MENTAL HEALTH WORKER

Job Description

Job Description

Description :

I. POSITION SUMMARY :

Under the general supervision of the Director of Patient Services the Mental Health Worker is responsible for basic care, comfort, and safety of the residents.

The Mental Health Worker establishes a therapeutic relationship with assigned guests and facilitates the maintenance of the therapeutic milieu.

The MHW also provides transportation support to guests traveling to and from the facility to engage in social service, vocational, medical and benefit acquisition related tasks

Requirements :

I. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS :

All duties under the direct supervision of the Director of Patient Services.

The Mental Health worker is responsible for the following duties :

• monitoring guests for safety and needs throughout the shift
• daily calling guests and assignment of facility amenities, such as shower availability.
• updating patient schedule
• monitoring unit for safety.
• patient care : assuring relevant information is passed on to the treatment team.
• documents changes in observed or reported patient behaviors.
• intervenes in crisis situations
• maintains awareness of guests’ rights
• answer the phone as needed
• assist LVN in seeing guests in the home, and physicians and other medical personnel in completing encounters outside of the home.
• maintain unit rules
• assist guests on smoke breaks
• assist with new admissions including search of guests and their belongings, inventory belongings of new admissions, orient new guests to the home, start new 15-minute check on new admissions,
• maintain safety and cleanliness of home and guests
• encourage guests to attend services
• chart observation notes in record
• empty soiled linen hamper
• document group intervention progress notes
• monitor guests during visiting hours and visits off the Unit
• provides continual observation to one or two guests, as needed in elevated risk situations
• Provides hands-on restraint as directed by Handle With Care procedures when risk to safety of patient or others is required.
• Provides CPR / First Aid intervention using certified trained techniques when life of the guest is in danger, following BLS protocols.
• Facilitates med pass schedule by reminding patients of times when meds are prescribed and reading directions out loud for each patient, prior to patient self-administration.
• Assists patients to monitor selfcare for chronic disease management, including assisting patients to use supportive devices such as blood pressure monitors, when the LVN is not available.

II. EDUCATION / EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS :

High school diploma; Bachelor degree in health-related field preferred. One-year experience in inpatient psychiatric setting or supportive congregate housing setting preferred. Current BLS.

III. PHYSICAL DEMANDS

a. Physical Activity : Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and / or up to 10 to 25 pounds of force frequently, and / or greater than negligible up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.

Physical Demand requirements are in excess of those for Light to Medium Work.

b. Working Hazards or Risks routine hazards and risks involved in performing nursing activities, including potential exposure to infectious processes, potential exposure to hazardous substance, potential musculoskeletal injuries.

Handle With Care certification or substantially similar certification in crisis de-escalation (e.g. PART, Pro-Act) required and may be provided by employer