MILIEU SPECIALIST: INTEGRATED MEDICINE - DAYS

Location: Columbia, Missouri  

Shift: Days, 4 10 hour shifts M-Th

Department: Integrated Medicine  

Salary Range: $22 - $34.74 

ABOUT THE JOB

MU Health Care is seeking a Milieu Specialist to serve as the clinical support resource person to patients on an inpatient adult unit. The Milieu Specialist would also promote an environment that supports a fundamental respect for all individuals on the unit, that enhances the patient’s overall experience and provides a safe and respectful person-centered model of care.  This role focuses on the application of psychotherapeutic knowledge, skills, and principles to brief clinical encounters that occur spontaneously with the purpose of facilitating interpersonal competencies such as learning adaptive coping, interaction, and relationship skills. 

ABOUT MU HEALTH CARE 

MU Health Care is a growing academic health system in mid-Missouri comprised of multiple hospitals — including the region’s only Level 1 Trauma Center and region’s only Children’s Hospital — and over 50 specialty clinics located throughout the region. 

As an MU Health Care employee, you’ll be part of an exceptional team committed to our mission of saving and improving lives. Our core values of inclusion, respect, service, discovery, responsibility and excellence foster a collaborative work environment where you can grow your career.

Learn more about MU Health Care.         Learn more about living in Columbia, MO.

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS 

· Health, vision and dental insurance coverage starting day one 

· Generous paid leave and paid time off, including nine holidays 

· Multiple retirement options, including 100% matching up to 8% and full vesting in three years 

· Tuition assistance for employees (75%) and immediate family members (50%) 

· Discounts on cell phone plans, rental cars, gyms, hotels and more

See a comprehensive list of benefits here .  

DETAILED JOB DESCRIPTION 

• Promote a calm milieu by providing individual support and monitoring to patients as indicated/assigned. Actively manage the milieu through interactions with individual patients on a regular/frequent basis; encourage patients to act at a level equal to their ability. 
• Function as a role model for patients on the unit to show ways to effectively relate to others, to get one’s needs met, to enhance/develop social competencies and interpersonal awareness; serves as a resource and point of contact for information, guidance, and support for patients. 
• Work in collaboration with staff and the treatment team; communicates in a warm and empathetic manner.
• Ensure a compassionate, high quality, exemplary customer driven culture; validate the patient’s needs and rights 
• Be mindful of times of increased activity or stress on the unit in order to prevent escalation. Redirect unhealthy/risky behaviors on the spot by giving feedback and alternative strategies, De-escalate patients and in emergencies provide appropriate crisis intervention techniques to maintain patients in a least restricting manner. 
• May complete unit/department specific duties and expectations as outlined in department documents.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS 

• Bachelor’s degree is required, preferably in social work or behavioral therapies (counseling, psychology, therapeutic recreation, occupational therapy) from an accredited college or university. Master’s degree in a healthcare field is preferred. 
• Minimum two years of experience in mental health services, preferably in a psychiatric setting. Minimum of three years of experience in mental health in the absence of Bachelor’s degree.
• Two years of experience in an inpatient psychiatric setting preferred.
• Must possess strong interpersonal and communications skills, and work well in a team environment requiring a high degree of creativity and motivation.
• Must be able to physically respond to psychiatric emergent situations and be able to function as a team member.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS 

Mental health experience. Additional license/certification requirements as determined by the hiring department. 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS 

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met with or without reasonable accommodation. The performance of these physical demands is an essential function of the job. This position is very active and requires ambulating, reaching, and moving objects weighing up to and over 20 lbs. 

This role also routinely comes into contact with patients who may have contagious illnesses. This position is in a health care facility open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Rotating shifts as well as holidays and work during inclement weather will be required. 

Equal Opportunity Employer

The University of Missouri System is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Equal Opportunity is and shall be provided for all employees and applicants for employment on the basis of their demonstrated ability and competence without unlawful discrimination on the basis of their race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, or protected veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable state or federal law. This policy applies to all employment decisions including, but not limited to, recruiting, hiring, training, promotions, pay practices, benefits, disciplinary actions and terminations. For more information, visit https://www.umsystem.edu/ums/hr/eeo.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, or protected veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable state or federal law.