Mental Health Worker I (Nights)

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

Job summary

Commonwealth of Massachusetts in Boston's Metro Boston Mental Health Units at Lemuel Shattuck Hospital seeks a Mental Health Worker I for night shifts. You will be part of an interdisciplinary team providing direct care, monitoring patients, and supporting treatment plans to promote recovery.

The role requires working 11pm–7am, 40 hours per week, and potential mandatory overtime. You will participate in safety protocols, document care, and engage patients in therapeutic activities under

Qualifications

• Ability to follow written and oral instructions from supervisors.
• Clear written and spoken communication, logical ideas.
• Basic math skills for daily tasks and documentation.
• Ability to interact with individuals under emotional stress.
• Maintain composure in emergencies and high-stress situations.
• Capable of working in a team with other care professionals.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct care and assist with ADL in inpatient psychiatric care.
• accompany to appointments and treatment areas as needed.
• Observe patients with scheduled checks and one-to-one monitoring.
• Support rehabilitation plans and participate in Team interventions.
• Discuss patient goals in Treatment Team meetings and handoffs.
• Document care and safety plans, report changes to supervisor.
• Encourage participation in leisure activities to promote social skills.
• Maintain a safe therapeutic environment and review safety plans.
• Communicate observations to the charge nurse and supervisor.
• Respond to emergencies with de-escalation and trauma-informed care.
• Utilize electronic medical records for documentation when available.
• Attend required annual trainings and shift briefings.

Skills

Follow written and oral instructions

Effective communication

Mathematical ability

Interact with stressed individuals

Remain calm under pressure

Teamwork

Job description

An Official website of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Job Description - Mental Health Worker I (Nights) (260005V3)

Job Description

Mental Health Worker I (Nights) - (260005V3)

Description

Metro Boston Mental Health Units of the Lemuel Shattuck Hospital are seeking qualified candidates to fill the position of Mental Health Worker I. The ideal candidate will be a compassionate, skilled caregiver, to aid in the recovery of persons treated within our inpatient psychiatric setting. The Mental Health Worker I is an integral part of the treatment team on the Metro Boston Mental Health Units (MBMHU). Demonstrating professionalism and respect in all interactions, and working collaboratively with RNs, LPNs, MHWs and other disciplines.

Our Mental Health Workers ensure dignity and respect with our patients through interactions which affirm the individual’s needs and preferences and by optimally integrating their perspective into all facets of care.

Please Note: This position is 40 hours per week, and the incumbent will work the 3rd shift schedule from 11pm- 7am. Days off: Week 1 Sun/Fri, Week 2 Tues/Sat

Employees in this position will be required to perform mandatory overtime.

Duties and Responsibilities (these duties are a general summary and not all inclusive):

Provides direct care and/or assists persons served in the direct care skills of the activities of daily living (ADL) as needed as well as the habilitation/rehabilitation aspects of care to ensure the health, comfort, safety, and human rights of persons served. Takes and reports vital signs as instructed.

Accompanies persons served to appointments, programs, and treatment areas and assists professional or medical staff as needed.

Provides observation of persons served according to hospital and departmental policy, conducting 5, 15, 30-minute checks and 1:1 or constant observation as directed.

Assists in the planning and implementation of rehabilitative, behavioral, and recreational care of persons served by contributing to and/or addressing specific Treatment and Recovery Plan interventions with the treatment team.

Discusses goals and needs of persons served while attending Treatment Team meetings and unit shift change report as instructed.

Reports and discusses observations behavior, desires, and/or problems to ensure consistency and timeliness of care for persons served.

Organizes and encourages persons served to participate in leisure time activities during unstructured time to enhance socialization and interpersonal skills.

Actively participates in providing a safe therapeutic environment through observation and communication thereof. Reviews Individual Safety Plans of persons served and assists the treatment team by reviewing and recommending revisions to Individual Safety Plans.

Communicates immediate observations and recommended changes required to immediate supervisor or charge nurse.

Remains vigilant and aware of any safety and health concerns and reports them to the immediate supervisor and/or charge nurse.

Responds as trained to emergency situations. Utilizes de-escalation, restraint, and seclusion prevention strategies to provide trauma-informed care. Establishes a rapport with persons served; meets with assigned persons served at designated intervals to discuss goals and other care issues to facilitate recovery.

Where available, uses a computer for documentation which includes medical records, daily reports, safety checks, etc. Completes admission forms through interviewing and orienting persons served.

Communicates priority information for care to the treatment team. Attends and completes all required annual trainings

Required Qualifications:

• Demonstrated ability to follow written and oral instructions by gathering information through observing and questioning individuals.
• Ability to communicate effectively in oral expression, writing clearly and concisely, and developing ideas in logical sequence.
• Capacity to perform basic mathematics.
• Ability to interact with people who are under emotional stress.
• Ability to maintain a calm manner in stressful or emergency situations.
• Capacity to work in a team setting and in group situations.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working with individuals with serious, persistent mental illness, substance abuse and/or who have experienced homelessness.
• Given the population served, bilingual or multilingual fluency
• Knowledge of safety practices and procedures followed in a mental health facility.

Hospital Mission:

At the Lemuel Shattuck Hospital, we take pride in helping people recover from illnesses and conditions that are often underserved or difficult to manage in other health care settings. The DMH units within the Hospital provide inpatient psychiatric services to adults with serious mental illness with the goal of enhancing autonomy, safety and return to the community.

Patients are treated by a multidisciplinary team, led by attending psychiatrists which also includes psychologists, clinical social workers, psychiatric nurses, mental health workers, peer specialists, occupational therapists and rehabilitative staff specializing in vocational, recreational and expressive therapies. A variety of treatment modalities are used, including psychopharmacologic, psychotherapeutic (individual, group and family), psycho-educational, behavioral, cognitive and milieu therapies.

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

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 Ext. #4

Qualifications

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.

An Equal Opportunity / Affi… is 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

Aug 28, 2026, 6:42:58 PM

Number of Openings

1

Salary

48,754.68 - 61,653.28 Yearly

If you have Diversity, Affi ...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