Job Description

JOB TITLE: Milieu Specialist

SUPERSEDES: 02/18, 03/19, 08/22

FLSA: Non-Exempt

JOB CODE: 8029

ISSUED: 02/2018

REVISED: 11/2024

BASIC FUNCTION AND RESPONSIBILITY

The Milieu Specialist will serve as the clinical support resource person for patients in an inpatient adult unit. Promote an environment that supports a fundamental respect for all individuals on the unit, enhances the patient's overall experience, and provides a safe and respectful person-centered model of care. Focus on the application of psychotherapeutic knowledge, skills, and principles to brief clinical encounters that occur spontaneously to facilitate interpersonal competencies such as learning adaptive coping, interaction, and relationship skills.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Promote a calm milieu by providing individual support and monitoring to patients as indicated/assigned. Actively manage the milieu through interactions with individual patients on a regular/frequent basis. Encourage patients to act at a level equal to their ability.

Function as a role model for patients on the unit to show ways to effectively relate to others, to get one's needs met, and to enhance/develop social competencies, and interpersonal awareness. Serves as a resource and point of contact for information, guidance, and support for patients.

Work in collaboration with staff and the treatment team. Communicate in a warm and empathetic manner.

Ensure a compassionate, high-quality, exemplary customer-driven culture. Validate the patient's needs and rights.

Be mindful of times of increased activity or stress on the unit to prevent escalation. Redirect unhealthy/risky behaviors on the spot by giving feedback and alternative strategies. De-escalate patients, and in emergencies, provide appropriate crisis intervention techniques to maintain patients in the least restricting manner.

May complete unit/department-specific duties and expectations as outlined in department documents.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Possess strong interpersonal and communications skills, and work well in a team environment requiring a high degree of creativity and motivation.

Able to physically respond to psychiatric emergent situations and be able to function as a team member.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

8029h-MilieuSpecialist10/28/2024

Supervision is received by the departmental manager or designee.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED

None

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor's degree in social work, behavioral therapies (counseling, psychology, therapeutic recreation, occupational therapy), or a related area, or an equivalent combination of education and experience from which comparable knowledge, skills and abilities can be acquired.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Mental health experience.

Additional license/certification requirements as determined by the hiring department.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met with or without reasonable accommodation. The performance of these physical demands is an essential function of the job. This position is very active and requires ambulating, reaching, and moving objects weighing up to and over 20 lbs.

This role also routinely comes into contact with patients who may have contagious illnesses. This position is in a health care facility open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Rotating shifts as well as holiday and work during inclement weather will be required.

PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job; however, completion of these duties is a measure of successful performance. Employees of this job classification are subject to performance reviews. Basic function, responsibilities and characteristics duties may change at any time with or without notice.

SAFETY SENSITIVE STATUS

This position is considered safety sensitive.

This document is a general description of typical job duties, responsibilities and qualifications of employees holding the associated job title. Additional duties, specific qualifications and work emphasis may vary between individual positions.

8029h-MilieuSpecialist10/28/2024