MENTAL HEALTH WORKER

State of careers Rhode Island•Benton Township, PA

2d•$54,686 - $61,176

About The Position

The Mental Health Worker provides direct care and treatment to severely and chronically mentally disabled patients in a secure forensic treatment setting at Rhode Island State Psychiatric Hospital. The role promotes a therapeutic milieu while providing custody and supervision consistent with nursing care and treatment plans. The position works under the supervision of a registered nurse and has no supervisory responsibilities. This is a float position with a standard 40-hour workweek, scheduled from 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., including every other weekend and assigned days off. The worker supports patients’ daily living needs, therapeutic activities, safety, and treatment. Duties include observing and reporting patients’ mental and physical condition, assisting with treatment plans and prescribed medications, maintaining a safe and sanitary environment, and carrying out security and infection-control procedures. Patient restraints may be used when necessary, under supervision and according to hospital policy and behavioral emergency response training. Appointment requires the specified education and experience or a substantially equivalent combination, as well as physical qualification for the duties. Candidates must pass the physical agility requirements and meet medical, vision, hearing, lifting, and other physical standards described in the posting. Employment also requires proof of immunity against specified diseases and an N-95 respirator fit test.

Requirements

Associate’s degree or equivalent from an accredited college or university in Behavioral Science; ability to read, write, and speak English; and one year of employment in a private or public hospital or clinical program involving care, custody, treatment, and rehabilitation of severely and chronically mentally disabled persons, or a substantially equivalent combination of education and experience.
Working knowledge of practices, methods, and techniques for custody, care, and treatment of psychiatric patients, including people with mental and developmental disabilities, in a forensic setting; ability to apply this knowledge, including basic first aid, housekeeping, personal care, activities of daily living, minor treatments, and infection control.
Ability to safeguard and supervise patients and maintain order, control, and discipline in a therapeutic manner.
Ability to interact professionally, positively, and therapeutically with patients and staff.
Ability to observe patients’ mental, physical, and other reactions and clinical details, including behavioral observations, and communicate them orally to supervisors or treatment-team members and in writing in the medical record.
Working knowledge of accepted hospital housekeeping procedures and ability to apply them.
Ability to cooperate with clinical and non-clinical employees with varied expertise, accept direction from clinical professionals, and follow oral and written instructions.
Familiarity with terms and definitions used for clinical syndromes and ability to describe symptoms of mental illness, particularly in a forensic setting.
Must be physically qualified to perform the duties and maintain professional attitudes and conduct throughout employment.
Must pass a physical agility test consisting of minimum standards for sit-ups, push-ups, a 300-meter run, and a 1.5-mile run, with standards correlated to gender and age; testing uses the Cooper Institute of Aerobic Research standards at the 40th percentile.
Must be able to lift 40 pounds and maintain the physical agility and strength needed to provide a safe and secure environment; physical standards apply upon hire and yearly thereafter.
Must be medically fit following examination by qualified department-designated personnel and provide a physician’s certificate confirming ongoing physical qualification.
Must meet the stated vision standard: at least 20/100 Snellen in the better eye without glasses, corrected to at least 20/70 in one eye and 20/30 in the other, with no active or progressive organic disease causing defective vision.
Must meet the stated hearing standard: at least 15/15 in each ear by the Whispering Voice Test.
Must provide proof of immunity against measles, mumps, and rubella; varicella; tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis; and hepatitis B titers, and complete a tuberculin skin test and N-95 respirator fit test.

Nice To Haves

One year of inpatient experience in a psychiatric setting is preferred.

Responsibilities

Provide direct care and treatment to patients in a secure forensic treatment setting, promoting a therapeutic milieu while exercising custody and supervision consistent with nursing care and treatment plans.
Interact with patients by listening, encouraging, supporting, and providing appropriate feedback.
Assist professional staff in formulating and implementing treatment plans and participate as a member of the treatment team.
Support patients with waking, bathing, dressing, feeding, grooming, and preparation for visitors, privileges, appointments, and bed.
Conduct rounds, patient counts, and safety checks; file ward status reports; observe unusual behavior and report incidents to a supervisor.
Escort doctors and visitors on wards as required.
Maintain patients’ quarters in a safe, sanitary, and orderly condition, free of dangerous or unapproved items, including sharps, contraband, and flammables.
Plan, direct, implement, and participate in unit-based therapeutic activities and off-unit activity programs.
Physically restrain patients when necessary, under supervision and in accordance with hospital policy and training.
Observe and report patients’ physical health; bring signs of illness to a supervisor’s attention; assist with physical examinations and blood work, collect specimens as assigned, and take temperature, pulse, and respiration rates.
Carry out outpatient admission, discharge, and transfer procedures and inspect patients for sharps, contraband, and flammables as directed.
Assist nurses and other personnel with prescribed medication treatments.
Establish positive helping relationships with patients, interact professionally with team members, and collaborate on treatment planning, quality assurance, or performance improvement activities as needed.
Supervise recreational activities and escort patients to appointments and off-site activities.
Maintain the cleanliness and safety of patients’ immediate environments and care for their clothing and personal effects.
Implement infection-control and disease-prevention measures.
Identify and report elopement and participate in searches.
Wear appropriate dress and a hospital-approved identification badge.
Provide one-on-one special supervision and observational care as assigned.
Perform routine housekeeping duties to maintain the therapeutic milieu and related work as required.