Mental Health Worker

About the role

The Mental Health Worker functions under the direction of the Professional Nurse and is responsible to the Clinical Manager. This position provides direct care and maintains a safe and therapeutic milieu for a select group of patients on the Psychiatric Unit, serving the adult population.

Employees are expected to role model the organization's values of Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence, and demonstrate core Success Factors: Instill Trust and Value Differences, Patient and Community Focus, and Collaborate.

Responsibilities

• Actively participates in the treatment planning process by completing selected areas on the assessment form and collaborating with the Professional Nurse to develop the initial problem list and treatment plan.
• Communicates individual treatment plans with other members of the multidisciplinary team.
• Implements the treatment plan in accordance with unit policies and procedures, demonstrating the ability to set consistent and supportive therapeutic limits within unit and department standards.
• Reviews treatment plans and problem lists on a daily basis.
• Assists in the evaluation of care by providing input at team meetings.
• Documents significant patient/family interactions on flowsheet in a timely manner.
• Observes patients in activities of daily living (personal hygiene, ambulation, shaving, etc.) in accordance with the treatment plan.
• Establishes therapeutic relationships with patients and encourages their participation in recreational and other therapeutic activities.
• Consistently models appropriate and therapeutic interpersonal staff/patient interactions to other patients/families.
• Conducts patient rounds to observe and record patient's behavior and reports any unusual behavior to nursing staff.
• Initiates formal/informal supervision and incorporates feedback for improvement in job performance.
• Organizes and participates in recreational activities, demonstrating analytical skills and an understanding of psychiatric illnesses to meet psycho-social and intellectual needs of patients.
• Responsible for maintaining cleanliness of the group room and reporting any safety hazards to supervisor.
• Demonstrates interpersonal and communication skills to effectively interact with patient/families as well as other members of the healthcare team.
• Manages aggressive/destructive behavior by providing timely therapeutic interventions.
• Assists in placing patients in seclusion and/or restraints according to policy and procedures.
• Assists in patient and room searches.
• Escorts patients to other departments in the hospital.
• Maintains patient confidentiality and respects patient right to privacy.

Qualifications

• Associate Degree required; Baccalaureate Degree in a Human Service or related field preferred.
• Other education and experience may be considered and substituted for educational requirements at the discretion of the Hiring Manager.
• Must demonstrate aptitude and willingness to learn role-related skills.
• Current BLS certification.
• Current RIH Crisis Management certification or current enrollment.
• Demonstrated knowledge and skills necessary to provide care to patients throughout the life span, with consideration of aging processes, human development stages, and cultural patterns in each step of the care process.

Work Environment

General hospital environment with occasional stressful conditions associated with patient care.

Pay

$23.13–$43.04 per hour.

Schedule

Night shift, 7 p.m.–7 a.m.