Mental Health Associate

the South Dakota State Government•Yankton, SD

66d•Onsite

About The Position

The Mental Health Associate will work with a multi-disciplinary team to care for and provide treatment for patients with psychiatric illness in an inpatient hospital setting. The Mental Health Associate will perform daily tasks including but not limited to: implementing planned interventions with patients to help them meet their goals, leading patient evidence-based group activities, helping create patient treatment plans, case management (making phone calls, following up on patient goals, etc.), assisting patients to develop goals addressing their problem areas, working with patients to develop money management skills, being an advocate for the patient and presenting treatment results to the treatment team, help patients gain insight into their mental illness or behavioral disturbances assist patients improve their decision-making skills to enable them to return to a less restrictive environment, providing patient transportation, assisting patients with activities of daily life (eating, bathing, dressing, etc.).

Requirements

Must apply online
Successful applicant(s) will be required to undergo a background investigation.
Successful applicant(s) will undergo an abuse and neglect screening.
Offers of employment are conditional upon successful completion of a drug screening.
All persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and complete an Employment Eligibility Verification, Form I-9.
The State of South Dakota as an employer will be using E-Verify to complete employment eligibility verification upon hire.

Nice To Haves

Associate or bachelor's degree in psychology, human services, social work or related field.
A minimum of one year experience working with mentally ill individuals or individuals who have completed two years of college in the fields previously outlined.

Responsibilities

Implementing planned interventions with patients to help them meet their goals
Leading patient evidence-based group activities
Helping create patient treatment plans
Case management (making phone calls, following up on patient goals, etc.)
Assisting patients to develop goals addressing their problem areas
Working with patients to develop money management skills
Being an advocate for the patient and presenting treatment results to the treatment team
Help patients gain insight into their mental illness or behavioral disturbances
Assist patients improve their decision-making skills to enable them to return to a less restrictive environment
Providing patient transportation
Assisting patients with activities of daily life (eating, bathing, dressing, etc.)
Knowledge of: severe and persistent mental illness; serious emotional disturbances; chemical dependency/substance use; crisis management; verbal and physical de-escalation skills; therapeutic communication skills; principles of basic human behavior across the lifespan; CPR and first; patient's rights.
Ability to: deal effectively with patients from diverse ethnic and sociological backgrounds; pay attention to and be empathetic with patients; accurately remember and recall information; utilize computers and other electronic devices for charting and other tasks as needed; maintain flexibility while ensuring safety and security in an in-patient psychiatric setting; provide individual and/or group crisis and de-escalation interventions; lead patients in assigned tasks; effectively diffuse potentially explosive confrontations between patients; plan and organize work; lift 75 pounds; effectively communicate with patients, staff, family members, professionals, and others; maintain records and prepare documentation; interpret and follow established policies, operations memoranda, procedures, and guidelines.