Mental Health Specialist - Short Term Unit

Mass General Brigham; Kentucky; On-site; USD 31,000 - 41,000; Part time

Job summary

Mass General Brigham’s The McLean Hospital Corporation seeks a Mental Health Specialist for the Short Term Unit. This 16-hour weekend package role is onsite at 115 Mill Street, Rotating schedule, working under the RN for direct patient care and therapeutic milieu support.

Responsibilities include documentation, patient rounds, and ensuring safety, with Epic training completed within 30 days of hire. The position focuses on acute mental health needs and crisis interventions.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or equivalent required; Epic training within 30 days of hire.
• One year of clinical experience, preferably in a psychiatric setting; direct patient care experience preferred.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills and ability to collaborate with others.

Responsibilities

• Assist the RN in providing direct patient care.
• Document progress notes and observations accurately.
• De-escalate crises and maintain safety; participate in patient rounds and plans.

Skills

Verbal communication

Written communication

Epic training

Education

High School Diploma

Tools

Epic

Job description

Mental Health Specialist - Short Term Unit

Sep 16, 2026

$22 - $29/hour

Site: The McLean Hospital Corporation

Mass General Brigham relies on a wide range of professionals, including doctors, nurses, business people, tech experts, researchers, and systems analysts to advance our mission. As a not-for-profit, we support patient care, research, teaching, and community service, striving to provide exceptional care. We believe that high-performing teams drive groundbreaking medical discoveries and invite all applicants to join us and experience what it means to be part of Mass General Brigham.

Job Summary

Summary
Under direction of the Registered Nurse, the MHS provides direct patient care and participates in the therapeutic milieu.

Weekend Package
This 16-hour Weekend Package position offers additional paid hours for employees who work all assigned weekend shifts. Employees are paid at their base rate for 24 hours when they work the full 16-hour weekend schedule. Benefits and shift differentials apply only to hours actually worked, and eligible shifts are determined by the Hospital.

Does this position require patient care?
Yes

Essential Functions

• Assists the RN in providing direct patient care.
• Accurate and timely documentation of AFS, progress notes, and observation sheets.
• Establishes therapeutic relationships with patients, maintaining professional boundaries.
• Participates in patient rounds or teams.
• Completes patient care assignments.
• Identifies patient behaviors that contribute to the development of a crisis; utilizes non-verbal and verbal techniques to de-escalate crisis situations.
• Intervenes in managing complex patient situations and patient schedules, utilizing department policies and procedures, always promoting the least restrictive alternatives.
• Communicates changes in patient status to RN.
• Follows Standards of Care and protocols for assigned patients.
• Remains awake and alert at all times while on the job.
• Performs Point of Care testing (POC).
• Works effectively in the therapeutic milieu.
• Participates in planning and implementation of patient groups.
• Provides and supervises recreation and other off-hall activities according to needs.
• Provides patients with direction, support, and supervision as needed.
• Follows established Nursing policies, procedures, and protocols.
• Active milieu assessment while assigned to checks, particularly attuned to safety concerns.
• Participates in the maintenance of the unit environment to ensure safe care.
• Identifies and reports housekeeping problems to Unit Secretary/ND.
• Identifies and reports equipment problems to Unit Secretary/ND.
• Participates in the unit’s inventory system, reporting when supplies are low.
• Initiates activities that assist patients in maintaining a clean environment.
• Initiates activities that promote an organized, safe patient and staff environment.
• Assists patients in their activities of daily living.
• Identifies patient hygiene needs; initiates and implements interventions to meet these needs.
• Provides for patients’ nutritional needs according to unit procedure.
• Assists and reassures patients during tests, exams, and procedures.
• Escorts and supervises patients on and off grounds, maintaining patient safety.
• Maintains a commitment to professional growth and competency.
• Completes mandatory in-service requirements.
• Identifies areas of strengths and areas in need of professional development with supervisor.
• Maintains competency for treating age-specific patient populations.
• Seeks constructive feedback regarding work performance from peers and professional colleagues.
• Participates in critical incident debriefing.

Qualifications

Education High School Diploma or Equivalent required Can this role accept experience in lieu of a degree? No Licenses and Credentials Experience One year of clinical experience, preferably in a psychiatric setting 1-2 years preferred and Previous experience in direct patient care preferred preferred Knowledge, Skills and Abilities - Verbal and written communication skills, and ability to work in collaboration with others. - Must complete and pass Epic training within 30 days of hire. - Successful passing (80% or higher) of Epic training modules(s) is a minimum requirement of the job.

Additional Job Details (if applicable)

The Short Term Unit (AB1 North & South) focuses on depression, anxiety, suicidality, self-injurious behavior, trauma, and personality disorders. We also commonly see comorbid substance use disorder, OCD, and eating disorders. Our patient interactions/interventions are therapeutic, highly interpersonal, and skills-based

Remote Type

Onsite

Work Location

115 Mill Street

Scheduled Weekly Hours

16

Employee Type

Regular

Work Shift

Rotating (United States of America)

Pay Range

$22.40 - $29.73/Hourly

Grade

MCL050

At Mass General Brigham, we believe in recognizing and rewarding the unique value each team member brings to our organization. Our approach to determining base pay is comprehensive, and any offer extended will take into account your skills, relevant experience if applicable, education, certifications and other essential factors. The base pay information provided offers an estimate based on the minimum job qualifications; however, it does not encompass all elements contributing to your total compensation package. In addition to competitive base pay, we offer comprehensive benefits, career advancement opportunities, differentials, premiums and bonuses as applicable and recognition programs designed to celebrate your contributions and support your professional growth.

EEO Statement:

1600 The McLean Hospital Corporation is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religious creed, national origin, sex, age, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation, military service, genetic information, and/or other status protected under law. We will ensure that all individuals with a disability are provided a reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. To ensure reasonable accommodation for individuals protected by Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Vietnam Veteran’s Readjustment Act of 1974, and Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, applicants who require accommodation in the job application process may contact Human Resources at (857)-282-7642.

Mass General Brigham Competency Framework

At Mass General Brigham, our competency framework defines what effective leadership “looks like” by specifying which behaviors are most critical for successful performance at each job level. The framework is comprised of ten competencies (half People-Focused, half Performance-Focused) and are defined by observable and measurable skills and behaviors that contribute to workplace effectiveness and career success. These competencies are used to evaluate performance, make hiring decisions, identify development needs, mobilize employees across our system, and establish a strong talent pipeline.

Mass General Brigham is an integrated nonprofit academic health care system dedicated to advancing patient care, research, and education through collaboration and innovation.

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