Mental Health Worker II

Commonwealth of Massachusetts•Boston, MA

22d

About The Position

The Department of Mental Health is hiring a Mental Health Worker II at the Fenwood Inn, a 40-bed homeless shelter for individuals with mental illness. The position provides direct care to clients and assists with habilitative, rehabilitative, behavioral, and recreational programs. It also includes client-related housekeeping, recordkeeping, and providing leisure activities. Workers are expected to treat residents with dignity and respect, affirm their needs and preferences, and incorporate their perspectives into all facets of care. This is a 40-hour-per-week, second-shift position. The schedule is Sunday and Monday, 3:30 p.m. to midnight; Tuesday, 3:45 p.m. to 12:15 a.m.; Wednesday, 3:30 p.m. to midnight; Thursday and Friday off; and Saturday, 3:30 p.m. to midnight. Mandatory overtime is required. A criminal background check and verification of education, licensure, and certifications will be completed as part of the pre-hire process. Depending on the assignment, employees may need a valid driver’s license and may be required to obtain and maintain CPR, first aid, and Medication Administration Program (MAP) certifications after completing training. The position is subject to vaccination or mitigation requirements for COVID-19 and influenza under the cited regulation.

Requirements

At least one year of full-time or equivalent part-time experience providing direct care services to individuals with mental illness or physical disabilities, or an equivalent combination of experience and the stated education substitution.
Knowledge of English and the ability to apply and explain laws, rules, regulations, guidelines, and policies governing assigned unit activities.
Ability to follow written and oral instructions and write clearly and concisely, expressing thoughts succinctly and developing ideas in a logical sequence.
Verbal communication skills and the ability to gather information by observing and engaging individuals in discussion.
Ability to establish rapport with people under physical and emotional stress and deal tactfully with people from varied ethnic, cultural, and economic backgrounds.
Ability to work in a team and group settings.
Ability to maintain accurate records and gather information by examining records and documents.
Ability to lift and carry heavy objects or persons.
An associate’s degree or higher in psychology, human services, or a closely related field may substitute for the required experience.
A current and valid motor vehicle driver’s license may be required depending on the assignment.
Depending on the assignment, ability to obtain and maintain one or more of CPR, first aid, and MAP certifications after successful completion of a training program.
Compliance with applicable COVID-19 and influenza vaccination or mitigation requirements.

Nice To Haves

Bilingual or multilingual fluency.

Responsibilities

Assist clients in organizing their rooms, completing activities of daily living, problem-solving, and communicating with other clients and staff.
Assist with intake duties for new clients, including welcoming them, searching their belongings, and orienting them to the milieu.
Plan, assign, and coordinate client schedules and services.
Provide direct care and instruction in daily living skills, including feeding, bathing, toileting, dressing, clothing maintenance, oral and physical hygiene, and self-preservation.
Help implement habilitative, rehabilitative, behavioral, and recreational programs.
Communicate observations about client behavior, needs, desires, and problems to the team.
Perform client-related housekeeping duties and maintain client-related records.
Provide leisure activities to clients.
Assist with office tasks such as copying and filing.