Mental Health Associate, Short Term Care - Toms River, NJ in Toms River, New Jersey at RWJBarnabas Health

Job Title: Mental Health Associate

Location: Central Jersey Behavioral

Department Name: Short Term Care (STC)

Req #: 0000258652

Status: Hourly

Shift: Day

Pay Range: $21.96 - $27.28 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.

Mental Health Associate (MHA) – RWJBarnabas Health

The RWJBarnabas Health Behavioral Health Center, in collaboration with Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus Behavioral Health Services, is a freestanding 100-bed acute care psychiatric facility offering specialized inpatient and intensive outpatient services for adults and older adults with psychiatric and co-occurring disorders. Whether supporting patients on our Short-Term Care, Adult Psychiatry, or Kimball Northeast/Voluntary units, you’ll have the opportunity to make a lasting difference every day.

Short-Term Care Unit: is designed for individuals experiencing an acute psychiatric crisis. This unit primarily serves patients with serious mental illness who require stabilization, intensive assessment, and rapid treatment intervention.

At RWJBarnabas Health, Mental Health Associates become part of a purpose-driven environment where compassion, teamwork, and exceptional behavioral healthcare make a meaningful difference every day. Under the direct supervision of the Registered Nurse, you’ll play an essential role in creating a safe, therapeutic environment for individuals experiencing mental health and substance-use challenges while building a rewarding career in behavioral health.

A typical day for a Mental Health Associate may include:

• Providing compassionate group and individual supervision and support to patients while maintaining a safe, therapeutic environment
• Building positive therapeutic relationships through respectful communication, encouragement, and appropriate limit setting
• Assisting patients with activities of daily living, including personal hygiene, nutrition, ambulation, and positioning as needed
• Participating in therapeutic, educational, recreational, and creative group activities that support patient recovery
• Observing, documenting, and communicating patient behaviors and responses to the interdisciplinary treatment team
• Assisting with the safe transport of patients throughout the facility for testing, appointments, or other services
• Collaborating closely with nurses to support individualized patient care plans
• Contributing to a team culture focused on patient safety, quality care, professionalism, and continuous improvement

This role might be for you if:

• You are passionate about supporting individuals experiencing mental health and behavioral health challenges
• Compassion, empathy, and patience guide your interactions with patients and their families
• You remain calm and professional in fast-paced or crisis situations
• You enjoy working collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary healthcare team
• Strong communication, organization, and interpersonal skills are among your greatest strengths
• You value creating a safe, respectful, and recovery-focused environment for every patient
• You are committed to continuous learning and professional development within behavioral healthcare

To be considered for this Mental Health Associate opportunity, you possess excellent communication, time management, and interpersonal skills.

• This part-time position offers (2) 12-hour day shifts, and every other weekend is required
• Hold a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology or a related field (including Social Work, Criminal Justice, Social Sciences, Public Health, or Science), or possess at least five years of recent behavioral health experience, or have successfully completed the AIMS Mental Health Technician Training Certificate Program
• Hold a current American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) certificate
• Minimum one year of experience, training, or education in the field of treatment is preferred
• Have successfully completed all required orientation programs
• Previous experience as a nurse aide, home health aide, or prior behavioral health experience is preferred