Mental Health Worker

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Mental Health Worker performs selected patient care activities. The Mental Health Worker is a member of the multi-disciplinary treatment team and provides support for the patient’s therapeutic treatment plan. Primary responsibilities include observing and recording patient information pertinent to the treatment plan and reporting this information to the Staff Registered Nurse. Must be capable of physically assisting patients, dealing with patient emergencies, and working as a member of a clinical team.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Assists Counselors and/or Therapists in provision of patient care in accordance with individual treatment plans.

• Performs patient care tasks as assigned.

• Establishes and maintains communication and therapeutic relationships with patients.

• Treats patients with professional demeanor, in accordance with established facility practices.

• Observes patient progress and reports status to appropriate Therapist or Counselor.

• Assists patients with activities of daily living (ADL) and transportation to activities away from facility.

• Informs nurse and/or relevant staff personnel of out-of-facility patient destinations and travel schedules.

• Monitors and documents patient’s food and fluid intake (I & O); feeds patients as required.

• Monitors patient bathing and provides assistance as necessary. Assists patients with personal laundry if necessary.

• Regularly observes and records patients’ temperature, pulse, respiration, blood pressure, and weight.

• As necessary, assists and escorts patients during admission, transfers, discharges, and outside activities.

• Collects specimens and transports, delivers to proper area(s) as directed.

• Checks and documents luggage and personal belongings upon admission and maintains patient property list.

• Assists in orientation for patient and families.

• Intervenes with patients who disregard, violate, or ignore unit safety rules. Reports any signs of increasing aggression, suicidal behavior, danger of elopement, violation of smoking rules, or violation of any other unit/facility safety rules.

• Assists in placing patients in seclusion or restraints and observes suicide/seclusion precautions.

• Assists in emergency care if necessary.

• Organizes plans and supervises therapeutic activities for individual patients and for groups in accordance with patient care treatment plans.

• Attends and contributes to therapeutic groups, community meetings, and activities.

• Promotes and encourages patient participation in therapeutic groups and activities.

• Interacts with patients and families in support of patient care treatment plan.

• Acts as facilitator in group counseling activities.

• Maintains communication with patients and families in support of counseling program.

• Attends appropriate facility in-service training programs.

• Provides support and assistance for facility –sponsored community education and outreach programs, as directed.

• Checks for and reports malfunctioning or damaged equipment, destruction of property, or signs of contraband.

• Helps maintain unit cleanliness and neatness for patient comfort.

• The above statements reflect the general duties considered necessary to describe the principal functions of the job as identified, and shall not be considered as a detailed description of all the work requirements that may be inherent in the position.

CUSTOMER SERVICE SKILLS:

• Cooperative in interactions, treating customers with courtesy, respect and compassion
• Patient when responding to questions and answers questions appropriately
• Responds to requests in a timely manner
• Handles interruptions in a skillful way
• Maintains a professional appearance and demeanor
• Strives to prevent/resolve customer concerns to the customer's satisfaction
• Assigns staff to patients knowing the competencies of all staff involved