Mental Health Worker I - Adolescent Services

The Department of Mental Health (DMH) Worcester Recovery Center and Hospital is seeking a dynamic candidate who will provide direct patient 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: The schedule is on Unit E1, 3rd Shift, 11:00 PM - 7:00 AM, with Week 1: Tuesday/Saturday and Week 2: Sunday/Thursday as the days off.

Employees in this position will be required to perform mandatory overtime.

Duties and Responsibilities (these duties are a general summary and not all inclusive):

• Treats all patients with dignity and respect through interactions which affirm the individual’s needs and preferences and by optimally integrating the patient’s perspective into all facets of care; will advocate for patients, facilitate timely resolution of patient concerns, and assist patients in the exercise of their rights.
• Works with patients on an individual basis or in small groups through therapeutic interventions and provides a safe milieu for all patients by monitoring patient activity to promote optimal stabilization and rehabilitation.
• Provides/assists patients as needed with activities of daily living (ADL) and rehabilitative aspects of care to help ensure the health, comfort and safety needs of patients are being met.
• Establishes rapport with patients and other staff by developing a good, cooperative working relationship to aid in improved patient care.
• Communicates patients’ progress or regress by verbally reporting to the supervisor or designee, participating in treatment plan and nursing care plan meetings to ensure continuity of patient care.
• Documents observations in patients’ records as directed in order to provide written follow through of verbal reports.
• Supervises and/or assists patients in their performance of general housekeeping duties in assigned area to ensure a clean, safe, therapeutic environment.
• Performs clerical duties, such as filing, making out requisitions and collecting data in order to maintain complete and accurate records to help expedite services.
• Participates in continuing education/in-service programs designed to teach and upgrade mental health skills and knowledge and competency.
• Carries out other duties related to the care, treatment, stabilization, and rehabilitation of mentally ill patients as assigned to ensure optimal patient care delivery.

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.
• American Sign Language (ASL)

About Worcester Recovery Center and Hospital (WRCH):
Located on over 20 acres in Worcester, Massachuse