Mental Health Worker

Middlesex Sheriff’s Office•Billerica, MA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Under the direction of the Director of Behavioral Health or designee, the Mental Health Worker (MHW) will help care for physically or mentally ill individuals confined to the Health Service Unit (HSU) within the Middlesex Jail and House of Correction in Billerica, MA. Mental Health Workers observe patients and report any physical or behavioral signs or changes to nursing, clinical staff and administrative staff. The primary duty of the MHW is to ensure the safety of all patients by conducting safety checks. The MHW will provide direct care services to program clients in accordance with their treatment goals. This employment opportunity is a full-time, non-exempt position covered under a collective bargaining agreement. The hours of work for this position are 3:00PM to 11:00PM with Sunday/Monday off.

Requirements

Two years of full-time or equivalent part-time experience in providing direct care service to the mentally ill, emotionally or physically handicapped, or any equivalent combination of the required experience and the outlined Substitutions below.
Strong oral, written, organizational and time management skills with the ability to maintain comprehensive and cohesive records.
Active valid driver’s license.
The right to legally operate a motor vehicle in Massachusetts.
Pass a criminal background check.
Verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.

Nice To Haves

Associate's degree with a major in psychology, human services or mental health may be substituted for one year of the required experience.
Bachelor's degree or higher with a major in psychology, human services, mental health may be substituted for the required experience.
Education toward such a degree will be prorated on the basis of the proportion of the requirements actually completed.

Responsibilities

Conducting safety checks of patients at various intervals ranging from constant observation to scattered nine to fifteen-minute checks or other as clinically indicated.
Collaborating effectively with other staff to identify patient milieu issues, develop strategies for dealing with them to better serve patient needs, promoting a non-threatening, therapeutic milieu.
Completing all written documentation necessary for the patient and program operations; this includes maintaining patient records and relevant data and documentation necessary for a complete up-to-date record of services according to program and department standards utilizing the electronic medical record program.
Demonstrating basic communication and intervention skills by applying various crisis prevention and crisis intervention approaches.
Facilitating therapeutic groups for patients on the HSU.
Disseminating various items to the patients.
Preparing space for new patients on the unit.
Assisting patients who are moving in or moving out of the unit.
Monitor all patients by observing patients on video camera.
Ensuring the unit is clean and secure.
Performing daily housekeeping and house management duties, as well as routine maintenance tasks as needed.
Reporting any needed facility repairs.
Completing weekly supply order.
Assisting the Medical Records Coordinator in filing and scanning documents in patient electronic medical records.
Performing other work as required by Management.