Behavioral Health Specialist - Liberty ED

Primary Location

Liberty Campus

Department

Liberty Emergency Department

Shift

Night (United States of America)

Schedule

Part time

Weekly Hours

24

FTE

0.6

Employee Status

Regular

*Expected Starting Pay Range

$21.14 - $26.47

*Starting pay is based on experience, skills, and equity; exceptions may apply for highly qualified candidates. Additional pay (e.g., shift, on‑call, or weekend differentials) and benefits may apply. Annual pay may vary based on FTE status.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

• Team Member - Accountable for delivering patient care by following processes and procedures and demonstrates resilience by being receptive to ongoing instruction, coaching, and feedback. Take ownership of personal clinical development by actively engaging with advanced team members and the multidisciplinary team, exhibits curiosity, and proactively seeks out knowledge and learning opportunities.  Leverages practical experience to identify recurring patterns, recognizing behaviors and proactively anticipating typical  reactions.  Supports the team by sharing knowledge to enhance overall clinical proficiency and foster a collaborative learning environment. Adapts communication style to effectively listen and communicate with a diverse group, including our patients, their families, and the multidisciplinary team. 

• Environment Management and Care Delivery - Coordinates the assigned area by utilizing the following components: safety, structure, planning, participation, and support. Performs environmental checks while adhering to patient safety and treatment schedules. Prevents and responds to escalations and crises utilizing Therapeutic Crisis Intervention concepts, which may include physical restraint to ensure the safety of patients, staff, and others. Takes the lead role during a behavioral crisis, and appropriately deploys interventions aligned with the stress model of crisis and patient treatment plans. Ensure the work area is safe and organized and that treatment schedules are progressing appropriately. Adheres to established policies, procedures, and protocols, completes all patient/safety checks, and follows patient observation level protocols. Prepares the necessary materials for the patient populations. Care assignment may reflect the following: working with  patients in a setting based on the programming schedule, specific patient assignment, or an assignment to a specific location or environment to manage. In accordance with respective care location and patient needs, support the patient's stabilization from acute crisis. Demonstrates collaborative efforts with multidisciplinary team and escalates change in patient conditions or any concerns to management, the appropriate staff, licensed providers and approved parties; including following documented escalation plans, where applicable.

• Patient Plan of Care - Implement/document the patient's response to individualized care plans, which may include patient behavioral information collection or implementing behavioral/educational protocols. Per care location and patient needs, may provide approved care to patients as delegated, including activities for daily living, intake and output, feeding, bathing, toileting, isolation precautions, emergency care for patients with lines and tubes. Engage the patient's family and support system in treatment plan as established in the medical record. Provide updates to the approved parents and legal guardians regarding patient condition and progress. Collaborate with all members of the multidisciplinary team and escalates change in patient conditions using the documented escalation process, where applicable or to a licensed staff member. Participate in regular team planning meetings as appropriate or needed. Assist the multidisciplinary team during patient care, and/or parent and staff training related to individual behavioral and education programs, data collection, and environmental modifications to promote patient success.

• Clinical Activity - Leads psychoeducation and recreational group activities ensuring positive patient engagement and safe behaviors. Adapts group content to meet the needs and the functional developmental level of the participating patients. Implement behavioral and educational  protocols as designed by psychology staff. Provide insight into antecedent events, behaviors and outcomes that may affect behavioral treatment. Implement individualized and group behavior and education intervention plans as prescribed. Utilizes crisis intervention techniques as appropriate. Participate in problem-solving of behavioral treatment options.

• Relationship Development /Communication - Provides trauma informed, relationship-based care to a diverse patient population with an awareness of how personal experiences and biases impacts interactions with others. Adapts approach as needed and engage patients at their level of functioning while also recognizing the effects of trauma on each patient, including behavioral aggression. Develops clinically appropriate rapport through a variety of care interactions, including but not limited to interactions in the general care environment and during 1:1 patient assignment. Engages in trauma-informed communication, positive engagement, and unconditional positive regard during all interactions with patients and caregivers. Builds and sustains an environment that is safe, stable, and nurturing. Actively participate in team planning meetings, multidisciplinary team programming, creation and management of program materials, or special projects and during shift report/handoff.

• Documentation and Data Management - Assures seclusion and restraint documentation is accurately completed within the appropriate timeframe. Demonstrates collaboration with all members of the multidisciplinary team and escalates observations of changes in patient conditions or any general concerns to the appropriate staff, management and licensed provider. Participates in huddles as appropriate and utilizes situational awareness, always mindful of the environment. Complete the environmental checklist or other general aspects of care environment associated with safety or quality assurance. Assists with data collection included but not limited to patient observation checks, data management, and graphing of ongoing treatment plans. Provides documentation of progress on treatment SMART goals and patient response to treatment. Stays abreast and attends all required trainings on current documentation processes.

Care delivery occurs in a team fashion and a BHS's care assignment may reflect a combination of the following: working with multiple patients in a setting based on the therapeutic schedule, may reflect a specific 1:1 patient assignment or may reflect an assignment to a specific location or environment to manage.

JOB QUALIFICATIONS

• High school diploma and 2+ years of experience or Bachelor's degree in related field

• May require clinical license, certification or training

At Cincinnati Children’s, we come to work with one goal: to make children’s health better. We believe in a holistic team approach, both in caring for patients and their families, and in advancing science and discovery. We strive to do better and find energy and inspiration in our shared purpose. If you want to be the best you can be, you can do it at Cincinnati Children’s. 

 Cincinnati Children's is: 

• Recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a top 10  best Children's Hospitals in the nation for more than 15 years 

• Consistently among the top 3 Children's Hospitals for National Institutes of Health (NIH) Funding 

• Recognized as one of America’s Best Large Employers  (2025), America’s Best Employers for New Grads (2025) 

• One of the nation's America’s Most Innovative Companies as noted by Fortune 

• Consistently certified as great place to work 

• A Leading Disability Employer as noted by the National Organization on Disability 

• Magnet® designated for the fourth consecutive time by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) 

 We Embrace Innovation—Together.  We believe in empowering our teams with the tools that help us work smarter and care better. That’s why we support the responsible use of artificial intelligence. By encouraging innovation, we’re creating space for new ideas, better outcomes, and a stronger future—for all of us. 

Comprehensive job description provided upon request.

Cincinnati Children’s is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to creating an environment of dignity and respect for all our employees, patients, and families. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, genetic information, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status. EEO/Veteran/Disability