Behavioral Health Specialist, Adolescent Psychiatry

Behavioral Health Specialist, Adolescent Psychiatry

Expected Starting Salary Range: $21.00 - $24.05

Location/Unit: College Hill – Adolescent Department PA4.200

Shift/Hours/FTE: Rotating Day/Evening - 20 hrs weekly - 0.5 FTE

Benefits Eligibility: Part-Time Benefits Eligible

Behavioral Health Specialist - A Day in the Life

Working as a Behavioral Health Specialist (BHS) at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, you will enjoy:

• Leading and co‑leading group programming to support therapeutic outcomes.
• Implementing a token economy to reinforce positive behaviors, promote skill‑building, and support progress toward discharge goals.
• Providing direct patient care in a team‑based setting and collaborating with an interdisciplinary team to ensure the best outcomes.
• Implementing individualized patient care plans and documenting behavioral observations.
• Establishing a safe, stable, and nurturing environment for youth in crisis.
• A state‑of‑the‑art mental health facility that opened in October 2023!

• Milieu Management: Create a safe, stable, and nurturing environment that fosters support and consistency. Implement a token economy to reinforce positive behaviors. Support patients with a variety of severe psychological/psychiatric difficulties, including mood disorders, disruptive/aggressive behavior, self‑harm, anxiety, psychosis, eating disorders, intellectual disability and neurodevelopmental disorders who often have histories including significant psychosocial stressors and trauma. Proactively prevent and respond to crises using Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI) strategies, including verbal de‑escalation and physical interventions when necessary due to imminent risk.
  
  Lead and intervene in behavioral crises, apply appropriate strategies based on the Stress Model of Crisis and individualized treatment plans. Conduct safety checks, room searches, and patient safety searches. Follow policies and collaborate with the interdisciplinary team.
• Plan of Care: Implement individualized care plans, including behavioral interventions and support for activities of daily living (bathing, feeding, toileting). Provide care primarily in group settings, with individualized programming as needed per treatment team recommendations. Maintain designated observation status (e.g., continuous observation, 15‑minute checks, remaining within arm’s‑length of patient).
• Group Programming: Lead structured group programming and facilitate patient engagement; adjust delivery to meet developmental needs of patients, observe behavior and participate in problem‑solving.
• Therapeutic Relationships: Build rapport while maintaining professional boundaries. Recognize trauma impacts and use developmentally appropriate therapeutic communication. Contribute to team planning and patient‑centered care discussions.
• Documentation: Complete accurate and timely documentation, including shift notes, incident documentation (e.g., restraint, seclusion), and safety checks. Summarize what happens before and after target behaviors. Actively participate in shift reports, safe handoff procedures, and data collection.

• Required: High school diploma or equivalent AND 2 years of work experience in a related job discipline OR
• Preferred: Bachelor's degree in a related field (experience not required but preferred)

Primary

Location:

College Hill Campus

Schedule: Part time

Shift: Rotating (United States of America)

Department: PA4.400 Adolescent Inpatient

Employee Status: Regular

FTE: 0.5

Weekly

Hours:

20

Annualized pay may vary based on FTE status

$21.00 - $25.72

• Medical coverage starting day one of employment. View employee benefits here.
• Competitive retirement plans
• Tuition reimbursement for continuing education
• Expansive employee discount programs through our many community partners
• Shift Differential, Weekend Differential, and Weekend Option Pay Programs for qualified positions
• Support through Employee Resource Groups such as African American Professionals Advisory Council, Asian Cultural and Professional Group, EQUAL - LGBTQA Resource Group, Juntos - Hispanic/Latin Resource Group, Veterans…