Mental Health Assistant 1 (35 Hour) (Office/On-Site)

• Assists client in developing effective strategies for managing internal and external stress;
• Protects civil rights of client;
• Advocates for services or resources that meet client needs and preferences;
• Identifies and facilitates use of appropriate support networks;
• Participates in admission and discharge planning activities;
• Routinely solicits personal goals and preferences;
• May manage client behaviors through verbal communication as needed;
• Maintains a safe and healthy environment;
• Participates in education and training activities to further skill development;
• Performs related duties as required.
• Participates in assigned nursing, clinical and/or rehabilitative interventions to meet client short and long-term needs;

COMMUNITY OR OUTPATIENT PROGRAMS:

• Provides individual, group and/or family supportive treatment under appropriate supervision.
• Assists client in learning and practicing daily living skills, medication monitoring and/or community adaptation skills;
• Functions as a member of a case management team or program;
• Participates in assessment, crisis intervention and monitoring of clients in community at large (i.e., emergency rooms, jails, homeless shelters, outpatient programs, etc.);

INPATIENT WARD OR UNIT:

• Participates in development of nursing care and treatment plans;
• May supervise self-administration of oral medication.
• Observes and records client behavior and prepares pertinent reports;
• May participate in follow up of client in community-based services;
• Communicates and interacts with clients;
• Encourages client to participate in therapeutic activities;
• Participates in on-going education and training programs;

• Ability to understand and carry out oral and written instructions.
• Knowledge of
  • acceptable standards of nursing care;
  • psychiatric rehabilitation and/or case management principles and procedures;
  • community support systems and resources;
• Interpersonal skills;
• Counseling skills;
• Considerable
  • interpersonal skills;
  • oral and written communication skills;
  • counseling skills;
• Oral and written communication skills;
• Community support systems and resources;
• Acceptable standards of nursing care;
• Psychiatric rehabilitation and/or case management principles and procedures;

• Two (2) years of college training in a behavioral science, social work, rehabilitation therapy or its equivalent may be substituted for the General Experience.
• Completion of a mental health trainee certificate program may be substituted for one-half (1/2) year of the General Experience.
• One (1) year of experience as a Recovery Support Specialist providing peer support to agency clients may be substituted for the General Experience.
• An Associate's degree in mental health technology may be substituted for the General Experience.

• Incumbents in this class may be required to be bilingual or fluent in American Sign Language.
• Incumbents in this class may be required to possess and retain a valid Motor Vehicle Operator's license.
• Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.