STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
HUMAN RESOURCES

 

CLASSIFICATION:  MENTAL HEALTH WORKER III

 

Class Code:  6225-13                                         Date Established:  12-06-74           

 

Occupational Code:  3-2-3                                 Date of Last Revision:  04-03-06

 

BASIC PURPOSE: To supervise and provide specialized services in the care of patients/residents, including monitoring living areas and acting as a group leader for patients/residents with the most difficult problems.

 

CHARACTERISTIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

·        Acts as group leader for patients/residents with the most difficult problems to solve.

·        Provides patients/residents with basic information, assists them in solving basic social problems and facilitates patient/resident adjustment to new living circumstances within the hospital environment.

·        Assists in planning and providing for the daily needs of individuals and groups of patients/residents regarding personal hygiene, feeding, and medications (Transitional Housing Services only).

·        Takes and records vital signs and reports results to nurse or Component Director/Resident Services Director for positions assigned to Transitional Housing Services.  May collect samples for routine laboratory examinations.

·        Writes quarterly notes on both programs and patients/residents and insures adequate documentation in accordance with agency policy.

·        Assists and instructs lower level employees in performing primary patient/resident/client care and ward/house maintenance.

·        May participate as a member of a treatment team by sharing observations of patients/residents and by following through on treatment team recommendations; may work as a primary contact person with selected patients/residents.

·        Maintains basic records which are used for treatment and work management purposes; compiles unit notes regarding individuals and groups of patients/residents; orders needed supplies for team and ward/house operations.

·        May train, guide, coordinate, and monitor work of lower level Mental Health Workers in discharging full range of primary care responsibilities in the house/unit.  Participates in and may supervise specialized treatment activities such as behavior modification and recreation activities groups.

 

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DISTINGUISHING FACTORS:

 

Skill:  Requires skill in recommending routine changes in standardized operating procedures OR in retrieving, compiling, and reporting data according to established procedures OR in operating complex machines.

 

Knowledge:  Requires understanding and using business or trades vocabulary or basic arithmetic to perform standard operating procedures.

 

Impact:  Requires responsibility for contributing to immediate, ongoing agency objectives by facilitating the direct provision of services to the public or other state agencies.  Errors at this level result in inaccurate reports or invalid test results and require significant investment of time and resources to detect.

 

Supervision:  Requires direct supervision of other employees doing related or similar work, including scheduling work, recommending leave, reviewing work for accuracy, performance appraisal, or interviewing applicants for position vacancies.

 

Working Conditions:  Requires performing regular job functions in an adverse working environment containing a combination of disagreeable elements which impact significantly upon the employee's capacity for completing work assignments.  This level includes work-related accidents or assault.

 

Physical Demands:  Requires medium to heavy work, including continuous physical exertion such as frequent bending, lifting or climbing.

 

Communication:  Requires explaining facts, interpreting situations, or advising individuals of alternative or appropriate courses of action.  This level also requires interviewing or eliciting information from state employees or members of the general public.

 

Complexity:  Requires a combination of job functions using minimal judgment to perform a variety of job tasks according to clearly prescribed standard practices and procedures.

 

Independent Action:  Requires making a limited number of choices in selecting among alternative courses of action under supervisory guidance and in performing job functions according to a variety of prescribed policies or procedures.

 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

 

Education:  Graduation from high school, G.E.D. or its equivalent.  Each additional year of approved formal education may be substituted for one year of work experience.  Approved formal education includes courses or a degree in psychology, social science, special education, any of the health professions, or other area of approved study.

 

Experience:  Three years of experience in the care of mentally ill or emotionally disturbed persons in a psychiatric facility, three years as a Mental Health Worker, or three years of work experience in a position or combination of positions, that would evidence possession of the requisite skills necessary for satisfactory performance at this level.

 

License/Certification:  Must be certified as a Mental Health Worker.  Valid drivers’ license if required by job function and noted on the supplemental job description.

 

FOR TRANSITIONAL HOUSING AT NEW HAMPSHIRE HOSPITAL and LACONIA DESIGNATED RECEIVING FACILITY:  Must meet educational requirements, certifications, competencies and employment criteria as specified under He-M 1001, He-M 1201, He-M 506, and He-M 426 as applicable to job responsibilities.  One additional labor grade is provided for Medication Certification.  Employee certification is reviewed and renewed annually.

 

RECOMMENDED WORK TRAITS: Knowledge of the physical and emotional problems of psychiatric patients/residents. Demonstrated organizational ability. Ability to maintain a rehabilitative attitude in relationships with patients/residents. Based on in-service training, knowledge of mental illness and various treatment techniques applied in the facility. Ability to identify and complete tasks and groups of tasks to be accomplished at the ward/house or unit level. Ability to recognize, identify and respond appropriately to the physical and emotional needs of patients/residents. Ability to participate as an integral part of a patient/resident/client care, treatment and rehabilitative process. Ability to discharge primary care responsibilities including basic nursing needs under general supervision. Ability to cooperate and relate to patients/residents, lower level workers, supervisors and superiors within the team. Ability to read and write. Must be willing to maintain appearance appropriate to assigned duties and responsibilities as determined by the agency appointing authority.

 

DISCLAIMER STATEMENT:  This class specification is descriptive of general duties and is not intended to list every specific function of this class title.

 

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Last Updated 10/21/04
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