Mental Health Treatment Aide - Correctional Health Services Sunday-Thursday, 7am-3pm (31043)

Physician Affiliate Group of New York • Astoria, NY

5d • Onsite

About The Position

The Mental Health Treatment Aide works with an interdisciplinary team in Correctional Health Services, which delivers medical care, mental health care, and discharge planning in New York City’s jail system. The mental health service provides therapeutic interventions for a diverse range of mental health needs, including serious mental illness and challenges associated with incarceration. Treatment services include specialty housing units, psychiatric support, creative arts programming, DBT training, facility-based clinics, substance use treatment, and re-entry services.

Under the supervision of the Supervising Treatment Aide, the aide supports patient care through crisis and de-escalation interventions, therapeutic observations, groups, patient supervision, and other behavioral health duties. The position is located on Rikers Island and works in a correctional health environment. The role requires coordination with mental health professionals and Department of Correction (DOC) staff, while following unit procedures and supporting patient and unit safety.

Requirements

• Associate’s degree in Criminal Justice, Social Services, or a health-related area; or a high school diploma or GED and two years of full-time experience in nursing, behavioral health, or another related field; or a combination of these qualifications.
• Ability to carry out written and oral instructions.
• Ability to establish successful interpersonal relationships with patients and co-workers.

Responsibilities

• Orient patients to unit policies, procedures, rules, regulations, and routine schedules.
• Use crisis and de-escalation interventions when necessary and appropriate to support patients whose behavior cannot otherwise be managed safely.
• Identify patient characteristics and environmental factors that may trigger agitated behavior and communicate relevant information to the treatment team.
• Perform patient checks and rounds as required.
• Communicate clinical matters to assigned mental health, DOC, or other professional staff as required; report unusual findings or changes in patients’ physical, medical, or emotional conditions to a supervisor.
• Escort patients to groups or other required locations as directed.
• Perform one-to-one patient monitoring for behavioral management or modification purposes.
• Participate in required departmental clinical training.
• Lead or co-lead groups or activities, such as those involving anger management techniques and practices, and document group activities appropriately.
• Respond appropriately to patient emergencies and cooperate with DOC staff when necessary to support unit safety.
• Participate in regularly scheduled, in-person one-to-one supervision with the MHTA supervisor or designee.
• Maintain a professional appearance and demeanor.
• Perform other appropriate mental health duties as directed by team leaders or supervisors.
• Engage DOC staff when violence occurs on the unit, contraband is found, or contraband is suspected.
• Before each tour, debrief DOC custodial staff regarding problematic patients or unit issues.
• Take a secondary role in resolving a crisis when officers arrive on the unit for an emergency.

Benefits

• 401(k) account for employee contributions, subject to IRS contribution limits; employees are immediately vested in their contributions.
• Healthcare and dependent care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs).
• Pre-tax employee-paid contributions for commuting expenses.
• Union benefits through the 1199 union.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Education Level: Associate degree