Mental Health Associate

RWJBarnabas Health; Elizabeth (NJ); On-site; USD 30,000 - 43,000; Full time

Job summary

RWJBarnabas Health's NEW POINT CAMPUS seeks a Mental Health Associate to support emergency screening. You will provide direct clinical care under RN supervision, perform venipuncture, and assist with intake, transfers, and EPIC EMR documentation.

This role emphasizes milieu safety, crisis de-escalation, therapeutic group activities, and collaborative care across nurses, physicians, and social services. A Bachelor's in related field or MHA certification plus BLS is required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Sociology, Behavioral Health, or related field, or an active MHA certification.
• Five years of full-time relevant experience acceptable in lieu of a degree; psychiatric/substance abuse experience preferred.
• Current BLS Provider certification required prior to start date.

Responsibilities

• Direct clinical care under RN supervision, tracking vitals and assisting with ADLs.
• Venipuncture, specimen collection, and proper labeling per protocol.
• Maintain milieu safety, de-escalation, safety watches, and searches as ordered.
• Register patients in EPIC EMR, assist with intake, transfers and facility transport.
• Plan and lead group activities and therapeutic sessions; document daily charts.
• Maintain unit cleanliness, manage supplies, and support discharge processes.

Skills

Crisis intervention

De-escalation

Active listening

Team collaboration

Patient care

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Psychology

AIMS MHA certification

Tools

EPIC EMR

Job description

Job Title: Mental Health Associate

Location: NEW POINT CAMPUS

Department Name: Emergency Screening

Req #: 0000267922

Status: Hourly

Shift: Day

Pay Range: $26.39 - $26.39 per hour

Pay Transparency:

The above reflects the anticipated hourly wage range for this position if hired to work in New Jersey.

The compensation offered to the candidate selected for the position will depend on several factors, including the candidate's educational background, skills and professional experience.

Our Mental Health Associate works collaboratively to promote optimal development and prevent psychological trauma in hospitalized children, adolescents, and adults navigating behavioral health crises. By providing comprehensive programming, direct care, and evidence-informed clinical support, our psychiatric care teams proactively engage vulnerable populations across the developmental lifespan to provide structure, safety, connection, and a healing environment. We view our clinical associates as critical components of the multidisciplinary care team and recognize the incredibly positive impact they have on our patients' healthcare journeys. We hope you are excited by the opportunity to deliver specialized care in a way that redefines the patient experience through teamwork, compassion, and excellence within the RWJBarnabas Health network!

A Typical Day

• Direct Clinical Care: Providing standard nursing care delegated by the Registered Nurse, including tracking vital signs, recognizing abnormal data to verbally report to the RN, and supporting activities of daily living (ADLs) for patients across the full developmental lifespan.
• Technical Medical Tasks: Safely performing venipuncture (drawing blood), collecting and processing clinical lab specimens (blood, urine, sputum, stool), and ensuring complete labeling compliance.
• Milieu Safety & Crisis Support: Conducting regular patient safety checks, maintaining de-escalation protocols, providing safety watches as ordered, and facilitating secure patient property and body searches.
• Admission, Registration & Tracking: Registering incoming walk-in and ambulance patients into the EPIC EMR system, orienting families, and assisting with clinical intake, transfer, and facility transport procedures.
• Therapeutic Milieu Support: Planning, leading, and facilitating group meetings, recreational activities, and therapeutic recovery sessions to support patient milestone progression.
• Treatment Planning & Documentation: Documenting accurate, daily electronic patient charts, recording vital data, and collaborating with physicians and nurses to update integrated care plans.
• Unit Safety & Operational Compliance: Maintaining a clean unit environment, coordinating supply and linen par levels, and preparing discharge units when housekeeping is unavailable.

This Role Might Be For You If

• You are deeply passionate about creating a welcoming, supportive, and non-judgmental environment for children and adults navigating acute psychiatric emergencies.
• You excel under pressure, maintain an exceptional professional demeanor, and stay current on acute crisis intervention and de-escalation practices.
• You set a high bar for maintaining a safe, organized, and welcoming therapeutic environment during crisis stabilization.
• You recognize and respect the direct impact your communication and active listening have on a patient's daily healing journey.
• You thrive in a highly collaborative team environment alongside nurses, physicians, and supportive social service agencies.

To Be Considered

• Education: A Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Sociology, Behavioral Health, or a related field; OR an active AIMS Mental Health Association (MHA) certification is required.
• Experience Substitution: A minimum of five (5) years of full-time, relevant working experience within a behavioral health or medical setting is strictly acceptable in lieu of a degree. Prior experience with psychiatric or substance abuse patients is preferred.
• Certifications: A current American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) Provider certification is strictly required prior to your start date.