Mental Health Worker I

Commonwealth of Massachusetts; Fall River (MA); On-site; USD 49,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Dr. John C. Corrigan Mental Health Center in Fall River, seeks a Mental Health Worker I to provide day-to-day direct care on a 16-bed inpatient unit for adults with serious mental illness. The MHW works under RN/LPN supervision to support daily living skills and promote recovery.

This 40-hour, night-shift position runs from 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. with rotating weekends; overtime may be required.

Qualifications

• Multilingual ability including Portuguese, Spanish or Khmer.
• Experience working with individuals with serious mental illness in inpatient settings.
• Trained in de-escalation and crisis intervention techniques.
• Experience in facilities accredited by Joint Commission or health authorities.
• Certified Nursing Assistant training or direct care experience.

Responsibilities

• Provides programmatic direct care services, instructing patients/clients in learning daily living skills to foster independence.
• Assists professional staff in implementing habilitative/rehabilitative programs and reports observations to guide treatment plans.
• Organizes and encourages participation in active treatment and leisure activities aligned with treatment plans.
• Performs observational safety checks, environmental risk assessments and 1:1 observation, reporting changes to charge nurse.
• Responds to behavioral and medical emergencies using de-escalation, basic first aid and CPR.

Skills

Bilingual (Portuguese, Spanish, Khmer)

Experience with serious mental illness

De-escalation training

Joint Commission healthcare experience

CNA training / direct care

Job description

An Official website of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Job Description - Mental Health Worker I (26000735)

Job Description

Mental Health Worker I - ( 26000735 )

Description

Description - External

The Dr. John C. Corrigan Mental Health Center is seeking dedicated and compassionate individuals for the position of Mental Health Worker I who desire a rewarding career making a difference in the lives of individuals. Our ideal candidate for this position will assist professional staff in providing day-to-day direct care to individuals on a 16-bed secured inpatient unit with serious and persistent mental illness. The MHW, supervised by the RN and LPN, assists professional staff in providing direct care treatment for mentally ill clients in an acute care setting by providing programmatic direct care services daily while instructing and assisting clients in learning skills of daily living to promote independence. The selected candidate will possess strong therapeutic interpersonal skills to encourage and motivate individuals in their recovery to work towards treatment goals.

Please Note: This position is 40 hours. The selected candidate will work the third shift (11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.) with rotating weekends. The days off will be Week I - Sunday/Thursday and Week II - Monday/Saturday.

Employees in this position may be required to work mandatory overtime.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Provides programmatic direct care services, instructing and assisting patients/clients in learning the skills of daily living and foster independence in feeding, bathing, toileting, dressing, grooming and self-preservation.
• Assists professional staff in the implementation of habilitative/rehabilitative behavioral and recreational programs by reporting observations about patient/client behavior, needs, desires and problems, providing information and making recommendations concerning the patient/client and their treatment plan.
• Organizes, provides, and encourages patients/clients to participate in active treatment/leisure activities, including working on goals identified on their treatment plan.
• Completes regular observational safety checks, environmental risk assessments and 1:1 observation duty, reporting changes in patient status to charge nurse.
• Responds to behavioral and medical emergencies utilizing principles of restraint reduction, de-escalation, debriefing as well as basic first aid and CPR.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bilingual (Portuguese, Spanish, Khmer) or multilingual.
• Experience working with individuals with serious mental illness, behavioral or mood disturbances in an inpatient setting.
• Trained in de-escalation and nonviolent crisis intervention procedures.
• Experience working in facilities that are accredited and inspected by The Joint Commission, Department of Public Health, Board of Health, Department of Mental Health, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
• Certified Nursing Assistant training or experience in providing direct care and assistance with activities of daily living.

DMH Mission Statement

The Dr. John C. Corrigan Mental Health Center/Fall River Site provides comprehensive services to adults and children. Programs include a 16-bed acute in-patient unit, Case Management, Day Treatment Program and Adult Community Clinical Services. Our mission is to provide person centered care to individuals of diverse backgrounds. We always aspire to create an environment which promotes recovery, resiliency, growth and independence for those we serve and their families as well as to create an environment where employees can learn and grow.

Pre-Hire Process

A criminal background check will be completed on the recommended candidate as required by the regulations set forth by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services prior to the candidate being hired. For more information, please visit http://www.mass.gov/hhs/cori and click on "Information for Job Applicants."

Education, licensure and certifications will be verified in accordance with the Human Resources Division’s Hiring Guidelines.

Education and license/certification information provided by the selected candidate(s) is subject to the Massachusetts Public Records Law and may be published on the Commonwealth’s website.

For questions regarding this requisition, please contact Executive Office of Health and Human Services, Human Resources at 1-800-510-4122, Option 4.

Qualifications

First consideration will be given to those applicants that apply within the first 14 days.

MINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS: None.

Incumbents may be required to have a current and valid motor vehicle driver’s license at a class level specific to assignment.

Based on assignment: Incumbents are required upon successful completion of a training program to obtain and maintain one or more of the following certifications: Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), first aid, and Medication Administration Program (MAP) certification.

Salary placement is determined by a combination of factors, including the candidate’s years of directly related experience and education, and alignment with our internal compensation structure as set forth by the Human Resources Division’s Hiring Guidelines. For all bargaining unit positions (non-management), compensation is subject to the salary provisions outlined in the applicable collective bargaining agreement and will apply to placement within the appropriate salary range.

When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future.

Title 101 CMR 23.00 ("Regulation") requires certain agency staff to have received the COVID-19 vaccination and Influenza vaccination, or have taken required mitigation measures, to prevent viral infection and transmission in State Hospitals and State Congregate Care Facilities. The Regulation applies to this position. Successful candidates will be required to acknowledge and attest to your vaccination status for both COVID-19 and Influenza.

An Equal Opportunity / Afffirmative Action Employer. Females, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

The Commonwealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role.

Primary Location

Job

Direct Care

Agency

Department of Mental Health

Schedule

Full-time

Shift

Night

Job Posting

Oct 16, 2026, 4:41:43 PM

Number of Openings

1

Salary

48,754.68 - 61,653.28 Yearly

If you have Diversity, Afffirmative Action or Equal Employment Opportunity questions or need a Reasonable Accommodation, please contact Diversity Officer / ADA Coordinator : Christina Hyppolite, [e-mail] - 8572835830

Bargaining Unit : 02-AFSCME - Service/Institutional

Confidential : No

Potentially Eligible for a Hybrid Work Schedule : No