Behavioral Health Specialist I

Behavioral Health Specialist I (BHS I)

Summary

Under the direction of the Clinical Nurse Manager (Inpatient) or Program Director (Partial) and the Unit Charge RN, the Behavioral Health Specialist I (BHS I) provides care and ensures the safety of children and adolescents as a member of the interdisciplinary treatment team.

The BHS I contributes to the development of the day‑to‑day schedule and structure of a therapeutic milieu and is responsible for the implementation, observation, and documentation of the program under the supervision of a Registered Nurse.

Brown University Health employees are expected to role model the organization’s values of Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence, which guide everyday interactions with patients, families, and colleagues.

In addition to these values, all employees are expected to demonstrate the core Success Factors that guide how work is accomplished:

• Instill Trust
• Value Differences
• Patient and Community Focus
• Collaboration

Responsibilities

A. Therapeutic Milieu & Patient Care

• Maintains a safe and therapeutic environment
• Actively engages with assigned children throughout the shift
• Participates in the development and implementation of individualized milieu care plans
• Maintains and documents patient observation levels as ordered
• Supervises daily routines and assists with activities of daily living and hygiene
• Provides support and information to visiting parents as requested by the treatment team
• Identifies, reports, and addresses potential unit safety concerns
• Provides timely verbal and written reporting of critical incidents
• Completes required documentation, including incident reports and intake materials
• Participates in restraint debriefings
• Carries out daily assignments as delegated by the Charge RN and reports back prior to shift change
• Intervenes therapeutically during disruptive or unsafe situations
• Maintains appropriate professional boundaries

B. Policy & Professional Requirements

• Adheres to hospital, departmental, and program policies and procedures

• Maintains current certifications in:

  • Crisis Management / Safety Care
  • CPR/BLS
  • OSHA and other required safety standards

• Attends peer reviews, staff meetings, and staff development as assigned

C. Care Planning & Team Collaboration

• Participates in patient care planning under the direction of the RN
• Supports therapeutic alliance with patients and families upon admission
• Assists with separation and transition into the hospital environment
• Documents objective observations within each shift and communicates findings to the RN
• Reviews and suggests updates to daily milieu care plans based on observations
• Communicates patient care plans to unit staff and interdisciplinary team members
• Participates in treatment team meetings, rounds, hand‑off reports, and patient discussions
• Accurately documents patient and family observations in the medical record and Kardex
• Shares knowledge and experience with peers through formal and informal education
• Adapts care approaches to meet the developmental needs of children and adolescents

D. Therapeutic Activities & Behavioral Support

• Supports behavioral management plans in collaboration with the treatment team
• Assists and teaches activities of daily living and personal hygiene
• Co‑leads community, milieu, social skills, activity, and recreation groups
• Sets consistent, supportive therapeutic limits within hospital guidelines
• Organizes and participates in structured unit activities
• Assists with family teaching and parent training as assigned
• Models appropriate therapeutic interactions for patients and families
• Handles crisis situations safely using the least restrictive interventions
• Seeks supervision and feedback for ongoing professional growth
• Performs other duties as assigned by the Charge RN

Staff may be required to perform comparable duties in other clinical settings as program needs arise.

Minimum Qualifications

Education & Knowledge

• Bachelor’s degree in a Human Service field preferred
• Equivalent education and experience may be considered - High School Diploma/GED plus experience minimum
• Demonstrated aptitude and willingness to learn role‑related skills
• Knowledge of human development, cultural patterns, and lifespan care

Experience

• 6 months to 1 year of direct childcare experience with emotionally impaired youth

Physical & Work Environment Requirements

Employees work in a psychiatric setting that may involve aggressive or self‑injurious behavior. Staff must be able to remain calm in crisis situations and use learned de‑escalation techniques to maintain a safe therapeutic environment.

Physical requirements include:

• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds
• Reaching, grasping, bending, squatting, and kneeling
• Physically escorting patients for short distances
• Occasional running and frequent standing, walking, and sitting

Independent Action

• Performs independently within program policies
• Refers complex issues to supervisory staff when clarification is needed

Supervisory Responsibility

• None

Pay Range: $18.13-$29.90

Location: Bradley Hospital - 1011 Veterans Memorial Pkwy East Providence, Rhode Island 02915

Work Type: 3 overnight shifts one week, 2 the next, every other weekend and holiday

Work Shift: Night

Daily Hours: 8 hours

Driving Required: No

Brown University Health is committed to providing equal employment opportunities and maintaining a work environment free from all forms of unlawful discrimination and harassment.