Mental Health Worker, Inpatient Psych E.D. Program Full-Time Rotating Shifts (Days/Eves.)

Northwestern Memorial Healthcare • Chicago, IL

4d

About The Position

The Mental Health Worker supports inpatient psychiatric patients under the supervision of a registered nurse, assisting with individual and group care and maintaining a therapeutic, safe, secure, and comfortable environment. The role reflects Northwestern Medicine’s mission, vision, and values and follows its Code of Ethics, compliance requirements, policies, procedures, and applicable regulatory and accreditation standards.

The position involves identifying patient problems and strengths, contributing to treatment planning with the interdisciplinary team, communicating patient status, providing directed interventions, supporting patients’ social and daily living skills, and documenting clinical information. The worker also contributes to unit operations, staff orientation and education, quality improvement, and communication of issues and recommendations to the manager. Depending on patient needs, the worker may assist with self-care routines and provide physical assistance.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from a college or university.
• Crisis Prevention Training Certificate, or completion of the training certificate within 90 days of hire.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) CPR certification through the American Heart Association.
• Ability to maintain concentration and attention for brief and extended periods, up to 90 minutes, to perform tasks including patient monitoring.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s degree in a human service field.
• Two years of experience providing supportive services to individuals with mental illness.

Responsibilities

• Assist with the initial and ongoing identification of patient problems and strengths.
• Work cooperatively with interdisciplinary team members to assist in developing treatment plans.
• Communicate patient status to the registered nurse.
• Provide individual and group interventions as directed by a licensed health professional.
• Lead or co-lead supportive groups as determined by the manager.
• Support patients in developing social, daily living, and problem-solving skills through individual, group, or milieu contact.
• Respond to and follow through on patient needs and requests, and assist patients in their relationships with others in the milieu.
• Help foster a milieu conducive to communication and cooperation among patients, families, visitors, and staff.
• Recognize role limitations and use appropriate clinical resources.
• Document timely, accurate, and appropriate clinical information in patients’ medical records.
• Help provide a safe, secure, and comfortable environment for patients, significant others, and staff.
• Follow established patient-care policies, procedures, and standards.
• Assist patients with self-care routines, including bathing, dressing, oral/facial hygiene, and toileting, as needed.
• Use established communication channels to resolve work-related problems and model “Patient First” standards.
• Participate in unit meetings, Psychiatry Open Forums, departmental in-service training, Grand Rounds, workshops, seminars, and quality improvement activities.
• Participate in orienting new mental health workers and other staff as appropriate, and share acquired knowledge with staff.
• Meet mandatory requirements and pursue relevant educational opportunities for improvement and growth.
• Take initiative to assist with the total unit workload and communicate issues and trends to the manager, making recommendations for improvement.
• Visually observe and document patients’ verbal and behavioral responses.
• Communicate clearly and effectively with nurses, physicians, patients, families, guests, and other healthcare team members.
• Respond to emergency signals and indicators and observe and comprehend written and electronic medical charts.
• Provide physical assistance to patients when indicated.
• Perform other program- or shift-specific tasks assigned by the manager.

Benefits

• Tuition reimbursement
• Loan forgiveness
• 401(k) matching
• A wide range of benefits intended to support employees’ physical, emotional, and financial well-being and provide protection for unexpected life events

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time