Seasonal Mental Health Worker I - 1st Shift

Commonwealth of Massachusetts•Worcester, MA

11d•Onsite

About The Position

The Department of Mental Health (DMH) Worcester Recovery Center and Hospital is seeking a dynamic candidate to provide direct patient care services. This role involves participating in and instructing activities of daily living, including personal care, community integration, and recreation/leisure, to ensure patients' daily needs, rehabilitation needs, and human rights are met. Mental Health Workers treat all patients with dignity and respect, affirming their needs and preferences and integrating their perspectives into all aspects of care. This is a short-term seasonal position expected to begin in November and end in January/February, not exceeding 90 consecutive days and is not eligible for benefits. The selected candidate will work 1st Shift (6:45 AM – 3:15 PM), with varying days off and required weekend availability. Employees in this position will be required to perform mandatory overtime.

Requirements

Knowledge of the English Language
Ability to communicate effectively in oral expression.
Ability to write clearly and concisely, expressing thoughts clearly and developing ideas in logical sequence.
Ability to gather information through observing and questioning individuals.
Ability to gather information by examining records and documents.
Ability to maintain accurate records.
Ability to establish rapport and deal tactfully with people from varied ethnic, cultural, or economic backgrounds.
Ability to interact with people who are under physical and/or emotional stress.
Ability to maintain a calm manner in stressful or emergency situations.
Ability to follow written and oral instructions.
Ability to work in a team setting and in group situations.
Ability to exercise sound judgment.
Ability to understand, apply and explain the laws, rules, regulations, procedures, guidelines, and policies governing assigned unit activities.
Ability to lift and carry heavy objects or people.
MINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS: None.
Incumbents may be required to have a current and valid motor vehicle driver’s license at a class level specific to assignment.
Based on assignment: Incumbents are required upon successful completion of a training program to obtain and maintain one or more of the following certifications: Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), first aid, and Medication Administration Program (MAP) certification.
Title 101 CMR 23.00 (“Regulation”) requires certain agency staff to have received the COVID-19 vaccination and Influenza vaccination, or have taken required mitigation measures, to prevent viral infection and transmission in State Hospitals and State Congregate Care Facilities. The Regulation applies to this position. Successful candidates will be required to acknowledge and attest to your vaccination status for both COVID-19 and Influenza.

Nice To Haves

Experience working with individuals with serious, persistent mental illness, substance abuse and/or who have experienced homelessness.
Given the population served, bilingual or multilingual fluency.
American Sign Language (ASL)

Responsibilities

Provides direct care and/or assists persons served in the direct care skills of the activities of daily living (ADL) as needed as well as the habilitation/rehabilitation aspects of care to ensure the health, comfort, safety, and human rights of persons served.
Takes and reports vital signs as instructed.
Accompanies persons served to appointments, programs, and treatment areas and assists professional or medical staff as needed.
Provides observation of persons served according to hospital and departmental policy, conducting 5, 15, 30-minute checks and 1:1 or constant observation as directed.
Assists in the planning and implementation of rehabilitative, behavioral, and recreational care of persons served by contributing to and/or addressing specific Treatment and Recovery Plan interventions with the treatment team.
Discusses goals and needs of persons served while attending Treatment Team meetings and unit shift change report as instructed. Reports and discusses observations behavior, desires, and/or problems to ensure consistency and timeliness of care for persons served.
Organizes and encourages persons served to participate in leisure time activities during unstructured time to enhance socialization and interpersonal skills.
Actively participates in providing a safe therapeutic environment through observation and communication thereof.
Reviews Individual Safety Plans of persons served and assists the treatment team by reviewing and recommending revisions to Individual Safety Plans. Communicates immediate observations and recommended changes required to immediate supervisor or charge nurse.
Remains vigilant and aware of any safety and health concerns and reports them to the immediate supervisor and/or charge nurse.
Responds as trained to emergency situations.
Utilizes de-escalation, restraint, and seclusion prevention strategies to provide trauma-informed care.
Establishes a rapport with persons served; meets with assigned persons served at designated intervals to discuss goals and other care issues to facilitate recovery.
Where available, uses a computer for documentation which includes medical records, daily reports, safety checks, etc.
Completes admission forms through interviewing and orienting people served. Communicates priority information for care to the treatment team.
Attends and completes all required annual training courses.
Performs related duties as required.