STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
HUMAN RESOURCES
CLASSIFICATION: MENTAL HEALTH
WORKER I
Class Code: 6223-09
Date Established: 12-06-74
Occupational
Code: 3-2-3
Date of Last Revision: 12-28-01
BASIC PURPOSE: To perform
work associated with the care of patients/residents/clients, including
maintaining house/ward areas, assisting individuals and groups of
patients/residents/clients in meeting basic daily needs, and providing for a
safe, clean and orderly living environment and treatment milieu.
CHARACTERISTIC
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
·
May act as group
leader for patients/residents as assigned by supervisor.
·
May participate as
directed in approved community treatment programs.
·
Observes and
interacts with patients/residents, and documents observations to the immediate
supervisor to assist in developing individual treatment plans.
·
Guides and assists
patients/residents in activities of daily living and personal hygiene,
nutrition, rest, and exercise.
·
Takes and records
vital signs and reports results to nurse or Component Director/Resident
Services Director for positions assigned to Transitional Housing Services. May collect samples for routine
laboratory examinations.
·
May participate in
specific treatment interventions such as coping skills, anger management, and
other self regulating behavior.
·
Collects and
distributes State laundry and house/unit supplies, assists or takes
responsibility for clothing and personal items.
·
Observes, records and
reports patient/resident behavior to immediate supervisor.
·
May perform limited
outreach community work with selected patients/residents.
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DISTINGUISHING
FACTORS:
Skill: Requires skill
in applying instructions to accomplish different job functions OR in operating
machines for a variety of different purposes.
Knowledge: Requires
understanding and using business or trades vocabulary or basic arithmetic to
perform standard operating procedures.
Impact: Requires
minimal responsibility for contributing to agency objectives by supporting or
performing routine work activities within a small organizational unit. Errors at this level are of minor
consequence and are readily detected through frequent checking or inspection.
Supervision: Requires no
supervision of employees or functions.
Working
Conditions: Requires performing regular job
functions in an adverse working environment containing a combination of
disagreeable elements which impact significantly upon the employee's capacity
for completing work assignments.
This level includes work-related accidents or assault.
Physical
Demands: Requires medium to heavy work,
including continuous physical exertion such as frequent bending, lifting or
climbing.
Communication: Requires
obtaining and exchanging information, referring inquiries to the appropriate
source, or responding to questions from state employees or members of the
general public.
Complexity: Requires a
combination of job functions using minimal judgment to perform a variety of job
tasks according to clearly prescribed standard practices and procedures.
Independent
Action: Requires making a limited number of
choices in selecting among alternative courses of action under supervisory
guidance and in performing job functions according to a variety of prescribed
policies or procedures.
MINIMUM
QUALIFICATIONS:
Education: Graduation
from high school, G.E.D. or its equivalent. Each additional year of approved formal education may be
substituted for one year of work experience. Approved formal education includes courses or a degree in
psychology, social science, special education, any of the health professions,
or other area of approved study.
Experience: One year of
experience in the care of mentally ill or emotionally disturbed persons in a
psychiatric facility, one year as a Mental Health Worker, or one year of work
experience in a position, or combination of positions, that would evidence
possession of the required skills necessary for satisfactory performance at
this level.
License/Certification: Must be
certified as a Mental Health Worker.
Valid driver's license if required by job function and noted on the
supplemental job description.
FOR
TRANSITIONAL HOUSING AT NEW HAMPSHIRE HOSPITAL and LACONIA DESIGNATED RECEIVING
FACILITY: Must meet educational requirements,
certifications, competencies and employment criteria as specified under He-M
1001, He-M 1201, He-M 506, and He-M 426 as applicable to job
responsibilities. One additional
labor grade is provided for Medication Certification. Employee certification is reviewed and renewed annually.
RECOMMENDED
WORK TRAITS: Ability to maintain a rehabilitative
attitude and relationship with patients/residents/clients. Ability to relate to
patients/residents/clients, as well as co-workers in a positive and empathetic
fashion. Ability to respond to
supervision and work cooperatively with others in the discharge of care and
treatment responsibilities.
Ability to perform routine manual tasks and primary
patient/resident/client care services.
Desire to participate as part of a large treatment effort aimed at
re-socializing and rehabilitating mentally ill patients/residents/clients. Ability and willingness to participate
in required in-service training programs to develop skills and knowledge
leading to enhanced effectiveness.
Ability to read and write, and prepare reports regarding patient/resident/client
behavior. Must be willing to
maintain appearance appropriate to assigned duties and responsibilities as
determined by the agency appointing authority.
DISCLAIMER
STATEMENT: This class specification is descriptive
of general duties and is not intended to list every specific function of this
class title.
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