Mental Health Worker Trainee:

Assists in orienting the residents to the Home environment, and completes documentation requirements to assure good resident care, such as census.

Communicates significant changes in resident status, reporting all untoward resident actions and/or symptoms to nurse in charge to assure safety and continuity of care.

Supervises, reinforces, and supports residents, as necessary, in bathing, showering, and other hygiene needs. Maintains awareness of residents’ special diet/eating needs, and provides a record of the resident’s intake in order to insure that the resident’s nutritional needs are met. Assists in passing trays and other support during meals and snack times.

Participates in resident care activities such as walk groups, quiet games, arts, etc.

Demonstrates basic knowledge of resident’s histories/conditions. Maintains resident 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 Crisis Management Program in monitoring and maintaining a therapeutic environment. Utilizes a supportive approach with anxious, agitated residents, thus offering residents an alternative to inappropriate behavior.

Provides 1:1 observation of behavioral residents, as needed to ensure safety. Contributes to the resident plan of care process by reinforcing goals during daily, continual interactions and support of the residents. Purposefully observes resident behaviors and provides objective data to the nurse for documentation.

Escorts, supports, transports and supervises residents at appointments, legal proceedings, and other activities as necessary, ensuring that resident safety is maintained.

Completes all mandatory classes in order to establish competency.

Seeks out and appropriately utilizes supervision from Nursing Coordinator/designee in order to assure safe practice.

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.

Exhibits willingness to perform other duties as assigned to assure smooth unit operations.

Staff Workplace Safety Accountabilities

Complies with established GH and departmental policies and procedures by:

Maintaining competency in GH approved Crisis Prevention Intervention program (CPI) and Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) techniques for adults 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.

Mental Health Worker I:

Assists in orienting the residents to the Home environment, and completes documentation requirements to assure good resident care, such as census.

Communicates significant changes in resident status, reporting all untoward resident actions and/or symptoms to nurse in charge to assure safety and continuity of care.

Supervises, reinforces, and supports residents, as necessary, in bathing, showering, and other hygiene needs. Maintains awareness of residents’ special diet/eating needs, and provides a record of the resident’s intake in order to insure that the resident’s nutritional needs are met.

Identifies the need for walk groups, quiet games, arts, etc.

Demonstrates basic knowledge of resident histories/conditions. Maintains resident 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 the Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) program in monitoring and maintaining a therapeutic environment. Utilizes a supportive approach with anxious, agitated residents, thus offering residents an alternative to inappropriate behavior.

Implements individualized plans of care. Contributes to the resident treatment process by reinforcing treatment goals during daily, continual interactions and support the residents understanding of supervision status. Purposefully observes resident behaviors, providing objective data as well as subjective inference. Example, objectively note resident gait, subjectively notes the possibility of medication side effects.

Escorts, supports, transports and supervises residents at appointments, legal proceedings, home visits, and other activities as necessary, ensuring that resident safety is maintained.

Participates in quality improvement data collection. Completes all mandatory annual review classes in order to maintain competency.

Seeks out and appropriately utilizes supervision from Nursing Coordinator/designee in order to assure safe practice.

Maintains current knowledge of facility, departmental and unit based changes by participating in staff meetings, reading policies and procedures to maintain skill and knowledge level. Seeks opportunities to expand scope of knowledge and experience through continuing education to enhance resident care skills.

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.

Exhibits willingness to perform other duties as assigned to assure smooth unit operations.

Staff Workplace Safety Accountabilities

Complies with established Glencliff and departmental policies and procedures by;

Maintaining competency in GH approved Crisis Prevention Intervention program (CPI) and Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) techniques for adults 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.

Mental Health Worker II:

Assists in orienting the residents to the Home environment, and completes documentation requirements to assure good resident care, such as census.

Communicates significant changes in resident status, reporting all untoward resident actions and/or symptoms to nurse in charge to assure safety and continuity of care.

Supervises, reinforces, and supports residents, as necessary, in bathing, showering, and other hygiene needs. Maintains awareness of residents’ special diet / eating needs and provides a record of the resident’s intake in order to insure that the resident’s nutritional needs are met.

Identifies the need for walk groups, quiet games, arts, etc., and plans activities for individuals or groups of residents in order to assure that basic health/social needs are met.

Demonstrates basic knowledge of resident histories/conditions. Maintains resident 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 the Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) program in monitoring and maintaining a therapeutic environment. Utilizes a supportive approach with anxious, agitated residents, thus offering residents an alternative to inappropriate behavior.

Implements individualized plan of care; recommends changes and/or develops alternative methods of implementing plans; provides 1:1 observation of behavioral residents, recommends innovative non-restrictive activities to intervene with agitated, anxious, isolative residents.

Contributes to the resident treatment process by reinforcing treatment goals during daily, continual interactions and support the residents understanding of supervision status. Purposefully observes resident behaviors, documenting objective data as well as subjective inference. Example, objectively note resident gait, subjectively notes the possibility of medication side effects.

Escorts, supports, transports and supervises residents at appointments, legal proceedings, home placements, and other activities as necessary, ensuring that resident safety is maintained.

Participates in quality improvement data collection and contributes to unit based quality assurance effort as assigned.

Completes all mandatory annual review classes in order to maintain competency.

Seeks out and appropriately utilizes supervision from Nursing Coordinator/designee in order to assure safe practice.

Maintains current knowledge of GH, departmental and unit based changes by participating in staff meetings, reading and initialing policies and procedures to maintain skill and knowledge level. Seeks opportunities to expand scope of knowledge and experience through continuing education to enhance resident care skills.

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.

Exhibits willingness to perform other duties as assigned to assure smooth unit operations.

Participates in on-unit orientation of new staff.

Staff Workplace Safety Accountabilities

Complies with established Glencliff Home and departmental policies and procedures by:

Maintaining competency in GH approved Crisis Prevention Intervention program (CPI) and Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) techniques for adults 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.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Mental Health Worker Trainee:

Education: High school diploma or high school equivalency credential.

Experience: No experience required.

License/Certification: None required.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

Appointment to this classification is provisional pending satisfactory completion of all required written and physical components of the Mental Health Worker Training Program, as approved by the Division of Personnel, within the first four (4) weeks of employment.

An employee may be required to work additional hours beyond their normal work shift, engaged in work that is characteristic of their classification, in order to meet resident care needs/safe staffing levels, established by the Nursing Department of Glencliff Home.

Interpersonal skills necessary to communicate effectively with co workers, residents and families.

Effective problem solving skills and judgment.

Physical ability to support and redirect residents

Mental Health Worker I:

Education: High school diploma or high school equivalency credential. 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. May be required to possess a valid driver’s license in the state in which the employee resides, with appropriate endorsements required for the type of vehicle being operated. Must possess or successfully complete a Defensive driving Course as approved by the New Hampshire Safety Council within the first six (6) months of employment. As a condition of and prior to hire, the applicant must have verified their current New Hampshire driving record supplied by the Dept. of Safety, Division of Motor Vehicles indicating no major traffic violations.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

An employee may be required to work additional hours beyond their normal work shift, engaged in work that is characteristic of their classification, in order to meet resident care needs/safe staffing levels, established by the Nursing Department of Glencliff Home.

Interpersonal skills necessary to communicate effectively with co workers, residents and families.

Effective problem solving skills and judgment.

Physical ability to support and redirect residents.

Mental Health Worker II:

Education: High school diploma or high school equivalency credential. 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: Two years of experience in the care of mentally ill or emotionally disturbed persons in a psychiatric facility, two years as a Mental Health Worker, or two years of work experience in a position or combination of positions, that would evidence possession of the requisite skills necessary for satisfactory performance at this level.

License/Certification: Must be certified as a Mental Health Worker. May be required to possess a valid driver’s license in the state in which the employee resides, with appropriate endorsements required for the type of vehicle being operated. Must possess or successfully complete a Defensive driving Course as approved by the New Hampshire Safety Council within the first six (6) months of employment. As a condition of and prior to hire, the applicant must have verified their current New Hampshire driving record supplied by the Dept. of Safety, Division of Motor Vehicles indicating no major traffic violations.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

An employee may be required to work additional hours beyond their normal work shift, engaged in work that is characteristic of their classification, in order to meet resident care needs/safe staffing levels, established by the Nursing Department of Glencliff Home.

Interpersonal skills necessary to communicate effectively with co workers, residents and families.

Effective problem solving skills and judgment.

Physical ability to support and redirect residents.

For further information please contact Michelle Booker, Director of Nursing, 603-989-5226, Michelle.D.Booker@dhhs.nh.gov .