Mental Health Worker Iv

The Department of Mental Health (DMH) is seeking dynamic candidates who will provide direct care services to individuals by participating and instructing activities of daily living including, but not limited to personal care, community integration and recreation/leisure to ensure daily needs, rehabilitation needs and human rights are met.
Mental Health Workers treat all patients with dignity and respect through interactions which affirm the individual's needs and preferences and by optimally integrating their perspective into all facets of care.
Please Note: This is a full time position, 40 hours per week 1st shift, on patient care unit C4. Days off: week I SUN/FRI, week II MON/SAT
Duties and Responsibilities (these duties and responsibilities are not all inclusive)

• Provides supervision of employees of a lesser grade to ensure effective completion of designated tasks/activities.
• Assists in orienting new employees of a lesser grade to unit policies and routines to promote consistency in practice.
• Utilizes Hospital Departmental and Accreditation Standards to determine and provide in-service trainings to subordinates to ensure competent patient care.
• Provides direct care services in the activities of daily living by instructing and/or assisting patients in feeding, bathing, toileting, dressing, clothing maintenance, oral and physical hygiene, self-preservation, etc. to ensure daily needs, dignity and human rights of the patients are met.
• Assists in the implementation of the individual treatment plan by discussing and reporting observations regarding patient behavior, needs, desires or problems to ensure consistency of care.
• Works effectively with other staff to better serve patient needs, promoting a non-threatening, therapeutic milieu.
• Performs tasks of other staff in their absence to ensure continuity of services.
• Practices principles of Safety Hope and Healing, including controlled takedown, Restraint/Seclusion when necessary to provide a safe environment.
• Performs patient related housekeeping duties as needed, observing and reporting need for maintenance repairs to ensure a clean safe environment for patients.
• Documents in MIS including, but not limited to, progress notes, incident reports, restraint/seclusion forms, to provide communication regarding patient progress.
• Accompanies patient to appointments, programs and treatment areas, assists professional or medical staff in providing services to patients (i.e. vital signs) to insure health needs of the patients are being met.
• Provides leisure activities for patients during unstructured time to promote and enhance patient social skills.
• Instructs patients in fire safety and preservation skills to ensure their safety in an emergency situation.
• Orients new patients to the unit, advising them of policies and procedures to ensure their safety and comfort during their hospitalization.
• Attends meetings and training's to improve knowledge and skills to be aware of and stay informed of hospital and departmental policies and procedures as well as HCFA and JCAHO regulations to provide a safe therapeutic environment.
• Actively involved in the Improved Operational Performance process at both unit and hospital wide level to promote improved patient care.
• May be required to provide specialized services to patients in the hospital or at other locations in order to provide support and ensure safety.
• Works with other staff in the planning and the implementation of therapeutic and educational programs for the patients and their families to provide an opportunity for learning and meeting of individual patient needs.
• Monitors unit environment for building maintenance repairs, safety, cleanliness and comfort reporting all deficiencies to ensure health and safety standards.

Required Qualifications:

• Ability to follow written and oral instructions.
• Capacity to perform basic mathematics.
• Proven ability to gather information through observing and questioning individuals.
• Talent for communicating effectively in oral expression, writing clearly and concisely, and developing ideas in logical sequence.
• Skilled in interacting with people who are under emotional stress with the ability to maintain a calm manner in stressful or emergency situations.

Preferred Qualifications:

• 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.

About Tewksbury Hospital:
Tewksbury Hospital operates a 370-bed facility and a campus of over 700 acres of land. Its patient care services are provided under the auspices of the Department of Public Health and Mental Health. Joint Commission accredited LTAC hospital that provides high quality, comprehensive treatment, care, and comfort to adults with chronic medical and mental illness. A full range of services are provided including 24/7 Nursing, Nurse Practitioners, Medicine as well as psychiatric and psychological services, a 6- bed dialysis unit, clinical laboratory, radiology, respiratory care, nutrition, speech/language, pathology, occupational therapy, physical therapy, therapeutic recreation and arts, and pharmacy.
Learn more: https://www.mass.gov/locations/tewksbury-hospital
DMH Mission Statement:
The Department of Mental Health assures and provides access to services and supports to meet the Mental Health needs of individuals of all ages, enabling them to live, work and participate in their communities. The Department establishes standards to ensure effective and culturally competent care to promote recovery. The Department sets policy, promotes self-determination, protects human rights, and supports Mental Health training and research.
Pre-Hire Process:
A criminal background check will be completed on the recommended candidate as required by the regulations set forth by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services prior to the candidate being hired. For more information, please visit http://www.mass.gov/hhs/cori and click on "Information for Job Applicants."
Education, licensure and certifications will be verified in accordance with the Human Resources Division's Hiring Guidelines.
Education and license/certification information provided by the selected candidate(s) is subject to the Massachusetts Public Records Law and may be published on the Commonwealth's website.
If you require assistance with the application/interview process and would like to request an ADA accommodation, please click on the link and complete the Reasonable Accommodation Online Request Form
For questions regarding this position please contact Carol Duggan at carol.duggan@mass.gov or call 978-851-7321 x2395
Qualifications:
First consideration will be given to those applicants that apply within the first 14 days.
MINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS: Applicants must have at least (A) three years of full-time or equivalent part-time experience providing direct care service to the mentally ill, emotionally or physically handicapped and (B) of which at least one year must have been in a supervisory capacity, or (C) any equivalent combination of the required experience and the substitutions below.
Substitutions:
II. A Bachelor's degree or higher with a major in psychology, human services, Mental Health or retardation may be substituted for a maximum of one year of the required (A) experience.
NOTE: No substitutions will be permitted for the required (B) experience.*
*Education toward such a degree will be prorated on the basis of the proportion of the requirements actually completed
Comprehensive Benefits
When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future.
Want the specifics? Explore our Employee Benefits and Rewards!
COVID Vaccine: As a condition of employment, depending on job assignment and location, employees may be required to have received COVID-19 vaccination and/or other vaccinations, or to have been approved for a vaccination exemption prior to their start date. Details relating to demonstrating compliance with this requirement will be provided to applicants selected for employment.
An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer. Females, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.
The Commonwealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role.