Job Description

State of New Hampshire Job Posting

Department of Health & Human Services

New Hampshire Hospital

36 Clinton St.

Concord, NH 03301

MENTAL HEALTH WORKER I-II

Full-Time, 2nd Shift, Unit C

Position #18613

$19.24/hour - $30.41/hour

All Mental Health Workers (MHW) participate in the 5-week MHW orientation program.

Orientation consists of a combination of classroom and clinical experiences to enhance the learning of the role and responsibilities of the MHW.

The program runs weeks 1-4: Monday - Friday 7:45am - 4:15pm OR 6:45am - 3:15pm.

Week 5 includes clinical experience on the shift of hire.

*See total compensation information at the bottom of announcement.

The State of New Hampshire, Department of Health & Human Services, and New Hampshire Hospital have a Full-Time vacancy for Mental Health Worker I-II.

Summary:

MENTAL HEALTH WORK I

Under the direction of the registered nurse carries out assigned tasks and provides direct care services to patients in an acute psychiatric care facility setting.

MENTAL HEALTH WORK II

Under the direction of the registered nurse carries out assigned tasks and contributes to direct care services for patients in an acute psychiatric care facility setting.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Education/Experience: High school diploma or equivalent credential

License/Certification: Valid driver’s license

Other Requirements:

1. Must be physically capable of safely restraining patients when clinically required

2. Must be able to work additional hours beyond a normal shift when necessary

Trainee Option: Not applicable

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Strong interpersonal communication skills to engage effectively with coworkers, patients, and families

Some background in psychology, social science, special education, a health profession, or a related field or in the care of mentally ill or emotionally disturbed individuals in a psychiatric facility, as a Mental Health Worker, or in a related field

AFTER-HIRE REQUIREMENTS:

1. Certification as a Mental Health Worker within the first 2 months of hire

2. Completion of the State’s defensive driver training within the first 6 months of hire

CAREER ADVANCEMENT OPPORTUNITIES:

In-Band Advancement Available: Yes No

Criteria: None

Broad Group Level Advancement Available: Yes No

Criteria: 31113301BGA01 (Level 1 to Level 2)

For promotion from the 31-1133 Psychiatric Aides-1 job title to the 31-1133 Psychiatric Aides-2 job title, and use of the “Mental Health Worker II” working title, the eligibility requirements in Personnel Rule 303.08 Broad Group Level Advancement must be satisfied, as well as the following criteria:

1. Has 1 year of experience functioning as a Mental Health Worker I

2. Receives a satisfactory performance evaluation and is free of discipline, pursuant to Personnel Rule 1003.01, for 1 year immediately prior to promotion

3. Is up-to-date on all mandatory in-house training

4. Receives a performance-based recommendation for promotion from the supervisor(s) and approval from the director of nursing

MENTAL HEALTH WORK II

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Education/Experience: Equivalent combination of 1 year of education and experience after completion of high school

License/Certification: Valid driver’s license

Other Requirements:

1. Must be physically capable of safely restraining patients when clinically required

2. Must be able to work additional hours beyond a normal shift when necessary

Trainee Option: Not applicable

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Strong interpersonal communication skills to engage effectively with coworkers, patients, and families

Some background in psychology, social science, special education, a health profession, or a related field or in the care of mentally ill or emotionally disturbed individuals in a psychiatric facility, as a Mental Health Worker, or in a related field

AFTER-HIRE REQUIREMENTS:

1. Certification as a Mental Health Worker within the first 2 months of hire

2. Completion of the State’s defensive driver training within the first 6 months of hire

CAREER ADVANCEMENT OPPORTUNITIES:

In-Band Advancement Available: Yes No

Criteria: None

Broad Group Level Advancement Available: Yes No

Criteria: None

Responsibilities:

Mental Health Worker I:

• Assists in the admission procedure, searches for contraband, orients the patient to the unit/hospital environment, identifies and records the patient’s valuables, and completes documentation requirements to assure good patient care.
• Communicates significant changes in patient status, reporting all untoward patient actions and/or symptoms to the nurse in charge to assure safety and continuity of care.
• Supports patients, as necessary, in bathing, showering, and other hygiene needs. Maintains awareness of patients’ special diet/eating needs and provides a record of the patient’s intake in order to ensure that the patient’s nutritional needs are met. Identifies the need for walk groups, quiet games, arts, etc.
• Monitors, provides, and maintains, a safe clean environment as prescribed by standards relating to fire safety and infection control (appropriately using Personal Protective Equipment when indicated). Seeks out and appropriately utilizes supervision from Nursing Coordinator/designee in order to assure safe practice Applies principles of Orlando Nursing Theory and the Crisis Management Program in monitoring and maintaining a therapeutic environment. Utilizes a supportive approach with anxious, agitated patients, thus offering patients an alternative to violent behavior.
• Implements individualized plan of care; provides 1:1 observation of suicidal patients and obtains vital signs. Contributes to the patient treatment process by reinforcing treatment goals during daily, continual interactions and by supporting the patients understanding of supervision status. Purposefully observes patient behaviors, documenting objective data as well as subjective inferences. For example, objectively notes the patient’s gait and subjectively notes the possibility of medication side effects.
• Escorts, supports, and supervises patients at appointments, legal proceedings, home placements, and other activities as necessary, ensuring that patient safety is maintained.
• Participates in quality improvement data collection. Completes all mandatory annual review classes in order to maintain competency.
• Maintains current knowledge of hospital, departmental and unit-based changes by participating in staff meetings, reading policies and procedures and seeks opportunities to expand scope of knowledge and experience through continuing education.
• Maintains a positive customer service-oriented attitude as demonstrated by a professional and courteous demeanor in all interactions and through a professional appearance to provide a therapeutic environment. Maintains safe body mechanics while participating in physically demanding, unpredictable and potentially hazardous patient care situations, (e.g., safety transports of physically aggressive patients).
  

Mental Health Worker II:

• Assists in admission procedure, searching for contraband, orienting the patient to the unit/hospital environment, identifies and records the patient’s valuables, and completes documentation requirements to assure good patient care.
• Communicates significant changes in patient status, reporting all untoward patient actions and/or symptoms to nurse in charge to assure safety and continuity of care. Seeks out and appropriately utilizes supervision from Nursing Coordinator/designee in order to assure safe practice.
• Supports and supervises patients with bathing, showering, and other hygiene needs. Maintains awareness of patients’ special diet/eating needs and provides a record of the patient’s intake in order to ensure that the patient’s nutritional needs are met.

• Maintains safe body mechanics while participating in physically demanding, unpredictable and potentially hazardous patient care situations, (e.g., safety transports of physically aggressive patients).

• Assesses and identifies the need for walk groups, quiet games, arts, etc., and plans activities for individuals or groups of patients in order to ensure that basic health/social needs are met.
• Demonstrates basic knowledge of patient histories/conditions. Provides testimony during legal proceedings to provide support. Maintains patient confidentiality at all times.
• Monitors, provides, and maintains, a safe clean environment as prescribed by standards relating to fire safety and infection control (appropriately using Personal Protective Equipment when indicated). Applies principles of Orlando Nursing Theory and the Crisis Management Program in monitoring and maintaining a therapeutic environment. Utilizes a supportive approach with anxious, agitated patients, thus offering patients an alternative to violent behavior.
• Implements individualized plan of care; recommends changes and/or develops alternative methods of implementing plans; provides 1:1 observation of suicidal patients, obtains vital signs, recommends innovative non-restrictive activities to intervene with agitated, anxious, isolative patients. Contributes to the patient treatment process by reinforcing treatment goals during daily, continual interactions and support the patients understanding of supervision status. Purposefully observes patient behaviors, documenting objective data as well as subjective inference. For example, objectively notes patient gait, subjectively notes the possibility of medication side effects.
• Escorts, supports, and supervises patients at appointments, legal proceedings, home placements, and other activities as necessary, ensuring that patient safety is maintained.
• Supports quality improvement data collection and contributes to unit-based quality assurance effort as assigned.
• Completes all mandatory annual training to uphold competency. Maintains current knowledge of hospital, departmental and unit changes by attending staff meetings and reviewing/initialing policies and procedures to sustain competency. Proactively expands knowledge and skills through continuing education to enhance patient care.
• Maintains a positive customer service-oriented attitude as demonstrated by a professional and courteous demeanor in all interactions and through a professional appearance to provide a therapeutic environment.
• Participates in on-unit orientation and mentoring of new staff. Exhibits willingness to perform other duties as assigned to assure smooth unit operations.
  

Staff Workplace Safety Accountabilities

Complies with established hospital and departmental policies and procedures by:

• Maintaining competency in hospital approved Crisis Management Program (CMP) and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) techniques for adults, infants, children and AED training.
• Performing accountabilities in accordance with established policies and procedures.
• Communicating with supervisors’ issues related to workplace safety (i.e., ergonomics, body mechanics, environment, equipment, etc.).
• Reporting on the job injuries to supervisor IMMEDIATELY.
• Attending training programs, as appropriate.

Total Commitment to Quality

Participates in the process of continuous quality improvement by supporting unit/department-based quality improvement activities. Demonstrates commitment to customer service values in professional conduct and by promoting such values in assigned work area.

DISCLAIMER STATEMENT: The supplemental job description lists typical examples of work and is not intended to include every job duty and responsibility specific to a position. An employee may be required to perform other related duties not listed on the supplemental job description provided that such duties are characteristic of that job title.

When applicable, the work of an employee in trainee status in this position shall be overseen by a fully qualified individual. An employee in trainee status shall meet the minimum qualifications within the period of time specified on the SJD, not to exceed one year of being hired into this position

For further information please contact Human Resources at NHH-HR@dhhs.nh.gov or 603-271-5233.

*TOTAL COMPENSATION INFORMATION

The State of NH total compensation package features an outstanding set of employee benefits, including:

HMO or POS Medical and Prescription Drug Benefits:

The actual value of State-paid health benefits and the amount of employee health benefit contributions may vary depending on the type of plan selected and the bargaining unit with which a position is associated.

See this link for details on State-paid health benefits:

Value of State's share of Employee's Retirement: 12.87% of pay

Other Benefits:

• Dental Plan at minimal cost for employees and their families ($500-$1800 value)

• Flexible Spending healthcare and childcare reimbursement accounts

• State defined benefit retirement plan and Deferred Compensation 457(b) plan

• Work/life balance flexible schedules, paid holidays and generous leave plan

• $50,000 state-paid life insurance plus additional low-cost group life insurance

• Incentive-based Wellness Program (ability to earn up to $500)

Total Compensation Statement Worksheet:

Want the specifics? Explore the Benefits of State Employment on our website:

EOE

TDD Access: Relay NH 1-800-735-2964

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