Position Summary

The Director of Behavioral Health manages, supervises and coordinates the activities of the Department of Behavioral Health at Keralty Hospital. Responsibilities include the standards, organization, patient safety and patient care process of these areas. Develops management expertise of assigned staff members to meet the needs of the hospital.

Essential Responsibilities

1. Develops and implements Policies and Procedures, establishes and maintains departmental philosophy, objectives and standards and trains department staff in overall operation of department.

2. Assigns staff responsibilities and monitors department activities to ensure efficiency and accuracy of procedures.

3. Actively evaluates products and systems utilized in the Department of Behavioral Health and implements protocols for psychotherapeutic procedures.

4. Implements and supervises department policies and procedures to ensure that safety of personnel and legal requirements are met for patient restraint, behavior management etc.

5. Assists in coordinating activities with other departments and in resolving operating problems.

6. Performs the duties of psychiatric nurse as needed.

7. Coordinates the interactions of the department with other hospital departments.

8. Oversees the preparation of the department’s annual budget.

9. Prepares all of the statistical reports of the department.

10. Develops policies and procedures for the department and ensures the proper maintenance of records, manuals, and quality control measures.

11. Selects, evaluates and disciplines department staff.

12. Develops policies and procedures that govern the utilization and availability of the department services.

13. Determines topics to be addressed and monitored for quality of care of the department.

14. Supervises all departmental compliance with AOA standards as well as other governmental regulations for licensure and safety.

15. Develops and implements techniques, programs, problem identification, and continuing quality assurance activities directed at improving patient care.

16. Reviews the purchase of capital equipment as needed for the department.

17. Reviews the monthly employee work schedule, maintaining the ratio of procedures to man hours.

18. Promotes safety awareness in the department and follows proper procedures in reporting all on duty employee injuries. Reports all safety hazards to the Safety Committee for follow-up.

19. Counsels department personnel in situations that need clarification or correction.

20. Attends staff meetings to ascertain hospital policies, assists in their development, presents and interprets these policies to the staff.

21. Assumes responsibility for departmental personnel matters pertaining to the employment, training, termination and grievances of employees.

22. Performs other assigned duties as required.

Skills and Abilities

• Demonstrates knowledge of psychotherapeutic skills associated with position to care for the sick or psychiatric patient.

• Correlates immediate psychiatric knowledge with clinical practice on a daily basis.

• Develops cooperative/psychotherapeutic relationships with all members of the mental health team.

• Demonstrates ability to establish psychotherapeutic relationships with the mental health team members through communications on a daily basis.

• Demonstrates a cooperative effort with on-call coverage and assignment changes.

• Uses special medical skills to care for the sick or handicapped.

• Ability to assess the needs of a job function and adjust accordingly.

• Understand and use scientific and technical language and symbols.

• Recognize slight differences in shape, color, and texture.

• Use eyes, hands, and fingers to operate delicate and sensitive equipment.

• Works precisely and accurately.

• Follow technical instructions which may be oral, written, or in the form of charts or drawings.

• Use measurable and verifiable information for making decisions or judgments.

• Experience and knowledge about the various equipment maintenance techniques and equipment within the department.

• Ability to give instructions, supervise and coordinate staff.

• Ability to estimate and determine time and resources needed for the good functioning of the department.

• Able to get along with coworkers, visitors, supervisors, etc.

Physical Demands

Medium Work: Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally to move objects. Requires walking or standing to a significant degree, or requires sitting a minimal amount of time.

Environmental Conditions

Inside: Protection from weather conditions but not necessarily from temperature changes.

Hazards

• Subject to exposure to infectious and contagious diseases bearing specimens.

• Subject to exposure to blood borne pathogens.

• Subject to exposure to body fluids, and wastes.

• Subject to varying and unpredictable situations including patient violence.

Reasoning Development

Apply principles of logical thinking to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.

Mathematical Development

Add, subtract, multiply and divide all units of measure including measurements utilized in clinical settings.

Language Development

Reading: Read and understand instructions, safety rules, medical terminology and other written materials such as policies, procedures, etc.

Writing: Write letters, correspondence and other reports with proper format, punctuation, spelling and grammar, using all parts of speech.

Speaking: Speak with poise, voice control, and confidence using correct English and well-modulated voice.

Relationships to Data, People and Things

Data: Compiling: Gathering, collating, or classifying information about data, people or things. Reporting and/or carrying out a prescribed action in relation to information are frequently involved.

People: Speaking-Signaling: Talking with and/or signaling people to convey or exchange information. Includes giving assignments, instructions and/or directions to helpers, subordinates or assistants.

Things: Operating-Controlling: Starting, stopping, controlling and adjusting the progress or machines or equipment.

Qualification

Education:

• Minimum must be graduate from an accredited School of Nursing. Bachelor of Nursing Science Degree, Masters level preferred.

• State of Florida Nursing License required

• BLS certification preferred

Supervisory Experience and Training:

• A minimum of seven years of experience in an acute care setting.

• Experience in preparing and planning department budgets, in-service education and mental health regulations.

Job Knowledge:

Comprehensive knowledge of general nursing and psychiatric nursing theory and practice; new developments in psychiatric nursing application and personnel management. Ability to provide leadership and serve as a liaison between physician and staff. Designs and monitors various functional systems.