Mental Health Treatment Aide - Correctional Health Services (29807)

Mental Health Treatment Aide

Employed by PAGNY for The Division of Correctional Health Services (CHS) of New York City Health + Hospitals (H+H) is responsible for the delivery of medical care, mental health care, and discharge planning in the jail system. Approximately 25% of new admissions per year to the NYC jail system will receive care on the mental health service. This service strives to provide safe, holistic and evidence-based therapeutic interventions for the diverse range of mental health issues that face the population, from serious mental illness to the natural struggles that accompany incarceration. The service provides some of the most comprehensive and unique treatment modalities in the country, including specialty housing units for individuals with serious mental illness, a 24-hour on-call psychiatric service, robust creative arts programming, a strong DBT training program, clinics in each of the facilities, substance use treatment, integrated re-entry services, and relationships with multiple training institutions throughout the city.

Responsibilities:

In collaboration with the interdisciplinary team, perform crisis and/or de-escalation interventions, therapeutic observations, conducts groups, conducts patient supervision and other behavioral health related duties.

• Orients patients to the unit policies, procedures, rules, regulations and routine schedule
• Utilizes crisis and/or de-escalation intervention practices, when necessary and appropriate, with patient whose behavior cannot be otherwise supported without such interventions
• Identifies patient characteristics and environmental variables that may trigger agitated behaviors(s) and communicates such information to the treatment team
• Performs patient's checks/rounds as required
• Communicates clinical matters to assigned Mental Health/DOC or other professional staff as required; reports any unusual findings or changes in physical/medical or emotional conditions to their supervisor that may affect the patient or the therapeutic milieu
• Escorts patient to groups or other required locations as directed
• Performs 1:1 monitoring of patients for behavioral management/modification purposes
• Participates in departmental clinical training as required
• May lead or co-lead groups/activities in areas such as anger management techniques and practices, and appropriately documents group activities
• Responds appropriately to patient emergencies and cooperates with DOC staff when necessary to support the safety of the unit
• Participates in regularly scheduled, in person 1:1 supervision with the MHTA supervisor or designee
• Demonstrates a professional appearance and demeanor at all times
• Performs other appropriate mental health duties as directed by team leaders or supervisors Interface with DOC Staff
• Engage DOC staff when there is any incident of violence on the unit or when contraband is found on the unit or there is suspicion of contraband
• Prior to each tour, appropriately debrief DOC custodial staff regarding problematic patients or issues on the unit
• When officers arrive on the unit for an emergency the MHTA must take a secondary role in resolving the crisis

Working Conditions: The work environment characteristics described herein are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

Job Hazards: Normal correctional health environment at facilities assigned

This position will be on various locations on Rikers Island.

Schedule: Saturday and Sunday: 6am to 10pm Monday: 2pm to 10pm

Qualifications

• An associate's degree in criminal justice, Social Services or health related area
• A High School diploma or a GED and two years of full-time experience in Nursing Behavioral Health or another related field.
• Or any combination of 1 and 2 above
• Ability to carry out written and oral instructions
• Ability to establish successful interpersonal relationships with patients and co-workers

Exceptional Benefits include:

• This is an 1199 union position. Benefits will come from the union.
• 401(k) account for Employee Contribution (subject to IRS contribution limits).
• Employees are immediately vested in their contributions.
• Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs).
• Pre-tax employee-paid contributions for commuting expenses.