Mental Health Worker I - Adolescent Services - 3rd Shift

Commonwealth of Massachusetts•Worcester, MA

19d•Onsite

About The Position

The Department of Mental Health’s Worcester Recovery Center and Hospital is hiring a Mental Health Worker I to provide direct care and assist with activities of daily living for people served in an inpatient setting. The role supports implementation of habilitative, rehabilitative, behavioral, and recreational treatment plans, shares observations and input with the treatment team, and exemplifies DMH’s commitment to safety. These are full-time, 40-hour positions on the 3rd shift, 11:00 PM–7:00 AM. Available schedules are assigned to Unit E1 or E2 and have alternating weekly days off. Mandatory overtime is required. Worcester Recovery Center and Hospital is located on more than 20 acres in Worcester, Massachusetts, and provides intermediate- and long-term inpatient services to adults and adolescents with serious and persistent mental illness, as well as specialized court-ordered evaluations. Its services include a Deaf Inpatient Mental Health Service program.

Requirements

Knowledge of the English language.
Ability to communicate effectively orally and write clearly and concisely, expressing thoughts clearly and developing ideas in a logical sequence.
Ability to gather information by observing and questioning individuals and examining records and documents.
Ability to maintain accurate records.
Ability to establish rapport and deal tactfully with people from varied ethnic, cultural, or economic backgrounds.
Ability to interact with people under physical and/or emotional stress and remain calm in stressful or emergency situations.
Ability to follow written and oral instructions.
Ability to work in a team setting and in group situations.
Ability to exercise sound judgment.
Ability to understand, apply, and explain laws, rules, regulations, procedures, guidelines, and policies governing assigned unit activities.
Ability to lift and carry heavy objects or persons.
Minimum entrance requirements: None.
Depending on assignment, a current and valid motor vehicle driver’s license at the class level specific to the assignment may be required.
Depending on assignment, successful completion of training and obtaining and maintaining one or more certifications in CPR, first aid, and the Medication Administration Program (MAP) may be required.
Successful candidates must acknowledge and attest to their COVID-19 and influenza vaccination status or applicable mitigation measures, as required by regulation for this position.

Nice To Haves

Experience working with individuals with serious, persistent mental illness, substance abuse, and/or experiences of homelessness.
Bilingual or multilingual fluency, given the population served.
American Sign Language (ASL).

Responsibilities

Provide or assist with activities of daily living and habilitation/rehabilitation care to support the health, comfort, safety, and human rights of persons served.
Take and report vital signs as instructed.
Accompany persons served to appointments, programs, and treatment areas, assisting professional or medical staff as needed.
Observe persons served according to hospital and departmental policy, including scheduled checks and 1:1 or constant observation when directed.
Contribute to and address Treatment and Recovery Plan interventions with the treatment team.
Discuss goals and needs in Treatment Team meetings and shift-change reports; report observations, behavior, desires, and problems to support consistent and timely care.
Organize and encourage participation in leisure activities to support socialization and interpersonal skills.
Support a safe therapeutic environment through observation and communication.
Review Individual Safety Plans and recommend revisions; communicate observations and recommended changes to the immediate supervisor or charge nurse.
Identify and report safety or health concerns to the immediate supervisor or charge nurse.
Respond to emergency situations as trained.
Use de-escalation and restraint- and seclusion-prevention strategies to provide trauma-informed care.
Build rapport and meet with assigned persons served at designated intervals to discuss goals and care issues.
Use a computer for documentation, where available, including medical records, daily reports, and safety checks.
Complete admission forms through interviewing and orienting persons served, and communicate priority care information to the treatment team.
Attend and complete required annual trainings.
Perform related duties as required.