Mental Health Prog Asst

Direct Care and Treatment (DCT) is a highly specialized behavioral health system operated by the State of Minnesota, providing treatment programs, residential, and vocational services for people with serious mental illness, developmental disabilities, substance use disorders, and more.

About the role

The Community Behavioral Health Hospital (CBHH) in Annandale is a small (16-bed) inpatient psychiatric facility that provides rapid assessment and stabilization for adults experiencing an acute mental health episode. The length of stay is usually less than 60 days, during which treatment focuses on stabilization, patient education, and discharge planning involving community support resources, with the overall goal of preventing future episodes.

This position will provide treatment and instruction to patients in a hospital level of care setting. Responsibilities include providing direct patient care, assisting with activities of daily living (ADLs), ensuring patient needs are met, facilitating group programming, actively participating in the multidisciplinary team, and completing all other duties as assigned. These positions provide quality medical and psychiatric care under the supervision of a Registered Nurse.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement individual treatment plans.
• Identify and control aggressive, violent, and inappropriate behavior.
• Implement behavior management components of treatment plans using behavior modification theory and techniques.
• Use therapeutic intervention techniques to control aggressive or violent behavior.
• Perform basic health care procedures, such as taking vital signs.
• Observe, interpret, and document client behaviors to provide information needed for evaluation and treatment planning.
• Interact with clients to assist in the delivery of group therapy and teach recreation and life skills.
• Provide ongoing work direction and training to other staff.
• Read, write, and speak English sufficient to interpret, implement, and evaluate individual treatment plans for mentally ill patients.
• Protect the rights of clients/residents in accordance with laws, rules, regulations, and policies governing treatment of mental illness and vulnerable adults.

Requirements

• Knowledge of mental illness sufficient to design and implement individual treatment plans.
• Knowledge of behavior modification theory and techniques.
• Knowledge of therapeutic intervention techniques.
• Knowledge of laws, rules, regulations, and policies governing treatment of mental illness and vulnerable adults.
• Ability to perform basic health care procedures, such as taking vital signs.
• Ability to observe, interpret, and document client behaviors.
• Ability to interact with clients to assist in group therapy and teach life skills.
• Ability to provide work direction and training to other staff.
• Ability to read, write, and speak English proficiently.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in a mental health or behavioral health setting.
• Experience working effectively with diverse backgrounds and cultures.
• Dedication to ensuring cultural responsiveness.

Additional Requirements

• Resume must clearly describe experience in required areas and indicate beginning and ending month/year for each job held.
• Reference and background checks, including a criminal background check, will be conducted prior to appointment.
• Documentation of freedom from tuberculosis (TB) via a blood test is required prior to employment (TB skin testing not accepted).
• Applicants must be eligible to work in the United States at the start of employment; DCT does not provide sponsorship for work visas.

Schedule

• Part-time, unlimited (regular) position.
• Rotating shifts: 6:45 AM – 5:15 PM or 11:45 AM – 10:15 PM.
• Days of work vary; includes every other weekend.
• No travel required.

Pay

Salary range: $24.54 - $31.43 per hour.

Candidates may be eligible for a hiring incentive of up to $2,500.

Benefits

• Paid vacation and sick leave.
• 12 paid holidays each year.
• Low-cost medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug plans.
• Fertility care, including IVF.
• Diabetes care.
• Dental and orthodontic care for adults and children.
• 6 weeks paid leave for parents of newborn or newly adopted children.
• Pension plan providing income after at least three years of service.
• Employer-paid life insurance.
• Short-term and long-term disability insurance.
• Tax-free expense accounts for health, dental, and dependent care.
• Resources promoting physical, emotional, social, and financial well-being.
• Training, classes, and professional development opportunities.
• Potential eligibility for the Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for work/life support, including mental health, relationship challenges, grief, finances, and legal issues.
• Daily living/convenience services, such as chore services, home repair, trip planning, and child/elder care.

Benefits eligibility varies based on employment type, agency, funding availability, union agreements, location, and length of service.