Job Summary: The Mental Health Specialist provides leadership and clinical support within the inpatient treatment milieu and clinical education setting, performing all duties of a Mental Health Technician while serving as a role model, mentor, and team leader. This position coordinates daily unit operations by developing staff assignments, ensuring completion of safety and therapeutic tasks, and maintaining a structured, recovery-oriented environment. Working closely to aid the Charge RN and Clinical Nurse Manager, the Mental Health Specialist promotes consistent application of unit standards, proactive engagement with patients, and effective de-escalation and crisis management.

The MHS demonstrates the ability to lead behavioral emergency responses, coaches staff in therapeutic communication and group facilitation, and supports professional growth through mentorship, training, and feedback. With strong emotional intelligence and sound clinical judgment, this role ensures high-quality patient care, staff collaboration, and adherence to safety, confidentiality, and organizational standards that reflect the Brattleboro Retreat’s core mission and values.

QUALIFICATIONS:

A minimum of 12 months’ experience working as a mental health technician or equivalent position at the Brattleboro Retreat or an equivalent hospital inpatient organization.
Bachelor’s degree in human services degree preferred.
During employment at the Retreat, has continually exhibited initiative in milieu management, exemplary communication with peers and other members of the multidisciplinary treatment team.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED

Working knowledge of theoretical models of therapeutic care.
Training in CPI and CPR required, Brattleboro Retreat will provide.
Has interpersonal flexibility.
Ability to multitask.
Demonstrates emotional intelligence.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Functional Patient Care Job Tasks

Leads the MHT unit team in standard job tasks.

Develops assignment sheet at the start of each shift keeping in mind the strengths and weaknesses of each team member and considering the broader clinical picture of patients and their needs. Helps optimize the function of their shift.

Assists Charge RN, provides milieu leadership—e.g. provides input on patient room changes, helps staff to know and follow unit rules consistently, anticipates issues and provides proactive solutions.

Communicates with Charge RN if issues arise around completion of all unit safety tasks throughout the shift including environmentals, off-unit patient lists, sharps counts, etc.

Demonstrates a basic understanding of groups. Leads and facilitates others to lead groups.

Demonstrates an understanding of the CPI verbal de-escalation continuum model and utilizes those skills consistently.

Demonstrates ability to function as the lead during behavioral emergencies/Code Greens.

Ensures staff can attend code drills (green, yellow, blue, black, etc.) for further skill development while on shift and attends when possible, depending on milieu acuity.

Patient Care Role Model

Asserts a positive milieu tone, provides anticipatory positive engagement strategies and participates in the development of a management plan.

Presents with a calm, therapeutic presence.

Consistently connects and engages patients in a proactive manner.

Uses, models, and coaches others in therapeutic communication while demonstrating appropriate boundaries.

Serves as a point of contact to provide assistance across units.

Mentoring and Leadership Skills

Assists in the development, implementation/communication and supervision of unit specific rules, policies and procedures.

Demonstrates behaviors that encourage cooperation, support and teamwork with other employees.

Demonstrates initiative and productivity by identifying and communicating patient and staff issues to Charge RN or CNM, while suggesting potential solutions.

Provides constructive feedback to others, including rationale for treatment plan interventions.

Provides leadership for MHTs to ensure follow-through of treatment plans supported by ability to speak to the clinical rationale of treatment interventions to maintain a safe environment.”

Provides consistent feedback to Charge RN and Clinical Nurse Manager based on issues that arise during shift as well as the MHS assessment of staff strengths and weaknesses.

Oversees unit-based orientation and mentorship of new staff and provides input on performance to management.

Engagement/Learning/Growth

Participates in unit meetings and attends hospital wide committees, when able.

Assists Clinical Education in the development and teaching of educational courses specific to your skill set and/or departmental specialty on an as needed basis.

Attends and engages in peer support meetings as scheduled, providing feedback to peers as well as bringing up any concerns or issues they’ve experienced in their role during the month.

day shift 7am-7:30pm
36 hours/week

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