**Purpose:** The Mental Health Specialist/Safety position is within UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital’s Center for Autism and Developmental Disorders (CADD) inpatient unit. The CADD Inpatient Program follows a holistic and multidisciplinary approach to the diagnosis and treatment of individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and co-occurring mental health conditions. The Mental Health Specialist/Safety will be responsible for assisting in the development and maintenance of a therapeutic environment for patients experiencing emotional disturbance, they will also assist with the specialized patient care needs of each individual patient using principles of adult development and knowledge of psychopathology. **Responsibilities:** + Adhere to established policies, procedures, and standards of care. + Develop supportive interpersonal relationships with individuals and groups of patients in accordance with treatment plan goals and that will continue the patient's development as an adult. + Function within the philosophy of the Behavioral Health Center. + Acknowledge the specific nature of the patient's dysfunction and considers the effect with community, caregivers, family members, and program staff. + Contribute in the development and implementation of individualized patient care plans and assists in the integration into comprehensive treatment plans. + Supervise and assist patients with personal hygiene tasks including bathing, dressing, eating, caring for clothing, and organizing personal belongings daily. + Participate as a Treatment Team member in assessing the social and emotional needs of the patient. + Assist in physical restraint techniques necessary in an attempt to control violent, combative patients and maintain a safe environment with respect to age-specific competencies and guidelines in conformance with seclusion and restraint policies and positive approaches training. + Initiate debriefing sessions and provide feedback to staff after seclusion and restraint situations and any crisis situation. + Assess for changes in patient behavior that may require a 1:1 interaction to provide early intervention + Document patient encounters in medical record/progress note + May engage/encourage patients to participate in a safety related group/activity. + May assist with Mental Health Hearing process based on staffing needs. + May meet and greet ambulance personnel bringing admissions. + Assure commitment documentation is complete. + Monitor visiting hour activity assuring no visiting takes place in patient rooms, no contraband is passed off by visitors to patients, and milieu remains calm. + Demonstrate knowledge of each patient as an individual within the framework of the family. + Plan and participates in educational, social and recreational activities for individuals and groups of patients in accordance with treatment plan goals. + Conduct proactive safety rounds throughout the units, monitoring the milieu. + Conduct Environmental Safety Rounds each shift and document/report any unsafe conditions as well as any security violations. + Monitor the milieu for any safety concerns or risks. + Provide assistance as requested to clinical staff in the care and safety of patients, staff or visitors. + Respond to all Condition M calls in a professional manner with respect to age-specific guidelines and competencies. + Provide trainings in safety issues specific to the needs of the units based on specific need of patients and staff. + Assist in investigating reports of incidents to include patient related issues, and any other areas considered to be of importance in the day-to-day operation of the unit. + Associate Degree with 2 years’ work experience within MH/MR service. **OR** + Enrolled in Bachelor’s Degree program in associated field of study with 2 years of related work experience in hospital or community setting with psychiatric patients. **OR** + Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services field. + Experience in Behavioral Health preferred. + May in the course of their job duties be in rooms where medications are stored. No contact with medications is allowed. **Licensure, Certifications, and Clearances:** CPR required based on AHA standards that include both a didactic and skills demonstration component within 30 days of hire + Basic Life Support (BLS) OR Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) + Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) + Comprehensive Crisis Management (CCMC) + Act 31 Child Abuse Reporting with renewal + Act 33 with renewal + Act 34 with renewal + Act 73 FBI Clearance with renewal **_UPMC is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran_**