Mental Health Associate

Job Title: Mental Health Associate

Location: RWJUH Somerset

Department Name: Mental Health Unit

Req #: 0000250435

Status: Hourly

Shift: Night

Pay Range: $26.39 - $26.39 per hour

Pay Transparency:

The above reflects the anticipated hourly wage range for this position if hired to work in New Jersey.

The compensation offered to the candidate selected for the position will depend on several factors, including the candidate's educational background, skills and professional experience.

Job Overview

The Mental Health Associate provides essential direct patient care and maintains a safe, therapeutic environment under the direct supervision of a Registered Nurse. Operating as an active member of the multidisciplinary behavioral health team, this professional balances direct care tasks—such as checking vital signs, blood draws, and personal hygiene assistance—with proactive milieu management to ensure safety and security. This role demands sound, mature judgment to identify risks, manage crisis situations, and communicate critical physical or emotional patient changes immediately to the nursing staff.

Qualifications

Required:

• Educational & Experience Track (One of the following matches):
  • Bachelor’s degree (BA/BS) in a related behavioral health or social sciences field.
  • A minimum of five (5) years of dedicated behavioral health experience.
• Active Heartsaver CPR / Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.
• Successful completion of all mandatory hospital orientation and clinical competency programs.
• Excellent communication, time management, and interpersonal skills to handle interactions with families, physicians, law enforcement, and government agencies.

Preferred:

• Minimum of one (1) year of practical experience, structured training, or dedicated education in the field of psychiatric treatment.
• Prior experience performing phlebotomy services in an inpatient or emergency setting.

Scheduling Requirements

• Per Diem (PD) - Night
• Shift details and hours will be discussed during the interview process.

Essential Functions

• Patient Care Support: Delivers direct clinical care including taking and recording vital signs, completing personal hygiene tasks, and assisting with nutritional needs, patient positioning, ambulation, and assistive devices.
• Clinical Task Execution: Safely performs phlebotomy (blood draw) services and collects clinical specimens as delegated by the nursing team.
• Milieu Safety & Security: Interacts continuously with patients on the unit to maintain strict rules and regulations; utilizes mature judgment to identify, defuse, and report any conditions that jeopardize the security of patients or staff.
• Emergency Response: Recognizes emergency situations immediately and initiates swift, policy-compliant protocols under the guidance of professional nurses.
• Communication & Escort: Reports patient complaints, emotional shifts, or unusual physical symptoms immediately to the assigned RN; safely transports patients to ancillary departments or the emergency room as required.
• Documentation & Privacy: Maintains accurate, thorough, and legible documentation of patient parameters and observations while ensuring complete confidentiality of clinical records in alignment with patient rights.
• Unit Maintenance: Monitors and stocks clinical and unit supplies regularly to maintain optimal par levels; collaborates with and assists fellow team members to ensure smooth daily operations.
• Universal Behavioral Standards: Provides a compassionate environment with prompt customer service, adheres to patient rights, and utilizes continuous quality improvement (CQI) principles to measure and enhance department functions.

Benefits and Perks

At RWJBarnabas Health, our employees are at the heart of everything we do. Driven by our Total Wellbeing promise, our market-competitive offerings include comprehensive benefits and resources to support our employees’ physical, emotional, financial, personal, career, and community wellbeing. These benefits and resources include, but are not limited to:

• Paid Time Off including Vacation, Holidays, and Sick Time
• Retirement Plans
• Medical and Prescription Drug Insurance
• Dental and Vision Insurance
• Disability and Life Insurance
• Paid Parental Leave
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Student Loan Planning Support
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Wellness Programs
• Voluntary Benefits (e.g., Pet Insurance)
• Community and Volunteer Opportunities
• Discounts Through our Partners such as NJ Devils, NJ PAC, and Verizon
• ….and more!

Choosing RWJBarnabas Health!

RWJBarnabas Health is the premier health care destination providing patient-centered, high-quality academic medicine in a compassionate and equitable manner, while delivering a best-in-class work experience to every member of the team. We honor and appreciate the privilege of creating and sustaining healthier communities, one person and one community at a time. As the leading academic health system in New Jersey, we advance innovative strategies in high-quality patient care, education, and research to address both the clinical and social determinants of health.

RWJBarnabas Health aims to truly make a unique impact in local communities throughout New Jersey. From vastly improving the health of local residents to creating educational and career opportunities, this combination greatly benefits the state. We understand the growing and evolving needs of residents in New Jersey—whether that be enhancing the coordination for treating complex health conditions or improving community health through local programs and education.

RWJBarnabas Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer