Healthy Steps Specialist

The Healthy Steps Specialist (HSS) is responsible for the care of parents and children, ages 0-3, in a primary care setting, as part of a maternal mental health and early childhood program called Healthy Steps. In the pediatric primary care setting, the HSS will administer developmental and mental health screening tools and provide support and anticipatory guidance for common concerns for parents of children ages 0-3, including feeding, behavior, sleep, depression, and adapting to life with a baby or young child. The HSS will also conduct brief interventions for parents/caregivers, as clinically appropriate, such as on-site therapy sessions, for parents/caregivers with a positive depression screen or cases where the parent and/or the pediatric provider articulate a concern around mental health and parenting stress to the pediatric primary care team. The HSS will also participate in research, educational and advocacy initiatives related to Healthy Steps.

• Minimum Education
  Master's Degree Social Work, Clinical Counseling, or other related field (Required)
  
  Minimum Work Experience
  3 years experience working children and families in Early Childhood Development/Mental Health and/or Maternal Mental Health and Wellness (Preferred)
  
  Required Skills/Knowledge
  Formulates diagnoses for patients with acute or chronic mental health disorders. Diagnostically interprets data obtained from psychological test results, social histories, and intervi.
• Provides risk assessments for dangerousness to self and others.
• Ability to function independently in evaluating patient problems and developing a plan for patient care.
• Ability to incorporate ethical concepts into patient care and discuss these with the patient, family, and other members of the health care team.
• Ability to maintain quality and safety standards.
• Demonstrates a personal commitment to Continuing Education and remains current on the developments and progress in applicable field (clinical psychology, clinical social work or mental health service provision) and more specifically, in the field of maternal mental health and early childhood mental health and development.
• Demonstrates knowledge of and complies with legal and ethical standards for the delivery of mental health service provision.
  
  Required Licenses and Certifications
  Psychologist Licensed in Washington, DC Upon Hire (Required) Or
  Ind. Clinical Social Worker Licensed in Washington, DC Upon Hire (Required) Or
  Licensed Professional Counselor licensed in Washington, DC Upon Hire (Required)
  
  Functional Accountabilities
  Commitment to World Class Care
• Provide clinical services for patients at Children's National Hospital and other approved sites in an ethical, professional and timely manner.

• Actively participate in family centered care and communicate in a professional and compassionate manner; refer patients to specialists and to relevant ancillary services as appropriate.

• Appropriately utilize the defined chain of command and escalation policies.

• Respond to team members and outside providers in a timely and respectful manner; communicate clearly to trainees expectations regarding patient updates and notifications of significant clinical changes, and encourage questions from trainees.

Commitment to Advocacy

• Participate in CNMC's advocacy initiatives.

• Contribute scholarly effort to the advancement of public policy to promote population-based pediatric health

• Teach patients and families about treatment, prevention, and care enhancement techniques.

• Participate in specific health promotion, education and/or prevention programs.

Commitment to Research

• Research and other scholarly activities are encouraged strongly. There are many opportunities for collaborative research in the Early Childhood Innovation Network (ECIN) and Children's Advocacy Institute (CHAI).

• Participation in reviewing manuscripts for peer-reviewed journals and in publishing in scientific journals is encouraged.

• Participation in research committees, workshops, and special interest groups is encouraged.

Commitment to Education

• Participate in CNMC's medical education programs through learning activities with colleagues and trainees.

• Participate as appropriate in hospital/university-wide educational programs.

• Participate as appropriate in local, regional and national educational efforts, particularly in the field of eating disorders.

• Provide timely feedback to trainees.

• Ensure adequate orientation for the care that the trainees deliver.

• Supervise and train clinical professionals and students effectively.

Commitment to Quality & Compliance

• Follow established bylaws, policies and procedures, continuous quality improvement objectives, and safety, environmental, and/or infection control standards.

• Adequately and promptly complete all clinical documentation as required by JCAHO, other regulatory bodies and/or the Medical Staff Bylaws, Rules and Regulations and Policies and Procedures include complete clinical charge documentation.

• Identify problems related to patient services and make recommendations for improvement.

• Cooperate and participate in the development, implementation and revision of policies affecting psychological practice, judgment and quality of care; Participate as a member of special care teams, Medical Staff and hospital committees.
• Evaluate patient care according to adopted protocol and Quality Assurance program criteria. Participate in evaluation of peers and support staff; acknowledge and report medical and/or other errors as well as participate in efforts to prevent them.
• Anticipate and responds to customer needs; follows up until needs are met

Teamwork/Communication

• Demonstrate collaborative and respectful behavior

• Partner with all team members to achieve goals

• Receptive to others' ideas and opinions

Performance Improvement/Problem-solving

• Contribute to a positive work environment

• Demonstrate flexibility and willingness to change

• Identify opportunities to improve clinical and administrative processes

• Make appropriate decisions, using sound judgment

Cost Management/Financial Responsibility

• Use resources efficiently

• Search for less costly ways of doing things

Safety

• Speak up when team members appear to exhibit unsafe behavior or performance

• Continuously validate and verify information needed for decision making or documentation

• Stop in the face of uncertainty and takes time to resolve the situation

• Demonstrate accurate, clear and timely verbal and written communication

• Actively promote safety for patients, families, visitors and co-workers

• Attend carefully to important details - practicing Stop, Think, Act and Review in order to self-check behavior and performance