About Children's Minnesota Children's Minnesota is one of the largest pediatric health systems in the United States and the only health system in Minnesota to provide care exclusively to children, from before birth through young adulthood. An independent and not-for-profit system since 1924, Children's Minnesota is one system serving kids throughout the Upper Midwest at two free-standing hospitals, nine primary care clinics, multiple specialty clinics and seven rehabilitation sites. As The Kids Experts in our region, Children's Minnesota is regularly ranked by U.S. News & World Report as a top children's hospital. Find us on Facebook @childrensminnesota or on Twitter and Instagram @childrensmn. Children's Minnesota is proud to be recognized by Modern Healthcare as one of 2023's Top Diversity Leaders. The national honor recognizes the top diverse healthcare executives and organizations influencing public policy, care delivery, and promoting diversity, equity and inclusion in their organizations and the industry. Position Summary: The Mental Health Specialist is responsible for providing direct patient care to children and adolescents with behavioral challenges or a mental health diagnosis based on the individual treatment plan. Under the direction of the treating providers, they assist with collecting data regarding a patient's physical, psychological, or safety status on an ongoing basis. The Mental Health Specialist may assist patients in establishing daily therapeutic goals or participate in facilitation of therapeutic patient groups. They are responsible for continually monitoring the department milieu and patient spaces to assess for any potential hazards or personal patient safety concerns. Utilizing a therapeutic approach, the Mental Health Specialist may assist with de-escalation or implementing behavioral modification and management when appropriate. This role is a casual call position that provides coverage when needed in both the Lakeville and Roseville partial hospitalization programs. Shifts are scheduled on an as needed basis, must work a minimum of two shifts per month. Possible shifts would be between the hours of 8 AM-4:30 PM, Monday-Friday. Department Overview: The Acute Mental Health department at Children's Minnesota includes our partial hospitalization programs as well as the inpatient mental health unit in St. Paul. These programs provide short term, stabilization services for children and adolescents experiencing acute mental health concerns. These intensive services are designed to address mental health symptoms that pose a safety risk or significant impact to the child or adolescent's daily functioning. The Lakeville partial hospitalization program is designed to serve adolescents, ages 11-18 and the Roseville partial hospitalization program is designed to serve both children and adolescents, ages 6-18. Partial hospitalization programs are mental health day programs which function similar to inpatient mental health units while allowing patients to return home at the end of the program day. The inpatient mental health unit in St. Paul serves both children and adolescents, ages 6-18. This unit is for patients that have immediate safety concerns that require 24/7 psychiatric care. Education: Bachelor's degree required - preferred in social work / psychology field License/Certification/Registration: Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification required Experience: One year of experience working with patients in a pediatric healthcare setting preferred Experience working with children with behavioral dysregulation, autism, intellectual or cognitive impairments, or developmental delays is preferred Knowledge/Skills/Abilities: Education and experience providing gender, culture, and age appropriate care Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work collaboratively Excellent verbal and written communication skills Ability to display a professional attitude in all aspects of performance Ability to develop ra port with wide variety of patients and families All job offers are contingent upon successful completion of an occupational health assessment, drug screen, background investigation, and compliance with the U.S. Government Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification. Children's Minnesota requires proof of COVID-19 vaccine, and as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), immunity to vaccine preventable infectious diseases, prior to employment. Children's Minnesota is proud to be an equal opportunity employer whose staff is representative of its community and considers qualified applicants for open positions without regard to race, color, creed, sex, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity or expression, age, veteran status, disability, pregnancy, citizenship status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.