Job Description

Position Summary

The Behavioral Health Specialist provides direct therapeutic care to mental and behavioral health patients across inpatient and Day Hospital settings. This role involves delivering individual and group interventions, creating and facilitating coping-skills and recreational groups, and actively managing the therapeutic milieu. Key responsibilities include observing, monitoring, and documenting patient behavior; applying non-pharmacological de-escalation techniques; completing psychosocial assessments and group documentation; and participating in the development, implementation, and evaluation of Individual Behavior Plans (IBPs). The specialist educates patients and caregivers on IBP components, documents adherence, and communicates changes or concerns to the multidisciplinary treatment team.

The role requires strong situational awareness to identify signs of clinical deterioration or escalating behavior, intervene appropriately, and escalate when needed. The specialist is expected to make timely, sound clinical decisions in routine situations, take ownership of problems, and use conflict-resolution and service-recovery approaches to address unmet expectations. Time and resource management reflecting fiscal responsibility is also essential. The position models professionalism, compassion, and the organization’s core values while collaborating with staff across levels of care to design therapeutic activities tailored to high-acuity patients and those with limited milieu participation.

Qualifications include a bachelor’s degree in a related field (psychology, social work, therapeutic recreation, special education, or allied mental health preferred); competency in therapeutic techniques, diagnostic categories (e.g., depression, anxiety, ASD, bipolar disorder, developmental delays), and milieu/group management; demonstrated competence in de-escalation and one-on-one patient interactions; and experience collecting and reporting targeted behavioral data. Required certifications include current BLS and completion of initial hands-on de-escalation training within three months of hire with annual recertification. Six months of experience in an acute psychiatric setting is preferred.

Salary Range: Minimum 22.89/hour - Maximum 37.76/hour. Compensation will be commensurate with equity and experience for roles of similar scope and responsibility. In cases where the range is displayed as a $0 amount, salary discussions will occur during candidate screening calls, before any subsequent compensation discussion is held between the candidate and any hiring authority.

We are committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment, where we embrace and celebrate our differences, where all employees feel valued, contribute to our mission of serving the community, and engage in equitable healthcare delivery and workforce practices.

Johns Hopkins Health System and its affiliates are drug-free workplace employers.

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