Mental Health Assistant

Responsibilities

Mental Health Assistant - Various Shifts

Full-time Shifts Availability:

• 1st Shift: 7:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
• 2nd Shift: 3:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
• 3rd Shift: 10:45 p.m. – 7:15 a.m.

Hermitage Hall (a UHS company) is one of Middle Tennessee's largest stand-alone psychiatric residential treatment Hospitals. Licensed by Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services as a mental health residential treatment center for children and youth, Hermitage Hall has provided services to families for over 30 years.

The Mental Health Assistant participates in the development and implementation of clients  behavioral programs by providing care and close supervision of facility clients and documenting behavior, by developing positive relationships with clients and co-workers and following facility policies and procedures, by implementing treatment plans and providing crisis intervention as necessary.

Job Duties and Responsibilities:

• Contributes to the effective implementation of individual treatment plans of clients through alert observation, and "line of sight" supervision at all times.
• Maintains safety and security of the facility through close observation and monitoring of the clients, maintaining optimal physical proximity, remaining alert at all times, and using forethought to anticipate potentially unsafe situations.
• Stimulates clients  interest and cooperation in various individual and group activities and programs through positive interaction, instruction, supervision, feedback and encouragement.
• Prepares for and facilitates psycho educational groups and documents resident progress as directed.
• Completes accurate and timely documentation of daily reporting of client’s behavior as outlined by policy. Assists in preparation of other behavioral reports and daily activities log as required.
• Demonstrates an understanding of program model through proper implementation of program manual.
• Develops counseling skill and techniques under the supervision of program treatment professionals and uses those skills to assist in individual or group sessions as necessary.
• Assists with state licensing regulations, CARF standards, HIPAA policy, state contract, ordinances, laws, or other regulations required of them in their position and acts consistently in obedience to same.
• Assesses and ensures the needs of the clients are being met in relation to clothing, linens, and personal hygiene supplies. Supervises personal hygiene tasks.
• Escorts clients to mealtime, outdoor/indoor recreation, and education activities and participates in their supervision and instruction as needed. Transports residents to and from medical appointments or other activities as directed.
• Provides appropriate crisis intervention as necessary by anticipating and responding quickly to escalating behaviors, utilizing de-escalation techniques to diffuse the situation, correctly prioritizing safety concerns.
• Uses appropriate counseling skills by de-escalating aggression, using active listening skills, using appropriate tone and volume of voice, providing a high frequency and variety of positive reinforcements, maintaining appropriate boundaries, and promoting a positive peer culture.
• Assures cleanliness and orderliness of the assigned work area/unit and proactively assists in all security, maintenance, and safety functions as required for the overall facility.
• Actively participates in treatment team meetings, and unit meetings as scheduled and required.
• Supervises resident/student search(s) as required.
• Participates in on-call procedure. (Full time only.)
• Practices confidentiality with regard to residents and staff.
• Maintains current and complete personnel file including updated training.
• Is willing and able to volunteer to assist with supervision in circumstances where he/she is not schedule to work.
• Routinely reviews documentation from previous shift(s) before the beginning of his / her shift.
• May be assigned to work on a specific unit or as a Mobile Support/ Floater staff. Mental Health Assistants assigned to work during school hours will be expected to assist teachers with academic activities as needed.
• In the capacity of Mobile Support/ Floater…