Mental Health Worker I

Paraprofessional Support WorkThis is paraprofessional support work involving the direct care, rehabilitation, and behavior modification of patients in state institutions. Responsibilities include implementing programs in the treatment or education of the mentally ill or developmentally disabled, providing direct patient care, and maintaining resident areas. Employees may act as group leader or primary aide over an assigned group of patients. Work is performed under general supervision.Representative tasks include observing and recording patient behavior and submitting observations to treatment team in order to assist in the development of individual treatment plan (ITP); implementing specific treatment programs of remotivation and resocialization training for patients in order to provide direct care to residents; responding to and interacting with patients, intervening when necessary, in order to provide a role model of appropriate behavior; talking to and contacting family or outside agencies as delegated by supervisor in order to relay information or make arrangements for aspects of patient treatment; guiding, training, and motivating patients in daily living and work activities such as maintaining their own living area and personal hygiene in order to develop individual skills; preparing and dispensing medication under supervision of Registered Nurse (RN) in order to ensure patients receive proper medication on time; taking and recording vital signs in order to document patient condition and keep accurate records; administering minor first aid to patients in order to take care of emergencies; changing bed linens and clothing; and sorting, counting, distributing, and collecting clean and/or soiled linen and clothing in order to maintain patients living areas; distributing and serving food, maintaining food serving and dining areas, and picking up trays in order to ensure patients are properly fed and established cleanliness and sanitary standards are met; observing habitual conduct of patients and reporting to supervisor in order to advise of any change in behavior; writing records and other papers in order to document patient treatment and progress; cleaning, dusting, mopping, and vacuuming activity and patient living areas in order to ensure proper standards of cleanliness; washing and bathing patients in order to ensure residents are kept clean; and participating in in-service training programs in order to develop skills and knowledges and enhance effectiveness.Minimum qualifications include a high school diploma or equivalent and completion of a Department approved training program or current valid certification as a Certified Nursing Assistant as issued by Maine Department of Education. Some positions may require possession of a valid Class C Maine Motor Vehicle Operator's License.Certification as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) as issued by the Maine Department of Education or completion of a Department approved training program is required.