Mental Health Specialist - Substance Use Disorders

Partner's Healthcare; Belmont (MA); On-site; USD 31,000 - 41,000; Full time

Job summary

Mass General Brigham is seeking a Patient Care Assistant to support Registered Nurses by providing direct patient care and participating in the therapeutic milieu. The role emphasizes safe patient handling, timely documentation, and active participation in rounds and care planning.

Onsite at Proctor House (PH1) with a 32-hour weekly schedule, this position requires high school completion, Epic training within 30 days, and prior clinical experience, ideally in psychiatric settings.

Qualifications

• 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 is a minimum requirement of the job.

Responsibilities

• 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 crisis and uses de-escalation techniques.
• Intervenes in managing complex patient situations following unit policies and promoting safety.
• Communicates changes in patient status to the RN.
• Follows standards of care and unit protocols.
• Maintains patient safety and environment.

Skills

Verbal & written communication

Team collaboration

Education

High School Diploma

Tools

Epic training

Job description

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.

Job Summary

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

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 situation.
• 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 house cleaning 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 ground, 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 de-briefing.

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; Previous experience in direct patient care 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)

At Proctor House (PH1) we focus on substance use and dual diagnosis with a focus on detoxing and getting patients to the next phase of their recovery journey.

Remote Type: Onsite

Work Location: 115 Mill Street

Scheduled Weekly Hours: 32

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.