Mental Health Worker Job Description

Mental Health Worker Job Description

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Mental health worker provides support to individuals struggling with behavioral health issues and homelessness.Utilize motivational interviewing and harm reduction techniques.

Mental Health Worker Duties & Responsibilities

To write an effective mental health worker job description, begin by listing detailed duties, responsibilities and expectations. We have included mental health worker job description templates that you can modify and use.

Sample responsibilities for this position include:

Maintain confidentiality of records relating to clients' treatment
Encourage clients to express their feelings and discuss what is happening in their lives
Guide clients in the development of skills and strategies for dealing with their problems
Prepare and maintain all required treatment records and reports
Counsel clients and patients, individually and in group sessions, to assist in overcoming dependencies, adjusting to life, and making changes
Collect information about clients through interviews, observation, and tests
Assists patients with bathing, dressing, feeding, and identifying ways to utilize the daily living experience therapeutically
Knowledgeable about types of patient conditions most commonly encountered and understands the psychological and physiological basis for the treatment delivered
Maintains effective care under conditions of unusual stress or confusion and consults with supervisor when direction or support is needed
Provides group therapy to patients including the Family Orientation Group (FOG)

Mental Health Worker Qualifications

Qualifications for a job description may include education, certification, and experience.

Licensing or Certifications for Mental Health Worker

List any licenses or certifications required by the position: BLS, CPR, EMT, CNA, MAP

Education for Mental Health Worker

Typically a job would require a certain level of education.

Employers hiring for the mental health worker job most commonly would prefer for their future employee to have a relevant degree such as Bachelor's and High School Degree in Behavioral Sciences, Education, Associates, Behavioral Science, English, Human Services, Health, Social Work, Psychology, Social Sciences

Skills for Mental Health Worker

Desired skills for mental health worker include:

Motivational interviewing skills and techniques
Nursing policies and procedures as they relate to direct and indirect client care
Human services
PART principles and techniques
Families and governmental agencies in all interactions and conduct
Policies associated with attendance
Professional Assault Response Training principles and uses PART concepts to manage aggressive behavior
English language
Mental health laws and commitments
Neurosequential model of therapeutics

Desired experience for mental health worker includes:

Provides verbal report to oncoming shift MHW I or LPN regarding status on all patients on the unit
Documents pertinent information on a patient's chart, being objective at all times
Maintains level of observation needed for patient protection
Monitor daily data collection, summarization, and graphing for assigned students
Performs all responsibilities in a manner that is reflective of the mission and philosophy of Mount St
Is sensitive to the cultural differences among the children, families and staff and responds appropriately and sensitively to those differences

Mental Health Worker Examples

1

Mental Health Worker Job Description

Job Description Example
Our company is growing rapidly and is looking to fill the role of mental health worker. Please review the list of responsibilities and qualifications. While this is our ideal list, we will consider candidates that do not necessarily have all of the qualifications, but have sufficient experience and talent.
Responsibilities for mental health worker
  • Responsibly documents using agency forms such as, but not limited to, therapeutic physical managements, locked door quiet rooms, and other significant incidents
  • Responsible for documenting the following – Daily progress notes, monthly medication consultation sheets, quarterly milieu reports, shift and meal tracking sheets, medical appointments tracking sheets, and daily debriefing logs
  • Duties may include being responsible for creating and updating MARS, scheduling medical appointments, monitoring the budget, and monitoring outgoing and incoming prescriptions
  • Report and document client behaviors, unusual occurrences, and condition to appropriate staff members and complete necessary paperwork
  • Continually updates skills through active participation in supervision, education, reading, workshops, and in-services
  • Keeps current on certifications and training
  • Responsible for the completion of assigned unit duties such as
  • Follows the problem-oriented method for patient charting or reporting on behaviors observed
  • Accurately obtains and records admission vital signs, height and weight, and documents
  • Accurately monitors, reports, and documents routine vital signs as assigned
Qualifications for mental health worker
  • Professionalism - Reacts well under pressure
  • Associates of Arts (AA) in the social sciences or related field preferred
  • Must possess minimum computer competency comprised of a working knowledge of Windows or comparable system specifically including keyboarding and mouse skills and applicable to individual job duties and expectations, employee must demonstrate competency in use of the applications indicated on the competency checklist
  • Current fire class card required for LA county
  • An approved equivalent combination of training, experience and education that may include experience such as working as an HCA/ NA
  • Knowledge of therapeutic interventions
2

Mental Health Worker Job Description

Job Description Example
Our growing company is hiring for a mental health worker. Thank you in advance for taking a look at the list of responsibilities and qualifications. We look forward to reviewing your resume.
Responsibilities for mental health worker
  • At beginning of each shift, staff person is assigned to specific
  • Plan and implement individual, group, classroom and family therapies in the home, school and community settings as therapeutically appropriate
  • Secure community services necessary in the treatment of clients
  • Responsible to complete all written documentation necessary for the resident and program operations
  • Maintain resident records and relevant data and documentation necessary for a complete up-to-date record of services according to program and department standards utilizing the technology available
  • Carries out job duties in a professional manner by exhibiting a positive, flexible attitude and initiating opportunities for personal and professional growth to enhance the overall operations of the state operated programs
  • Follows program policies and procedures to ensure a safe environment
  • Conducts activities in a culturally competent manner
  • Empowers residents to advocate for their human and civil rights
  • Helps maintain the cleanliness and appearance of the program space
Qualifications for mental health worker
  • Any unusual occurrence related to patients, staff, self, or visitor
  • Any change or question of change in a patient's clinical condition
  • Incidents and/or breaches in quality of care
  • Incidents and/or breaches in patient's civil rights
  • Observations related to environmental safety or equipment maintenance or development of a
  • Minimum of two (2) years’ experience in behavioral health, required
3

Mental Health Worker Job Description

Job Description Example
Our growing company is hiring for a mental health worker. If you are looking for an exciting place to work, please take a look at the list of qualifications below.
Responsibilities for mental health worker
  • Provides Medication Administration according to the MAP Program and ensures that all necessary documentation, policies and procedures are followed according to program and department standards
  • Collaborates with the RN in the physical and psychosocial assessment of patient and demonstrates competency in the delivery, evaluation and documentation of nursing care
  • Effectively documents patient care reflecting severity of illness and intensity of service in the patient's medical record in a timely manner with minimum of every shift
  • Assesses mental status of patient including hallucination, paranoia, delusions suicidal/homicidal ideation
  • Evaluates patient chemical dependency, medication compliance, and patient safety to self and others
  • Recognizes, documents and communicates changes in cognitive abilities, affect, behavior and mood
  • Participates in QI activities as defined by Behavioral Health Services
  • Is responsible for making rounds every 15 minutes on patients, taking and charting vital signs, collecting blood sugars and completing all computer charting Nurse Reporting Tool and Flow Sheets
  • Implements plan of care and documents according to documentation guidelines
  • Helps patient get accustomed to the unit and hospital
Qualifications for mental health worker
  • Bachelor's degree in Psychology, Social Work, Education or related field with one (1) year of experience in a setting that closely relates to the program required
  • Master's degree in Psychology, Social Work, Counseling, Education or related field preferred with three (3) years of experience in a setting that closely relates to the program
  • Experience in treatment and educational settings with children with multiple disabilities preferred
  • Bachelor's degree in Behavioral Science
  • Demonstrates required competencies and skills
  • Ability to lift and transport patients, equipment, and other heavy items (up to 100 lbs.)
4

Mental Health Worker Job Description

Job Description Example
Our company is growing rapidly and is looking to fill the role of mental health worker. Thank you in advance for taking a look at the list of responsibilities and qualifications. We look forward to reviewing your resume.
Responsibilities for mental health worker
  • Completes an admission assessment or any other evaluation of a child/resident for placement
  • Develops, reviews, and updates service plans for child/resident in care
  • Completes a discharge or transfer summary for a child/resident
  • Approves any restrictions that will be imposed on a child for more than seven days that have not been reviewed and approved by the treatment director or service planning team, and any monthly re-evaluations of restrictions that continue for more than 30 days
  • Approves any restrictions to communication and visitation with the child’s/resident’s family that are imposed on a child/resident, but have not been reviewed and approved by the treatment director or service planning team, including monthly re-evaluations of restrictions that continue for more than 30 days
  • Approves any restrictions to a particular room or building for more than 24 hours that are imposed on a child/resident, but have not been reviewed and approved by the treatment director or service planning team
  • Develops and implements interventions for barriers to discharge, coordinates all discharge planning and documentation, updates all discharge lists, documents all direct and collateral contacts into the Medical Record, advocates and negotiates internal and external systems on behalf of the resident/patient within the scope of clinical training and consistent with professional standards
  • Seeks to enhance the capacity of residents/patients to address their own needs
  • Cooperates with colleagues to serve the well-being of the residents/patients
  • Applies sensitivity to cultural diversity issues, treats residents/patients as an individual, and considers the culture of the patients when providing care and treatment that is consistent with/sensitive to age and life span developmental needs of each resident/patient
Qualifications for mental health worker
  • May be exposed to body substances and hazardous materials
  • Ability to work rotating shifts and days of the week, including weekends
  • Ability to flex hours in order to meet patient care needs
  • Physical ability to manage aggressive patients
  • Minimum of one (1) year or more recent work experience in an acute and/or sub acute care facility (hospital or medical center)
  • Must have and maintain a telephone number for scheduling
5

Mental Health Worker Job Description

Job Description Example
Our company is growing rapidly and is searching for experienced candidates for the position of mental health worker. Thank you in advance for taking a look at the list of responsibilities and qualifications. We look forward to reviewing your resume.
Responsibilities for mental health worker
  • May exercises functional supervision over work activities of MHW I’s on assigned shift
  • At beginning of each shift, staff person is assigned to specific client rooms to assist clients in organizing their space, completing their ADL’s, problem-solving, and communicating to other clients and staff
  • Assists in intake duties for new clients, welcoming them, search belongings, orienting them to the milieu
  • Routinely checks supplies at start of each shift and orders same when indicated
  • Coordinates adequate staff coverage for subsequent shift should calls come in regarding unexpected staff absence
  • Assists in the implementation of habilitative/rehabilitative behavioral and recreational programs, communicating to team about observations regarding client behavior, needs, desires or problems
  • Provides assistance in office-related tasks such as copying, filing, keeping the office areas clean and organized
  • Exercise functional supervision (i.e., over certain, but not all work activities, or over some or all work activities on a temporary basis) over 1-5 service personnel
  • Accurately obtains and records admission vital signs, height and weight, and documents these on the Nursing Assessment Form
  • Records and processes patient belongings and valuables on admission and at discharge
Qualifications for mental health worker
  • Requires full range of body motion including handling and physical restraint of patient/residents
  • Ability to speak clearly and write legibly
  • Bachelor's degree in Psychology, Social Work, Education or related field required
  • Master's degree in Psychology, Social Work, Education or related field preferred
  • One (1) year of experience in a setting that closely relates to the program required
  • Multiple sources of evidence that illustrates effective practice that closely relates to the program

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