Patient Support Specialist

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Responsible for delivering paraprofessional health care under supervision. In collaboration with nursing staff, maintains a therapeutic environment. Responsible for providing a broad range of treatment and rehabilitation activities for the population served.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

EDUCATION, CERTIFICATION, AND/OR LICENSURE:

1. Obtain certification in HeartSaver First Aid within 30 days of hire date

2. High school diploma

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

EDUCATION, CERTIFICATION, AND/OR LICENSURE:

1. Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Social Work, Nursing

EXPERIENCE:

1. Prior experience working with substance use disorder

CORE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: The statements described here are intended to describe the general nature of work being performed by people assigned to this position.  They are not intended to be constructed as an all-inclusive list of all responsibilities and duties.  Other duties may be assigned.

1. Applies effective communication techniques in collaborating with members of the interdisciplinary team and in interacting with patients and significant others in therapeutic relationships.

2. Provides structure and maintains a therapeutic environment, as an active member of the health team, taking developmental age of patient into account (as determined and directed by the master treatment plan).  Maintenance of the therapeutic environment includes providing care to patients in a manner that considers safety (i.e. rounds), patients’ rights and comfort.

3. Utilizes the individualized care plan for assistance in identifying and implementing developmental age appropriate interventions with patients.  This includes setting limits in a therapeutic and consistent manner on a patient’s behavior with the assistance of a nurse within unit guidelines and identification of verbal and non-verbal cues for potential aggressive behavior and application of de-escalation techniques to the situation.

4. Provides assistance to visitors and families in accordance with unit policies.

5. Performs basic medical tasks (i.e. obtains and documents vital signs) and exhibits a willingness to learn additional tasks.

6. Assists patients in their activities of daily living as needed

7. Transports and supervises patients to appointments and activities on and off the unit. 

8. Organizes and facilitates specific recreation, physical fitness and age appropriate leisure time activities.

9. Answers the telephone and responds to all calls in an appropriate and professional manner

10. Assists with therapeutic intervention, which may include verbal de-escalation and physical intervention.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

1. Heavy/hard work:  work requires strength and/or stamina, lifting, moving, stooping, reaching, standing, walking, and occasionally physical restraint of a patient.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

1. Inpatient unit, group rooms, off site meetings 

Additional Job Description:

Scheduled Weekly Hours:

24

Shift:

Day (United States of America)

Exempt/Non-Exempt:

United States of America (Non-Exempt)

Company:

WVUH West Virginia University Hospitals

Cost Center:

27 WVUH Nursing 10 West

Address:

1 Medical Center Drive

Morgantown

West Virginia

Equal Opportunity Employer

 

West Virginia University Health System and its subsidiaries (collectively "WVUHS") is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local fair employment practices laws. WVUHS strictly prohibits and does not tolerate discrimination against employees, applicants, or any other covered persons because of race, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, ethnicity, sex (including gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), age, physical or mental disability, citizenship, past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. All WVUHS employees, other workers, and representatives are prohibited from engaging in unlawful discrimination. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, training, promotion, discipline, compensation, benefits, and termination of employment.