Counselor, Mental Health Unit

Baystate Health a nationally recognized leader in healthcare quality and safety and home to Baystate Franklin Medical Center is looking for a Counselor to join our Mental Health Unit team in Greenfield MA!

Baystate Franklin Medical Center is an 89-bed community hospital in Greenfield MA. Rooted in a rich tradition of service and accountability to the people of Franklin County North Quabbin and surrounding communities BFMC services include emergency surgery cancer heart and vascular obstetrics and more.

• More than 200 physicians on active and courtesy staff
• More than 24000 Emergency Department visits annually
• More than 400 babies delivered each year inThe Birthplace a progressive midwife-driven service.
• Training site for theFamily Medicine residency and for residents in emergency medicine surgery and obstetrics programs based at Baystate Medical Center
• Franklin Medical Center joined Baystate Health in 1986

Rooted in a rich tradition of 125 years of service and accountability our highly skilled team is committed to advancing care with our state-of-the art facilities and technology. Baystate Franklin houses a $26 million surgical center and the talented surgical teams of the Baystate Health network. Our spacious pre-surgery recovery and family waiting areas offer privacy and comfort with natural light healing gardens and other amenities. Our multidisciplinary approach gives you access to specialists from across the Baystate Health system offering comprehensive and collaborative medical treatments close to home.

SCHEDULE:

• 32 hours a week
• Second shift (3P-1130P)
• Every other weekend and holiday
• Differential pay for second shift weekend and holiday.

LOCATION:

• Baystate Franklin Medical Center
• Greenfield MA
• Onsite parking

THE ADVANTAGES OF WORKING WITH BAYSTATE!

• Excellent Compensation High-quality low-cost medical dental and vision insurance
• Generous PTO up to 25 days in the first year with scheduled earned increases
• Continuing education support and reimbursement
• First Time Home Buyers Financial Packages
• Farm Share Memberships
• 403b retirement company match & annual company contribution increase based on years of service.
• Free money coach advice from a certified professional
• Wellbeing programs that include but are not limited to mental physical and financial health.
• Pet home auto and personal insurance
• Life insurance
• Reimbursement for a variety of wellbeing activities included but limited to gym membership and equipment personal trainer massage and so much more!
• Wellbeing programs that include but are not limited to mental physical and financial health.
• Onsite parking

Baystate Health western Massachusetts only academic center and tertiary care provider has a long and proud tradition of continuous learning and improvement. We educate and train hundreds of healthcare workers every year and advance knowledge about new approaches to care. At Baystate Health we know that treating one another with dignity and equity is what elevates respect for our patients and staff. We are committed to increasing diverse representation across our organization. Together our inspired and compassionate teams manage the whole health needs of all communities in need.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS BY POSITION LEVEL:

Counselor II

• Bachelors Degree
• Minimum 2 years behavioral health experience
• If no Bachelors Degree 6 years of behavioral health experience

Counselor III

• Bachelors Degree
• Minimum 4 years behavioral health experience
• If no Bachelors Degree 8 years of behavioral health experience

We strive to be the place where we can help you build the career you deserve apply today YOU belong at Baystate!

OUR COMPENSATION PHILOSOPHY:

We offer competitive total compensation packages that include pay benefits and other recognition programs for our employees. Our compensation offers consider a wide range of factors including knowledge/skills; relevant experience and training; education/certifications/licensure; and other business and organizational factors. Compensation offers do not include our comprehensive benefits package and any incentive payments that may be applicable to this role.

For more information please visit us online at: or interact with us socially at or on Twitter @BaystateCareers

All correspondence can be directed to:

Melanie Bischoff Senior Healthcare Recruiter

Summary:

Under the direction of the Registered Nurse performs a wide variety of duties involving patient management therapeutic interaction and physical care of patients admitted to the Inpatient Psychiatric Unit. The incumbent is expected to adhere to System and department compliance policies and all applicable laws and regulations. This description covers the essential functions of the position. The incumbent is expected to perform other similar and related duties as assigned. Management reserves the right to change or add to the job responsibilities at any time.

Job Responsibilities:

1)Collaborates with Unit Leadership in Staff development
Demonstrates competency in all job-specific standards of this position.
Validates core competencies of Counselor staff and collaborates with the leadership team to ensure all Counselor staff is competent in their job-specific standards. Serves as resource and mentor for all Counselor staff. Actively models a positive and supportive attitude and provides clinical supervision and direct support for Counselor staff. Engages the MHU leadership team professionally. Welcomes all new staff to the milieu and coordinates orientation of new Counselor hires.

2)Participates in a Multidisciplinary Team approach to patient care. Is familiar with admission and progress notes of team members to develop a better understanding of patients. Collaborates with the team in evaluating patients planning therapy and developing treatment goals. Reports observations of patient status to the team and provides input in the preparation and updating of the treatment plans. Assists team members in providing care to patients and follows through on team decisions.

3)Provides a safe environment. Maintains current certification in Non-violent Crisis Intervention (NCI). Intervenes appropriately during crises by providing direct and indirect support to patients needing restraint and/or seclusion. Maintains safety by monitoring and properly documenting restrictions and restraints & seclusions. Maintains safety by adhering to behavior management principles and techniques. Conducts daily sharps checks on patients upon arrival to the program and when indicated by the team. Observes potential safety hazards on the unit and report hazards immediately to supervisors. Maintains safety by adhering to behavior management principles and techniques.

4)Documents patient mental status social behavior and progress toward identifying goals daily. Documents the ongoing assessments of the patient by completing Safety Checks. Documents restraints and seclusions per policies.

5)Provides a therapeutic milieu
Collaborating with unit leadership actively coordinates the design planning and implementation of group programming including clinical supervision of Counselor group facilitators. Develops and facilitates patient groups. Assesses patient mental status social and symptomatic behavior throughout treatment. Counsels patients with empathy and respect to assist them to formulate treatment goals and deal with problems as indicated by reports from the patient patient family and team members. Functions as Human Rights Officer. Demonstrates adequate understanding and use of Trauma Informed Care principles and techniques. Refers patients physical problems to RN for assessment and intervention. Collaborates with the Team to initiate and implement a plan of care to meet the ADL needs of patients who are unable to perform these tasks themselves.

6)Demonstrates accountability for personal and professional growth.
Demonstrates support for the philosophy of the program and adheres to policies procedures and standards. Attends continuing education programs and shares information with staff at unit meetings or in writing. Collaborates with supervisors to identify their own professional goals and seeks experience to accomplish these goals. Assists with the identification of program in-service needs.

7) Demonstrates competency for one-to-one observation of patients based on department and unit-specific needs.

8)(Experience) Counselor IIIs will excel in onboarding and training new staff. Through direct on-the-job experience he/she will provide an exceptional high-quality orientation for new staff.

9) (Culture) Counselor IIIs will provide new ideas for groups and unit activities with collaboration from the Social Work and Occupational therapy disciplines.

10) (Quality) Counselor IIIs will participate in at least two of the following. A hospital-driven committee. A champion-based initiative. Instructor/super user for a project within Baystate (for example Hand-Hygiene champion Fall Committee member or CPI instructor)

11) (Safety) Counselor IIIs will often be a leader when de-escalation of patients within the Milieu is required. The level III Counselor will actively work to reduce restraints of all types within the unit

12) May be required to onboard and precept new staff

13) Must complete department-specified de-escalation training within 30 days of hire.

Skills and Competencies:

1) Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

2) Excellent computer skills.

3) Excellent interpersonal skills. Ability to train onboarding staff providing a strong foundation of

4) Behavioral health knowledge.

5) Age Specific Competencies in service or equivalent training.

6) Behavior Management Training/Collaborative Problem Solving.

7) Restraint and Seclusion in service or equivalent training

You Belong At Baystate

At Baystate Health we know that treating one another with dignity and equity is what elevates respect for our patients and staff. It makes us not just an organization but also a community where you belong. It is how we advance the care and enhance the lives of all people.

DIVERSE TEAMS. DIVERSE PATIENTS. DIVERSE LOCATIONS.

Education: