Commonwealth of Massachusetts·Tewksbury, Massachusetts
Provide direct care services to individuals with mental illness, including assistance with activities of daily living and community integration. Implement individual treatment plans and document patient progress to ensure a safe, therapeutic environment.
The Department of Mental Health (DMH) is seeking dynamic candidates who will provide direct 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: Base salary does not include shift differential- These positions are full and part time, days off are varied and will be discussed during the interview process.
1st shift 7:00am-3:30pm 2nd shift 3:00pm-11:30pm 3rd shift 11:15pm-7:15am Employees in this position will be required to perform mandatory overtime.
Duties and Responsibilities (these duties and responsibilities are not all inclusive) Provide direct care services in the activities of daily living by instructing and/or assisting patients in feeding, bathing, toileting, dressing, clothing maintenance, oral and physical hygiene, self-preservation, etc. to ensure daily needs, dignity and human rights of the patients are met.
Assist in the implementation of the individual treatment plan by discussing and reporting observations regarding patient behavior, needs, desires or problems to ensure consistency of care.
Work effectively with other staff to better serve patient needs, promoting a non-threatening, and therapeutic milieu.
Perform tasks of other staff in their absence to ensure continuity of services.
Practice principles of COLLABORATION, ASSESSMENT, RECOVERY and ENVIRONMENT (CARE), to provide a safe environment.
Perform patient related housekeeping duties as needed, observing and reporting need for maintenance repairs to ensure a clean safe environment for patients.
Document in MIS including but not limited to progress notes, incident reports, restraint/seclusion forms, to provide communication regarding patient progress.
Accompany patients to appointments, programs and treatment areas, assists professional or medical staff in providing services to patients to insure health needs of the patient are being met.
Provide leisure activities for patients during unstructured time to promote and enhance patient social skills.
Instruct patients in fire safety and preservation skills to ensure their safety in an emergency situation.
Attend meetings and trainings to improve knowledge and skills to be aware of and stay informed of hospital and departmental policies and procedures as well as HCFA and The Joint Commission regulations to provide a safe therapeutic environment.
Actively involved in the Improved Operational Performance process at both unit and hospital wide level to promote improved patient care.
May be required to provide “specialized” services to patients in the hospital or at other locations in order to provide support and ensure safety.
Works with other staff in the planning and the implementation of therapeutic and educational programs for the patients and their families to provide an opportunity for learning and meeting of individual patient needs.
Perform other related duties as assigned.
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.
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. About Tewksbury Hospital: Tewksbury Hospital operates a 370-bed facility and a campus of over 700 acres of land. Its patient care services are provided under the auspices of the Department of Public Health and Mental Health. Joint Commission accredited LTAC hospital that provides high quality, comprehensive treatment, care, and comfort to adults with chronic medical and mental illness. A full range of services are provided including 24/7 Nursing, Nurse Practitioners, Medicine as well as psychiatric and psychological services, a 6- bed dialysis unit, clinical laboratory, radiology, respiratory care, nutrition, speech/language, pathology, occupational therapy, physical therapy, therapeutic recreation and arts, and pharmacy.
First consideration will be given to those applicants that apply within the first 14 days.
I. An Associate’s degree or higher in psychology, human services or a closely related field may be substituted for the required experience. Salary placement is determined by a combination of factors, including the candidate’s years of directly related experience and education, and alignment with our internal compensation structure as set forth by the Human Resources Division’s Hiring Guidelines. For all bargaining unit positions (non-management), compensation is subject to the salary provisions outlined in the applicable collective bargaining agreement and will apply to placement within the appropriate salary range. Comprehensive Benefits When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future. Want the specifics? Explore our Employee Benefits and Rewards! Title 101 CMR 23.00 (“Regulation”) requires certain agency staff to have received the COVID-19 vaccination and Influenza vaccination, or have taken required mitigation measures, to prevent viral infection and transmission in State Hospitals and State Congregate Care Facilities. The Regulation applies to this position. Successful candidates will be required to acknowledge and attest to your vaccination status for both COVID-19 and Influenza. An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer. Females, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply. The Commonwealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100%25 of the job requirements. We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role.
Market context
In Massachusetts, behavioral health employers often look for licensed or license-eligible clinicians with experience supporting at-risk youth and families, so demand tends to stay steady for candidates who can work across settings and age groups. These roles can be competitive because employers usually want a master’s degree, a clear licensure path, and practical experience; review the summarized requirements and benefits here, which are AI-summarized from the original job description to save research time, then confirm your licensure status and tailor your application to youth and family work.
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