Mental Health Clinician

RWJBarnabas Health; Communipaw (NJ); On-site; USD 40,708 - 50,737; Full time

Job summary

RWJBarnabas Health is seeking a Mental Health Clinician to support adults, children, and adolescents in crisis within Jersey City Medical Center’s Emergency Screening department. The role emphasizes rapid clinical assessments, safety planning, and coordinated disposition decisions in a fast-paced setting.

The position focuses on compassionate, patient-centered care, collaboration with ED staff and clinicians, and accurate documentation to ensure high-quality behavioral health services for

Qualifications

• Master's degree required in Social Work, Psychology, or related behavioral health field.
• Minimum of two (2) years of experience working with individuals with mental health disorders.
• Experience or training in crisis intervention and behavioral health assessment preferred.
• Valid New Jersey Driver's License maintained throughout employment.
• BLS certification obtained within three (3) months of hire.
• Eligibility to obtain Temporary NJ Mental Health Screener Certification upon hire and permanent Certification within one year.

Responsibilities

• Providing comprehensive clinical assessments and crisis intervention services for adults, children, adolescents, and families experiencing behavioral health emergencies.
• Evaluating patients to determine need for voluntary or involuntary psychiatric hospitalization and coordinating appropriate level of care.
• Collaborating with physicians, behavioral health providers, ED staff, and community agencies to develop safe treatment and disposition plans.
• Coordinating crisis services and facilitating referrals to inpatient, outpatient, and community-based resources.
• Maintaining timely, accurate clinical documentation to support assessments and care coordination.
• Supporting patients and families with empathy, professionalism, and clear communication in high-stress situations.
• Actively participating in the interdisciplinary care team to ensure seamless transitions and continuity of services.

Skills

Crisis intervention

Clinical assessments

Team collaboration

Documentation

Education

Master's degree in Social Work, Psychology, or related behavioral health field

Job description

Job Title: Mental Health Clinician

Location: Jersey City Medical Center

Department Name: Emergency Screening

Req #: 0000259454

Status: Hourly

Shift: Day

Pay Range: $29.55 - $36.83 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.

Mental Health Screener

Are you passionate about supporting individuals and families during mental health crises? At RWJBarnabas Health, our Mental Health Screeners play a vital role in delivering timely assessments, compassionate crisis intervention, and coordinated behavioral health services for adults, children, and adolescents. Working alongside multidisciplinary teams, our screeners help determine the safest and least restrictive level of care while ensuring every patient receives respectful, high-quality support during some of life's most challenging moments. We believe our Mental Health Screeners are an essential part of our mission to redefine the patient experience through teamwork, empathy, and clinical excellence. We hope you are excited by the opportunity to join a dedicated team committed to making a meaningful impact every day.

As a Mental Health Screener, a typical day might include the following:

• Providing comprehensive clinical assessments and crisis intervention services for adults, children, adolescents, and their families experiencing behavioral health emergencies.


• Evaluating patients to determine the need for voluntary or involuntary psychiatric hospitalization and coordinating the appropriate level of care.


• Collaborating with physicians, behavioral health providers, emergency department staff, and community agencies to develop safe and effective treatment and disposition plans.


• Coordinating crisis services and facilitating referrals to appropriate inpatient, outpatient, and community-based behavioral health resources.


• Monitoring and reporting identified safety concerns, including hazardous environments, patient safety issues, and medical errors in accordance with organizational policies.


• Maintaining timely, accurate, and thorough clinical documentation to support assessments, interventions, and care coordination.


• Supporting patients and families with empathy, professionalism, and clear communication during high-stress situations.


• Participating as an active member of the interdisciplinary care team to ensure seamless transitions and continuity of behavioral health services.

This Role Might Be For You If:

• You are passionate about providing compassionate, patient-centered care to individuals experiencing mental health crises.


• You remain calm, organized, and clinically focused while making critical decisions in fast-paced and stressful environments.


• You value collaboration and enjoy working closely with physicians, nurses, behavioral health professionals, and community partners.


• You are committed to promoting patient safety by recognizing and reporting environmental hazards, safety concerns, and quality issues.


• You believe every patient and family deserves dignity, empathy, and expert guidance during their most vulnerable moments.

To be considered for this opportunity, you must have:

• A Master\'s degree (MA/MS) in Social Work, Psychology, or a related behavioral health field.


• A minimum of two (2) years of experience or training working with individuals with mental health disorders.


• Experience or training in crisis intervention and behavioral health assessment strongly preferred.


• A valid New Jersey Driver\'s License that must be maintained throughout employment.


• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification obtained within three (3) months of hire.


• Eligibility to obtain a Temporary New Jersey Mental Health Screener Certification upon hire and a permanent Screening Certification within one (1) year of employment.


• The ability to effectively manage stressful situations while delivering safe, high-quality patient care.