Mental Health Assistant

VitalCore Health Strategies • Gardner, MA

1d • Onsite

About The Position

VitalCore Health Strategies (VCHS), an industry leader in Correctional Health Care, has an opening for a Full-Time Mental Health Assistant at North Central Correctional Institution (NCCI) in Gardner, MA. This role provides front-line support to patients needing increased observation and engagement by offering therapeutic-based activities and recreation. The Mental Health Assistant serves as a member of the treatment team, ensuring a therapeutic milieu and the safety of the living unit.

Requirements

• High School Diploma

Nice To Haves

• Associate degree in human services, or working towards a degree in human services
• Associate or Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, social work or criminal justice field is preferred.
• Direct care experience in a mental health or forensic mental facility, security residence, or correctional facility.
• Healthcare, mental health or human services experience.

Responsibilities

• Assists the Clinical Team Leader, Clinical Therapists and Psychologists in implementing clinical treatment plans for patients on Mental Health Watch at medium and maximum security facilities.
• As a member of the multi-disciplinary treatment team, promotes a therapeutic milieu in the observation areas and within the unit milieu.
• Engages in non-clinical interactions with prisoners on Mental Health Watch, to include social and recreational based activities which augment the three clinical sessions per day.
• Supports observation of patient behavior for safety or clinical issues.
• Documents all non-clinical interactions, patient responses to engagement and all observed patient behaviors occurring throughout the day. Records such information in logs, reports or charts pertaining to daily patient activity and behavior.
• Prepares various reports on unit activities, as required.
• Assists the site MH leadership and custody staff by contributing to a therapeutic environment and safety by enforcing policies and procedures.
• Possess the ability to observe patient behavior and the ability to recognize and report unusual occurrences.
• Takes direction and supervision from A Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP) who provides guidance on appropriate non-clinical activities and ensures the efficacy of the interactions with the patient on Mental Health Watch.
• Participates in relevant Meetings to include Triage and/or Shift-Change Meetings where QMHPs conduct a clinical hand-off first shift second shift- QMHP/Crisis Clinician), discuss clinically appropriate Support Persons activities for each patient on a Therapeutic Supervision Mental Health Watch and where Support Persons documentation from the prior day can be thoroughly reviewed by the entire Treatment Team.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Holiday Pay: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day
• Medical
• Dental
• Vision Insurance
• Health Savings Account
• Life Insurance
• Short Term/Long Term Disability
• Identity Theft Protection
• Pet Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program and Discount Center
• 401K & Plan Matching
• PTO
• Annual Incentive Bonus

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED