Support Person

About the role

VitalCore Health Strategies (VCHS), an industry leader in Correctional Health Care, has openings for a Part Time Mental Health Support Person (8 hours/week every Saturday) at MCI-Shirley in Shirley, MA.

Responsibilities

• Provide front line support to patients deemed in need of increased observation and engagement by offering therapeutic-based activities and recreation.
• Serve as a member of the treatment team while assuring a therapeutic milieu and safety of the living unit.
• Assist the Clinical Team Leader, Clinical Therapists and Psychologists in implementing clinical treatment plans for patients on Mental Health Watch at medium and maximum security facilities.
• Promote a therapeutic milieu in the observation areas and within the unit milieu.
• Engage in non-clinical interactions with prisoners on Mental Health Watch, including social and recreational-based activities which augment the three clinical sessions per day.
• Support observation of patient behavior for safety or clinical issues.
• Document all non-clinical interactions, patient responses to engagement and all observed patient behaviors occurring throughout the day.
• Record information in logs, reports or charts pertaining to daily patient activity and behavior.
• Prepare various reports on unit activities, as required.
• Assist site MH leadership and custody staff by contributing to a therapeutic environment and safety by enforcing policies and procedures.
• Observe patient behavior and recognize and report unusual occurrences.
• Take direction and supervision from a Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP) who provides guidance on appropriate non-clinical activities and ensures the efficacy of interactions with the patient on Mental Health Watch.
• Participate in relevant meetings, including Triage and/or Shift-Change Meetings where QMHPs conduct clinical hand-offs, discuss clinically appropriate Support Persons activities for each patient on a Therapeutic Supervision Mental Health Watch, and review Support Persons documentation from the prior day.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• High School Diploma (preference for an associate degree in human services, or working towards a degree in human services).
• Associate or Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, social work or criminal justice field is preferred.
• Preferred direct care experience in a mental health or forensic mental facility, security residence, or correctional facility.
• Preferred healthcare, mental health or human services experience.

Benefits

• Holiday Pay: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day
• Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance
• Health Savings Account
• Life Insurance
• Short Term/Long Term Disability
• Identity Theft Protection
• Pet Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program and Discount Center
• 401K & Plan Matching
• PTO
• Annual Incentive Bonus

Schedule

• Every Saturday