As part of the Clinical Resource (CR) Team, the Behavioral Health Specialist serves as a system-wide resource and is responsible for direct patient care, safety, supervision and management of children and adolescents with identified behavioral health needs within diverse environments such as emergency services, medical units, and behavioral health programs. Performs duties under the direction of a licensed professional and implements behavioral treatment plans. Works alongside clinical professionals to provide a safe, supportive, and trauma informed environment.
The Behavioral Health Specialist may begin their shift in one unit and based on a change in census and acuity be reallocated to a different unit to meet operational needs. However, it is also possible for the Behavioral Health Specialist to experience extended periods of time in one department to offset long-term absences.
Duties & Responsibilities
POPULATION SPECIFIC CARE
Neonate - <30 days
Infancy - >30 days to 1yr
Toddlers - >1yr to 3yrs
Pre-Schoolers - >3yrs to 5yrs
School age - >5yrs to 13yrs
Adolescent - >13yrs to 18yrs
Adult - >18yrs to 65yrs
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
An employee in this position may be called upon to do any or all of the following essential functions. These examples do not include all of the functions which the employee may be expected to perform.
* Provides direct patient care and management of children and adolescents while under the direction of a licensed professional, ensuring a positive, supportive, and structured environment. Intervenes and escalates safety concerns through appropriate channels.
* Maintains therapeutic rapport, unconditional positive regard, and a non-punitive approach with patients independent of patient behaviors.
* Leads, monitors and collaborates on educational and therapeutic milieu groups for patients per unit expectations.
* Implements individual treatment plans and monitors treatment progress.
* Maintains accurate and timely clinical records consistent with CHCO and regulatory standards; ensures proper documentation of patient progress; completes 15-minute patient checks; and/or milieu management.
* Maintains competency in crisis prevention training and verbal de-escalation skills. May encounter escalated patient situations.
* Responds as part of the Behavioral Assistance Resource Team by location, as applicable.
* Manages and maintains safety of therapeutic environment/milieu of multiple hospitalized inpatient/partial hospitalized psychiatric patients at one time, as required by position.
* Observes and records patient behaviors and activities in accordance with unit-based clinical model/standard.
* By position, may be required to assist new hires during onboarding process and less experienced team members ensuring competencies and skills are well developed and performed.
Minimum Qualifications
- Degrees
- Area of Study
- Psychology, social services, human services, education, biology, neuroscience or related field.
- Equivalency
- Four (4) years of direct professional experience or a combination of direct professional experience and college credits in a related field of study, may be substituted for the Bachelor's degree. (30 college credits = 1 year of experience).
- Licenses & Certifications
- Healthcare Provider BLS/CPR certification. Must obtain de-escalation training certification offered by CHCO within 90 days of hire
Salary Information
Pay is dependent on applicant's relevant experience.
Benefits Information
As a Children's Hospital Colorado team member, you will receive a competitive pay and benefits package designed to take care of your needs that includes base pay, incentives, paid sick leave and a robust wellness program.
As part of our Total Rewards package, Children's Colorado offers an annual employee bonus program that rewards eligible team members based on organizational performance. If organizational goals are met for the year, the bonus is paid out the following April.
Children's Colorado delivers annual base pay increases to eligible team members based on their performance over the previous year.
EEO Statement
It is our intention that all qualified applicants be given equal opportunity and that selection decisions be based on job-related factors. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, or any other status protected by law or regulation. Be aware that none of the questions are intended to imply illegal preferences or discrimination based on non-job-related information. The position is expected to stay open until the posted close date. Please submit your application as soon as possible as the posting is subject to close at any time once a sufficient pool of qualified applicants is obtained.
Colorado Residents: In any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.
Children's Hospital Colorado
sick time
Jun 10, 2025