Mental Health Worker I - Adolescent Services - 3rd Shift

The Department of Mental Health (DMH) Worcester Recovery Center and Hospital is seeking a dynamic candidate who will provide direct care and/or assists in the direct care skills of the activities of daily living (ADL) care to persons served in an inpatient setting. Provides assistance in implementation of, habilitative/rehabilitative, behavioral and recreational treatment plans by relaying information and input to the treatment team. Exemplifies the DMH commitment to the core values, behaviors, attitude and competencies of a culture of safety.

Please Note: These are Full-Time 40-hour positions. The selected candidate will work on one of the available schedules below.

• Unit E1, Shift from 11:00PM- 7:00AM, with Week 1: Tuesday/Saturday & Week 2: Sunday/Thursday as the days off.

• Unit E1, Shift from 11:00PM- 7:00AM, with Week 1: Sunday/Friday & Week 2: Wednesday/Saturday as the days off.

• Unit E2, Shift from 11:00PM- 7:00AM, with Week 1: Wednesday/Saturday & Week 2: Sunday/Friday 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):

• Provides direct care and/or assists persons served in the direct care skills of the activities of daily living (ADL) as needed as well as the habilitation/rehabilitation aspects of care to ensure the health, comfort, safety, and human rights of persons served.

• Takes and reports vital signs as instructed.

• Accompanies persons served to appointments, programs, and treatment areas and assists professional or medical staff as needed.

• Provides observation of persons served according to hospital and departmental policy, conducting 5, 15, 30-minute checks and 1:1 or constant observation as directed.

• Assists in the planning and implementation of rehabilitative, behavioral, and recreational care of persons served by contributing to and/or addressing specific Treatment and Recovery Plan

• interventions with the treatment team.

• Discusses goals and needs of persons served while attending Treatment Team meetings and unit shift change report as instructed. Reports and discusses observations behavior, desires, and/or problems to ensure consistency and timeliness of care for persons served.

• Organizes and encourages persons served to participate in leisure time activities during unstructured time to enhance socialization and interpersonal skills.

• Actively participates in providing a safe therapeutic environment through observation and communication thereof.

• Reviews Individual Safety Plans of persons served and assists the treatment team by reviewing

• and recommending revisions to Individual Safety Plans. Communicates immediate observations and recommended changes required to immediate supervisor or charge nurse.

• Remains vigilant and aware of any safety and health concerns and reports them to the immediate supervisor and/or charge nurse.

• Responds as trained to emergency situations.

• Utilizes de-escalation, restraint, and seclusion prevention strategies to provide trauma-informed care.

• Establishes a rapport with persons served; meets with assigned persons served at designated intervals to discuss goals and other care issues to facilitate recovery.

• Where available, uses a computer for documentation which includes medical records, daily reports, safety checks, etc.

• Completes admission forms through interviewing and orienting persons served. Communicates priority information for care to the treatment team.

• Attends and completes all required annual trainings.

• Performs related duties as required.

Required Qualifications:

• Knowledge of the English Language

• Ability to communicate effectively in oral expression.

• Ability to write clearly and concisely, expressing thoughts clearly and developing ideas in logical sequence.

• Ability to gather information through observing and questioning individuals.

• Ability to gather information by examining records and documents.

• Ability to maintain accurate records.

• Ability to establish rapport and deal tactfully with persons from varied ethnic, cultural, or economic backgrounds.

• Ability to interact with people who are under physical and/or emotional stress.

• Ability to maintain a calm manner in stressful or emergency situations.

• Ability to follow written and oral instructions.

• Ability to work in a team setting and in group situations.

• Ability to exercise sound judgment.

• Ability to understand, apply and explain the laws, rules, regulations, procedures, guidelines, and policies governing assigned unit activities.

• Ability to lift and carry heavy objects or persons.

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, Massachusetts, Worcester Recovery Center and Hospital (WRCH) is part of an integrated network of effective, efficient, and culturally competent mental health services.  It provides intermediate and long-term inpatient care for individuals with serious and persistent mental illness who live in Massachusetts, as well as individuals requiring specialized court ordered evaluations.

WRCH provides inpatient services to 290 adults and 30 adolescents, inclusive of a Deaf Inpatient Mental Health Service program for 10 patients. 

Learn more about WRCH: Worcester Recovery Center and Hospital (WRCH) | Mass.gov

DMH Mission Statement:

The Department of Mental Health assures and provides access to services and support 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

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.

ADA Reasonable Accommodation: If you require a reasonable accommodation with the application/interview process, please contact us at: EOHHS Candidate ADA Requests

For questions regarding this requisition, please contact Employment & Staffing at 1 (800) 510-4122, Option 4.