Mental Health Worker

RWJBarnabas Health; Newark (NJ); On-site; USD 41,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

RWJBarnabas Health in Newark, NJ, seeks a Mental Health Worker at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in the Involuntary Psychiatry for Child & Adolescent unit. The role focuses on engagement, safety, daily living activities, and collaborative care to support patients and families during hospitalization.

Evening shift, hourly pay range of $30.00–$37.96, and Compliance with BLS and onboarding requirements are essential as you contribute to compassionate, team-based patient care.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in psychology, sociology, or related behavioral health field preferred.
• One year of relevant experience required if holding an alternative bachelor's degree.
• BLS certification required within three months of hire.
• Successful completion of onboarding orientation programs upon hire.

Responsibilities

• Facilitating structured activity groups to promote patient engagement and therapeutic milestone progression.
• Maintaining unit safety by actively conducting regular observation rounds and monitoring the environment.
• Assisting patient populations with essential activities of daily living to support comfort and dignity.
• Recording accurate documentation regarding patient behavior, milestone tracking, and daily activity logs.
• Responding to facility codes calmly and efficiently per policy guidelines and specialized training.
• Securing personal belongings for incoming patients to ensure safety and strict protocol adherence.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Sociology, or a closely related behavioral health field

Job description

Job Title: Mental Health Worker

Location: Newark Beth Israel Medical Ctr

Department Name: Involuntary Psych Child & Adol

Req #: 0000267453

Status: Hourly

Shift: Evening

Pay Range: $30.00 - $37.96 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 Worker

Our Mental Health Workers work collaboratively to promote optimal development and prevent psychological trauma in our patients. By providing comprehensive programming and interventions, our specialists proactively engage our most vulnerable patients to provide connection and support. We view our specialists as a critical component of the care plan and recognize the incredibly positive impact they have on the journey and outcomes of our patients and their families. We hope you are excited by the opportunity to deliver care in a way that redefines the patient experience through teamwork, compassion, and excellence!

A Typical Day:

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

• Facilitating structured activity groups to promote patient engagement and therapeutic milestone progression.
• Maintaining unit safety by actively conducting regular observation rounds and monitoring the environment.
• Assisting patient populations with essential activities of daily living to support comfort and dignity.
• Recording accurate documentation regarding patient behavior, milestone tracking, and daily activity logs.
• Responding to facility codes calmly and efficiently per policy guidelines and specialized training.
• Securing personal belongings for incoming patients to ensure safety and strict protocol adherence.

This Role Might Be For You If:

• You are passionate about creating and delivering a differentiated healthcare experience.
• You keep yourself current on acute safety protocols and unit observation techniques to provide care.
• You set a high bar for yourself and others to maintain a secure, welcoming environment.
• You recognize the impact you have on a patient's daily healing journey during hospitalization.
• You believe true healing is optimized and strengthened through kindness, empathy, and vigilance.

To Be Considered:

To be considered for this opportunity, you must meet the following criteria:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Sociology, or a closely related behavioral health field is preferred.
• Experience: One year of prior relevant work experience interacting with patients and the community is required if holding an alternative bachelor's degree.
• Licensure & Certification: Basic Life Support (BLS) certification is required within three months of hire.
• Onboarding Credentials: Successful completion of all mandatory facility and track Orientation Programs upon hire.