and work to resolve complaints.  Recognize that patient safety is a top priority. 

OTHER FUNCTIONS:

· Perform other functions and tasks as assigned.

SWOOD

Qualifications

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE/SKILL REQUIREMENTS:

· High school diploma or equivalent required.

· Six months or more experience working with the specific population of the facility preferred.

LICENSES/DESIGNATIONS/CERTIFICATIONS:

· CPR and de-escalation and restraint certification required (training available upon hire and offered by facility).

· First aid required.

While this job description is intended to be an accurate reflection of the requirements of the job, management reserves the right to add or remove duties from particular jobs when circumstances (e.g. emergencies, changes in workload, rush jobs or technological developments) dictate.

We are committed to providing equal  employment opportunities to all applicants for employment regardless of an individual’s characteristics protected by applicable state, federal and local laws.