Mental Health Safety Specialist - UPMC McKeesport

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UPMC McKeesport is currently hiring a fulltime Mental Health Specialist to join our team!

Are you a behavioral health professional who is interested in working at a world-renowned medical center with an up-beat environment? Are you looking for a meaningful career with endless opportunities? Do you enjoy working hands on with patients, their families, and a supportive team to provide excellent patient care? If so, you might be a great fit for a role at UPMC!

UPMC McKeesport is currently hiring a fulltime Mental Health Specialist to join our team. This position will work various shifts (including day, evening and overnight) and have weekend/holiday responsibility.

UPMC offers a competitive benefits package and provides the opportunity to continue to grow professionally from both a technical and managerial standpoint.

Candidates will be placed in the correct job title/salary grade based on education and experience.

We invite you to explore our opportunities today!

Purpose:
The Mental Health Safety Specialist I is responsible for assisting in the development and maintenance of a therapeutic environment for patients experiencing emotional disturbance. Also assists with the specialized patient care needs of each individual patient using principles of adult development and knowledge of psychopathology.

Responsibilities:

Function within the philosophy of the Behavioral Health Center
.Adhere to established policies, procedures and standards of care.
Demonstrate knowledge of each patient as an individual within the framework of the family.
Initiates, participates and supports debriefing processes following crisis situations, seclusion, and restraint situations, and provides feedback to staff to support learning opportunities, reduce risks of injuries to patients and staff, and to reinforce a least restrictive intervention approach.
Acknowledge the specific nature of the patient's presentation and considers the effect with community, caregivers, family members, and program staff.
Participate as a Treatment Team member in assessing the social and emotional needs of the patient.
Contribute in the development and implementation of individualized patient care plans and assists in the integration into comprehensive treatment plans.
Develop supportive interpersonal relationships with individuals and groups of patients in accordance with treatment plan goals and that will continue the patient's development as an adult.
Plan and participates in educational, social and recreational activities for individuals and groups of patients in accordance with treatment plan goals.
Supervise and assist patients with personal hygiene tasks including bathing, dressing, eating, caring for clothing, and organizing personal belongings on a daily basis.
Conduct proactive safety rounds throughout the units, monitoring the milieu. Conduct Environmental Safety Rounds each shift and document/report any unsafe conditions as well as any security violations. Monitor the milieu for any safety concerns or risks.
Provide assistance as requested to clinical staff in the care and safety of patients, staff or visitors.
Respond to all calls in a professional manner with respect to age-specific guidelines and competencies.
Provide trainings in safety issues specific to the needs of the units based on specific need of patients and staff.
Conduct and/or participate in safety related drills.
Assist in investigating reports of incidents to include patient related issues, and any other areas considered to be of importance in the day-to-day operation of the unit.
Assist in physical restraint techniques necessary in an attempt to control violent, combative patients and maintain a safe environment with respect to age-specific competencies and guidelines in conformance with seclusion and restraint policies, crisis and positive approaches trainings.
Initiate debriefing sessions and provide feedback to staff after seclusion and restraint situations and any crisis situation.
Assess for changes in patient behavior that may require a 1:1 interaction to provide early intervention.
Document patient encounters in medical record/progress note.
May engage/encourage patients to participate in a safety related group/activity.
May assist with Mental Health Hearing process based on staffing needs.
May meet and greet ambulance personnel bringing admissions. Assure commitment documentation is complete.
Monitor visiting hour activity assuring no visiting takes place in patient rooms, no contraband is passed off by visitors to patients, and milieu remains calm.

Associate Degree with 2 years work experience within MH/MR service OR a Bachelors degree in a Human Services field such as Social Work, Psychology or Counseling from an accredited College or University required - other fields of study may be considered with coursework of at least 12 credits in Human Services.
May in the course of their job duties be in rooms where medications are stored. No contact with medications is allowed.

Licensure, Certifications, and Clearances:

Basic Life Support (BLS) OR Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
Comprehensive Crisis Management (CCMC)
Act 34

UPMC is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran

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5 Questions You Should Ask During the Interview

Here are 5 questions we think you could ask during your interview. Use them as a guide to help you write your own questions.

Remember: Always have at least 5 questions prepared for the interview. If you do not, you run the risk of looking unprepared.

What does success look like in this role, and how is it measured?

Why ask this? You want to ensure you have a clear understanding of expectations before accepting the role. Knowing how success is measured helps you hit the ground running and avoid surprises about performance evaluations. It also signals to the employer that you're results-driven.

Can you describe the team dynamic and the company culture?

Why ask this? Skills and experience matter, but if the work environment isn’t a good fit, you won’t be happy or productive. This question helps you gauge whether the company values collaboration, how teams interact, and whether the culture aligns with your work style and values.

What are the biggest challenges facing the person in this role right now?

Why ask this? Every job has challenges, and it’s better to know them upfront. This helps you assess whether the role is a good fit for your strengths and whether the company is realistic about its expectations. If they hesitate to answer, it could be a red flag.

How does the company support work-life balance and employee well-being??

Why ask this? Burnout is real, and some companies expect employees to sacrifice personal time for the job. By asking this, you’ll get a sense of how they value work-life balance, flexibility, and well-being—things that are crucial for job satisfaction and long-term success.

These questions help you make an informed decision while also showing your professionalism and strategic thinking!

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