Behavioral Health Utilization Review Jobs in Baton Rouge, LA

JOB PURPOSE & MISSION

The Behavioral Health Safety Specialist (BHSS) functions as a Mental Health Technician (MHT) with advanced responsibilities in violence prevention, behavioral risk identification, environmental safety, patient observation compliance, and de-escalation support. The BHSS works collaboratively with nurses, providers, security personnel, and leadership tomaintain a safe, therapeutic environment while supporting patient care and recovery

The role combines direct patient care responsibilities with proactive safety oversight and serves as a unit resource for workplace violence prevention, crisis intervention, and safety initiatives. This positionremains therapeutic in nature and is not intended to function as a security office.

Essential Job Functions include, but are not limited to:

Patient Safety and Observation

• Perform patient observation roundsin accordance withphysician orders and unit standards.

• Monitor patients for behavioral escalation, self-harm risk, aggression, and safety concerns.

• Assist with line-of-sight and enhanced observation assignments.

• Ensure environmental safety hazards are identified and addressed promptly.

• Assistwith contraband searches and patient belongings inventories according to policy.

• Support fall prevention interventions and patient-specific safety precautions.

Violence Prevention and De-escalation

• Identifyearly warning signs of agitation, aggression, and behavioral escalation.

• Use approved verbal de-escalation techniques to reduce the potential for violence.

• Assiststaff during behavioral emergencies and Code White events.

• Participate in violence-risk assessments and safety huddles as assigned.

• Communicate safety concerns to nursing leadership promptly.

• Support implementation of workplace violence prevention initiatives and unit safety plans.

Environmental and Unit Safety

• Conduct routine environmental safety rounds.

• Identifyand report ligature risks, contraband concerns, and environmental hazards.

• Monitor compliance with patient safety standards.

• Ensure therapeutic areasremainsafe and free from prohibited items.

• Assistwith security rounding and unit safety initiatives asappropriate.

Documentation and Reporting

• Complete required observation documentation accurately andtimely.

• Document behavioral concerns, safety incidents, and interventions per organizational policy.

• Complete incident reports for safety events, aggressive behavior, and workplace violence incidents.

• Participate in post-incident reviews anddebriefings.

Team Support and Education

• Serve as a safety resource for MHTs and nursing staff.

• Assistwith onboarding andmentoring ofnew staffregardingsafety practices.

• Reinforce observation standards, de-escalation techniques, and workplace violence prevention strategies.

• Participate in unit-based safety committees and performance improvement activities.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

Experience

• Minimum one (2) years of experience inpublic safety, corrections, law enforcement, military police, or related safety/security field; OR

• Equivalent combination of behavioral health and security/safety experience.

Education

• High school diploma or GEDrequired.

• Associate degree in Behavioral Health, Criminal Justice, Psychology, Sociology, Human Services, or related field preferred.

Certifications & Licensure

• MOAB (Management of Aggressive Behavior) or equivalent training.

• BLS Certification.

• Security officer training certification preferred.

Special Skills or Knowledge

Required:

• Excellent observation and situational awareness skills.

• Ability toidentifybehavioral escalation and potential violencerisk.

• Knowledge of trauma-informed care principles.

• Ability tomaintainprofessional boundaries.

• Effective verbal de-escalation and conflict resolution skills.

• Ability to remain calm in high-stress situations.

• Strong teamwork and communication skills.

• Ability to safely intervene during behavioral emergencies withinscopeof training.

• Ability to document observations and incidents accurately.

• Knowledge of patient safety, workplace violence prevention, and behavioral health operations.

HIPAA & SAFETY REQUIREMENTS

HIPAA -Maintains knowledge of and adherence to all applicable HIPAA regulations appropriate to Job Position including but not limited to: Medical records without limitation both paper and electronic, patient demographics, lab and radiology results, patient information related to surgery or appointment schedules, medical records related to quality data, patient financial information, patient billing 3rd party, patient related complaints, information related to patient location, religious beliefs and/or public health records.

SAFETY -Maintains knowledge of and adherence to all applicable safety practices appropriate to Job Position including but not limited to: Incident reporting, handling of wastes, sharps and linen, PPE, exposure control plans, hand washing, environment of care, patient identification, administers/collects medications/blood order, transports/monitors or observes patients with infusion pumps, and monitors clinical alarms.

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA& STANDARDS

Everyday Excellence Values- EmployeedemonstratesEveryday Excellence values in the day-to-day performance of their job.

• Demonstrates courtesy and caringtoeach other, patients and their families, physicians, and the community.

• Takes initiative in living our Everyday Excellence values and vital signs.

• Takes initiative inidentifyingcustomer needs before the customer asks.

• Participates in teamwork willingly and with enthusiasm.

• Demonstrates respect for the dignity and privacy needs of customers through personal action and attention to the environment of care.

• Keeps customers informed, answers customer questions andanticipatesinformation needs of customers

Corporate Compliance- Employeedemonstratescommitment to the Code of Conduct, Conflict of InterestGuidelinesand the GHS Corporate Compliance Guidelines.

• Practices diligence in fulfilling the regulatory and legal requirements of the position and department.

• Maintainsaccurateand reliable patient/organizational records.

• Maintains professional relationships withappropriate officials; communicates honestly and completely; behaves in a fair and nondiscriminatory manner in all professional contacts.

Personal Achievement- Employeedemonstratesinitiative in achieving work goals and meeting personalobjectives.

• Usesaccepted procedures and practices to complete assignments.Usescreative and proactive solutions to achieveobjectiveseven when workload and demands are high.

• Adheres to high moral principles of honesty, loyalty, sincerity, and fairness.

• Upholds the ethical standards of the organization.

Performance Improvement- Employee activelyparticipatesin Performance Improvement activities and incorporates quality improvement standards in his/her job performance.

• Optimizestalents, skills, and abilities in achieving excellence in meeting and exceeding customer expectations.

• Initiates or redesigns to continuously improve work processes.

• Contributes ideas and suggestions to improve approaches to work processes.

• Willinglyparticipatesin organization and/ordepartmentquality initiatives.

Cost Management- Employeedemonstrateseffective cost management practices.

• Effectively manages time and resources

• Makes conscious effort to effectivelyutilizethe resources of the organization - material, human, and financial.

• Consistently looks for andusesresource saving processes.

Patient & Employee Safety- Employee activelyparticipatesin anddemonstrateseffective patient and employee safety practices.

• Employee effectively communicates,demonstrates,coordinatesandemphasizespatient and employee safety.

• Employee proactively reportserrors, potential errors,injuriesor potential injuries.

• Employee demonstratesdepartmental specific patient and employee safety standards at all times.

• Employeedemonstratesthe use of proper safety techniques, equipment and devices and follows safety policies,proceduresand plans.