POSITION SUMMARY

Provides patient care as directed.  Responsible for assisting with assessments, participating in planning patient care, assisting with crisis intervention, and working with the treatment team toward patient recovery.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Education:

1. Baccalaureate degree in Psychology, Social work, Sociology or related behavioral science.

Experience:

1. Preference given to individuals with previous counseling experience in a mental health setting.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

1. Demonstrates ability to work cooperatively and communicate effectively with others.
2. Demonstrates ability to remain calm in stressful situations.
3. Possess physical strength necessary to subdue and restrain out-of-control patients.

License/Certification/Registration:

1. Meets the American Heart Association’s standards for Healthcare Provider Basic Life Support (BLS) and renews BLS every two years.
2. Within three months from the hire/transfer date, completes Crisis Prevention Institute’s Nonviolent Crisis Intervention (CPI NCI) training and renews every 2 years thereafter.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

Receives general supervision from the Manager Behavioral Health and Charge Nurse.

SUPERVISION GIVEN

None

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

1. The Psychiatric Counselor (PC) acts as a patient advocate to promote each individual's mental health and recovery.
   1. Participates as a member of the interdisciplinary treatment team offering his/her observations, and documenting the team’s interventions on the Treatment Plan.
   2. Collaborates with the patient on the treatment plan.
   3. Interacts with the patient in a manner determined by the treatment plan.
   4. Assists the patient to explore their patterns of interpersonal behavior through observation, discussion and feedback.
   5. Interacts with the patient in such a manner as to assess the degree of goal attainment and documents.
   6. Recognizes his own limitations and seeks assistance from charge nurse and/or Unit Nurse Manager.
   7. Provides a safe environment for patients, staff and visitors through use of:
      1. Safety check list;
      2. Formal and informal patient contacts;
      3. General observation;
      4. Participation in milieu activities;
      5. Suicide precautions/observation checks/homicide precautions.
   8. Provides nonviolent crisis intervention.
   9. Leads community meetings and group meetings daily, as assigned.
   10. Assists the RN with the custodial care of patients, to include:
       1. Performing vital signs and reporting the results to the charge nurse.
       2. Assisting patient to perform their ADL's.
       3. Providing supervision of the patients within the milieu.
   11. Participates in Code Grey interventions.
   12. Maintains knowledge of the following theories:
       1. Milieu therapy;
       2. Selye's theory of stress adaptation;
       3. 1976 Mental Health Procedures Act;
       4. Roger's theory of unconditional positive regard;
       5. Maslow's hierarchy of needs.
   13. Assumes responsibility for continuing education as determined at the time of evaluation.
   14. Maintains familiarity of DSMV diagnostic categories.
   15. Collects data from family/significant others as directed.
   16. Performs mental health evaluations of patients presenting to the emergency room seeking mental health support or treatment.
   17. Conducts preauthorization insurance reviews for potential admissions and ongoing concurrent reviews for the inpatient Behavioral Health Unit patients as needed.
   18. Collaborates with members of the Behavioral Health service and other Medical Center departments to meet the behavioral health needs of the Medical Center.

NON-ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Performs related and miscellaneous duties as assigned.