Mental Health Specialist in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho at Kootenai Health

The Mental Health Specialist (MHS) plays a vital frontline role in the delivery of safe, therapeutic, and recovery-oriented care to adults experiencing acute psychiatric crises. Under the supervision of licensed clinical staff, the MHS supports milieu management, patient safety, therapeutic engagement, and behavior stabilization while upholding trauma-informed and person-centered care principles. The MHS establishes therapeutic relationships with assigned patients, helps patients with daily living and the overall maintenance of a therapeutic environment in the psychiatric unit. This position requires strong observational skills, emotional intelligence, and the ability to manage high-acuity patients in a fast-paced inpatient setting.

• Conducts and documents routine and as-needed safety checks (e.g., Q15, Q5, 1:1 observation)

• Monitors for changes in mental status, mood, behavior, and safety risks

• Reports concerning behaviors or clinical changes promptly to licensed staff

• Maintains a structured, therapeutic, and respectful unit environment

• Models appropriate boundaries, communication, and coping behaviors

• Supports daily unit routines, programming, and expectations

• Assists with the management of behaviorally dysregulated patients

• Utilizes verbal de-escalation, redirection, and grounding techniques

• Supports clinical staff during behavioral interventions, including restraints or seclusion when required, per policy

• Facilitates or co-facilitates psychoeducational and skills-based groups (e.g., coping skills, stress management, emotion regulation)

• Encourages patient participation and engagement in treatment programming

• Provides positive reinforcement aligned with treatment goals

• Provides care that recognizes the prevalence and impact of trauma

• Avoids re-traumatization by using respectful language, choice, and collaboration

• Responds to patient behaviors through a trauma-informed lens

• Takes vital signs, weighs patients and collects routine specimens

• Works under immediate supervision

• Performs other related duties as assigned

• Familiar with standard concepts, practices, and procedures within the field

• Regular and predictable attendance is an essential job function

• Competent to meet age specific needs of the unit assigned

• Bachelor's degree required

• OR MHS Certification and 2 years related patient care experience required

• Crisis prevention training, or must acquire within 6 months of employment, required

• BLS required

• Must be able to lift and move up to 35lbs

• Must be able to maintain a sitting and/or standing position

• Typical equipment used in an office job

• Must be able to stoop, crouch, or bend

• Must be able to push, pull, or transport heavy equipment

• Exposure to needles, blood and body fluids, etc.

• Potential exposure to unpredictable individuals and volatile interactions

• Must be able to traverse with/without accommodation