Clinical Ed Specialist II

Major Responsibilities:
Provision of academic instruction to children and/or adolescent psychiatric patients as an adjunct to prescribed psychosocial therapy to enable patients to maintain their educational program while hospitalized or in day treatment.
1)Plans and conducts daily class sessions in coordination with other treatment disciplines to assure appropriateness of programming with adjustments as necessary to meet patients’ changing needs.

2)Provides individual tutoring as necessary.

3)Records and maintains records of patients’ attendance and participation in class sessions. Provides documentation to facilitate billing of school districts for services.

Development, recommendation, and implementation of education programs which promote academic studies within a clinical/hospital setting.
1)Determines educational status at admission and through transition and completes documentation for intake.

2)Designs individualized educational program (IEPs) for students or works with the home school team to appropriately modify IEPs for special education students.

3)Develops, recommends, and implements new educational modalities and techniques for integration into existing procedures.

4)Administers and interprets educational assessments, as necessary, to determine patient’s educational status.

5)Administers diagnostic procedures to evaluate patient’s skills, abilities, and limitations due to possible disabilities, as indicated.

Communication with patient, family members, and school personnel to coordinate lesson plans, exchange assignments and completed work, and provide information regarding patient’s academic performance during hospitalization.
1)Contacts patient’s school to obtain school history from counselor(s) and/or teacher(s) to coordinate lesson plans with the patient’s regular school curriculum.

2)Coordinates arrangements to obtain textbooks, tests, and other school work from the patient’s school. Makes arrangements to obtain any necessary supplemental reference materials from the patient’s school.

3)Collaborates with home school/district in planning and implementing educational services (i.e., arranging for tutors as needed).

4)Attends school staffing, as scheduled, to provide educational summaries and recommendations based on progress and performance in the program during hospitalization.

5)Communicates with school personnel and families to provide feedback regarding academic work, educational needs, etc., to ensure a smooth transition between programs.

Communication with multidisciplinary team members and other hospital personnel to ensure familiarization with the educational program and to ensure an effective working relationship with other hospital departments and/or disciplines.
1)Actively participates in multidisciplinary treatment plan sessions to identify academic issues and educational program objectives/treatment interventions.

2)Interacts and communicates with team members and other health care professionals to assure the effective integration of therapies.

3)Assists manager in orientation/training of assigned staff, as necessary.

Support and assure compliance with department goals and objectives, budgets, policies and procedures, quality assurance and productivity standards.
1)Completes written progress summaries to report initial, interim, and/or discharge status.

2)Demonstrates practical knowledge of confidentiality and professional issues and emergency procedures according to hospital policy.

3)Assists manager in operational planning of special projects and preparing various reports, as assigned.

4)Assures compliance with implementation of departmental policies and procedures. Assists in formulation of new policies.

5)Assures that the educational program is in compliance with hospital-related standards and NCA accreditation guidelines.

Participation in continuing education programs.
1)Determines personal and professional goals in consultation with supervisor.

2)Assists with inservice programs for the department and/or hospitalwide personnel, as requested by manager.

3)Attends and participates in continuing educational and professional organizations or committees to promote innovative treatment strategies and professional growth.

Execute all billing and financial responsibility of patients attending the academic program when enrolled on the Inpatient and/or PHP unit.

Contact and communicate with insurance companies and school district billing offices for co-ordination of reimbursement.

Education/Experience Required:
Bachelor’s degree in Special Education required. Master’s preferred. 5 years teaching experience with SED students. This position will need to recognize the needs and behaviors of a variety of age groups. The incumbent will need to be familiar with normal growth and development issues, normal issues, normal patterns of behavior and signs of the normal aging process for the designated patient group they are working with. Prior experience with various age groups is preferred.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required:
Good organizational and time management skills. Good communication skills for liaison role with staff and school districts. Understanding of effective general education and special education practices and curriculum. Ability to administer and evaluate educational testing. Understanding of the needs of students identified as SED. Comfortable working with a team.
SED or LBS 1 certification required. Type 10 LD certification.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:
Ability to demonstrate a commitment to patient-focused care. Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with established time constraints and in difficult situations. May be exposed to hazardous materials and life-threatening diseases. Ability to perform lifting/transfer activities related to patients (up to 50 lbs. may be required). Must be able to deal with aggressive children and adolescents. Must be able to respond quickly in a crisis situation.
If position has direct patient care or direct patient contact the following lifting requirement supersedes any previous lifting requirement effective 06/01/2015. Ability to lift up to 35 pounds without assistance. For patient lifts of over 35 pounds, or when patient is unable to assist with the lift, patient handling equipment is expected to be used, with at least one other associate, when available. Unique patient lifting/movement situations will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent. Incumbent may be required to perform other related duties.