Mental Health Associate

State of South Dakota; Yankton (SD); On-site; USD 274,000 - 390,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Paid holidays

Vacation and sick leave

Retirement benefits

Job summary

The Mental Health Associate at the Department of Social Services / Human Services Center in Yankton, SD, is a full-time role supporting psychiatric inpatients. You will work with a multi-disciplinary team to deliver treatment, implement interventions, lead group activities, and help patients develop treatment plans and daily living skills.

Preferred candidates hold an associate or bachelor’s degree in psychology or related field, with at least one year of relevant experience.

Qualifications

• Preference for an associate or bachelor’s degree in psychology, human services, social work or related field.
• Minimum one year experience with mentally ill individuals or two years of college in the stated fields.
• Knowledge of crisis management and de-escalation techniques.
• Ability to work with a multidisciplinary inpatient team.

Responsibilities

• Implement planned interventions with patients to help them meet their goals.
• Lead patient evidence-based group activities.
• Help create patient treatment plans and coordinate case management.
• Assist patients in developing goals addressing problem areas and life skills.
• Advise patients on money management and daily living activities.
• Present treatment results to the team and advocate for patients.
• Assist patients in gaining insight into their mental illness and functioning.
• Support return to less restrictive environments and provide safe patient transport.

Skills

Experience with mentally ill

Crisis management

De-escalation skills

Therapeutic communication

Education

Associate degree in psychology or related field

Bachelor’s degree in psychology or related field

Job description

Job ID: 37426

Agency: Department of Social Services / Human Services Center

Location: Yankton, SD

Salary: $24.77 Hourly, depending on qualifications

Pay Grade: H

Closing Date: Open Until Filled

This is a Full-Time 40 Hours Weekly position with the Human Services Center. For more information on the Human Services Center, please visit https://dss.sd.gov .

$3000.00 Hiring Incentive

Job Summary

The Mental Health Associate will work with a multi-disciplinary team to care for and provide treatment for patients with psychiatric illness in an inpatient hospital setting.

The Mental Health Associate will perform daily tasks including but not limited to:

• implementing planned interventions with patients to help them meet their goals,
• leading patient evidence-based group activities,
• helping create patient treatment plans,
• case management (making phone calls, following up on patient goals, etc.),
• assisting patients to develop goals addressing their problem areas,
• working with patients to develop money management skills,
• being an advocate for the patient and presenting treatment results to the treatment team,
• help patients gain insight into their mental illness or behavioral disturbances
• assist patients improve their decision-making skills to enable them to return to a less restrictive environment,
• providing patient transportation,
• assisting patients with activities of daily life (eating, bathing, dressing, etc.).

The Ideal Candidate Will Have

Preference will be given to applicants with an associate or bachelor’s degree in psychology, human services, social work or related field. Preference will also be given to applicants with a minimum of one year experience working with mentally ill individuals or individuals who have completed two years of college in the fields previously outlined.

Responsibilities

Knowledge of:

• severe and persistent mental illness;
• serious emotional disturbances;
• chemical dependency/substance use;
• crisis management;
• verbal and physical de-escalation skills;
• therapeutic communication skills;
• principles of basic human behavior across the lifespan;
• CPR and first;
• patient’s rights.

Ability To

• deal effectively with patients from diverse ethnic and sociological backgrounds;
• pay attention to and be empathetic with patients;
• accurately remember and recall information;
• utilize computers and other electronic devices for charting and other tasks as needed;
• maintain flexibility while ensuring safety and security in an in-patient psychiatric setting;
• provide individual and/or group crisis and de-escalation interventions;
• lead patients in assigned tasks;
• effectively diffuse potentially explosive confrontations between patients;
• plan and organize work;
• lift 75 pounds;
• effectively communicate with patients, staff, family members, professionals, and others;
• maintain records and prepare documentation;
• interpret and follow established policies, operations memoranda, procedures, and guidelines.

This position is eligible for Veterans’ Preference per ARSD 55:10:02:08.

Successful applicant(s) will be required to undergo a background investigation. An arrest/conviction record will not necessarily bar employment.

Successful applicant(s) will undergo an abuse and neglect screening. Offers of employment are conditional upon successful completion of a drug screening.

NCRC: If you possess a National Career Readiness Certificate, please submit the certificate with your application. For more information on how to acquire a National Career Readiness Certificate contact a South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation Job Service Office. A certificate is not necessary to be considered.

The State of South Dakota does not sponsor work visas for new or existing employees. All persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and complete an Employment Eligibility Verification, Form I-9. The State of South Dakota as an employer will be using E-Verify to complete employment eligibility verification upon hire.

The State of South Dakota offers $0 premium employee health insurance option plus eleven paid holidays, generous vacation and sick leave accrual, dental, vision, and other insurance options, and retirement benefits. You can view our benefits information here . This position is a member of Class A retirement under SDRS.

South Dakota Bureau of Human Resources and Administration

Telephone: [phone] Email: [e-mail]

http://bhr.sd.gov/workforus

“An Equal Opportunity Employer”