Mental Health Worker (Per Diem)

Hackensack Meridian Health•North Bergen, NJ

4d•Onsite

About The Position

The ER Mental Health Worker delivers Mental Health Services to patients in the emergency room, including the assessment, referral, and resource process to Outpatient services, CCIS, Voluntary hospitalization, or Involuntary Commitment. This role involves providing support and assistance to patients, visitors, and team members within the Emergency Department, with a focus on safely and successfully containing situations involving patients dealing with mental health. The position requires participation in interdisciplinary collaboration for planned patient care from ER admission through ER discharge, interacting with identified patients based on age-appropriate criteria. A key responsibility is assessing patients in the emergency room for treatment needs, which may include outpatient referral and resources, a psychiatric consultation, voluntary hospitalization, or the involuntary commitment process. Clear and appropriate communication with patients, families, and medical staff is essential, as is the development of effective treatment/referral plans. The role also involves coordinating with providers for continued treatment or admission, transfer, and discharge of patients, and being competent in using the hospital's telepsychiatry equipment. Maintaining a clean and safe workplace, identifying potentially hazardous situations, and intervening when necessary are also part of the duties. The Mental Health Worker acts as an ambassador for the hospital, providing information and direction, and participating in emergency department huddles, staff meetings, and performance improvement initiatives. They may also assist in basic emergency department functions during patient surges or when dealing with upset/bereaved/impaired individuals. Delivering excellent patient care to achieve positive patient satisfaction scores and enforcing all hospital policies and procedures, including safety, infection control, and HIPAA regulations, are critical. Adherence to HMH Organizational competencies and standards of behavior is also required.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Social Work or related field.
Minimum of two years of post-Bachelor's experience in mental health or State of New Jersey Division of Mental Health Services approved equivalent experience.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Proficient computer skills that may include but are not limited to Microsoft Office and/or Google Suite platforms.

Nice To Haves

Bilingual in English and Spanish preferred
Proficient computer skills that include but are not limited to Microsoft Office and/or Google Suite platforms.
ACSW preferred.

Responsibilities

Provide support and assistance to patients, visitors, and team members within the Emergency Department, with a focus on safely and successfully containing situations involving patients dealing with mental health.
Participate in interdisciplinary collaboration for planned patient care from ER admission through ER discharge. Interact with identified patients, based on physical, psychosocial, education, safety, and related criteria appropriate to the patient`s age. Document in the patient`s record.
Utilizing techniques and regulations appropriate to the ages and conditions of the patients served, you will assess patients in the emergency room for treatment needs. This may include outpatient referral and resources, a psychiatric consultation, voluntary hospitalization, or involuntary commitment process for the patient.
Communicate clearly and appropriately with the patients, their families, ER Nurse, ER Doctor, ER Charge Nurse, ER Manager, Psychiatrist, and other collaterals to gather information and respond promptly to any inquiries or requests. Communicates all pertinent patient information to oncoming shifts.
Develop an effective and appropriate treatment/referral plan that directly corresponds with the patient needs as identified through the assessment.
Make arrangements, communicate, and coordinate with providers to continue the patient's treatment or assists in admission, transfer and discharge of patients.
Be competent in using, and managing, the hospital`s telepsychiatry equipment in the emergency department.
Assist in maintaining a clean and safe workplace. Use observational and critical thinking to identify potentially hazardous situations and persons and notify appropriate staff and intervene with patients and visitors whenever needed.
Provide information and direction to patients, guests, and team members as needed. Act as an ambassador for the hospital by setting a positive tone and by solving problems, when they arise, through direct intervention or through engaging with others.
Assists in admission, transfer and discharge of patients.
Participate in emergency department huddles, staff meetings, and performance improvement initiatives.
At the direction of the Director of Mental Health, or his designee, be available to assist in basic emergency department functions including, but not limited to, assisting upset/bereaved/impaired patients, visitors, and family members in the ED and its waiting area; assisting with crowd control and direction during any surge of patients/visitors to the emergency department; assist patient relations staff in the ED to resolve potential patient problems and complaints.
Deliver excellent patient care and service, resulting in positive patient satisfaction scores for the hospital.
Understand and enforce all hospital policies and procedures relevant to patient care in the emergency room setting. Practices safety by observing established hospital policies and procedures and assures the safety and security of patients and staff at all times.
Demonstrates knowledge of Infection Control and Isolation Procedures and hand washing before, and after, each patient contact.
Adheres to current HIPAA regulations regarding patient confidentiality.
Maintains a neat and orderly space with all confidential material out of sight of all patients and members of the public.
Other duties and/or projects as assigned.
Adheres to HMH Organizational competencies and standards of behavior.