Mental Health Worker in Elizabeth, New Jersey at RWJBarnabas Health

Job Title: Mental Health Worker

Location: NPC PLAZA BLDG

Department Name: New Day Residential

Req #: 0000268864

Status: Hourly

Shift: Day

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.

Our Mental Health Workers work collaboratively to promote optimal development and prevent psychological trauma in hospitalized patients and their families. By providing comprehensive programming, direct care, and evidence-based clinical support, our psychiatric team proactively engages vulnerable adult populations to provide connection, safety, and a structured healing environment. We view our team members as a critical component of the interdisciplinary care plan and recognize the incredibly positive impact they have on our patients' healthcare journeys. We hope you are excited by the opportunity to redefine the patient experience through teamwork, compassion, and excellence within the RWJBarnabas Health network!

A Typical Day

• Direct Clinical Care: Providing standard nursing care delegated by the Registered Nurse, including taking/recording vital signs and immediately reporting clinical changes.
• Technical Medical Tasks: Safely performing venipuncture (drawing blood), processing lab specimens, and executing diagnostic EKGs.
• Therapeutic Milieu Support: Planning, leading, and facilitating recreational activities, patient-staff meetings, and therapeutic group recovery sessions.
• Patient Navigation: Supporting daily living activities (ADLs), ensuring comfortable patient dining/hygiene, and escorting individuals safely throughout the facility.
• Treatment Planning: Contributing daily electronic medical record (EMR) documentation and collaborating with physicians to update multi-agency care plans.
• Admission & Intake: Participating in patient admission, hospital orientation, and transfer processes while supervising family interactions during unit visitations.
• Unit Safety & Compliance: Maintaining a clean unit environment, coordinating supply par levels, and conducting thorough room or body searches as assigned.

This Role Might Be For You If

• You are deeply passionate about creating a welcoming, supportive, and non-judgmental environment for psychiatric patients.
• You excel under pressure, maintain an exceptional professional demeanor, and stay current on acute crisis intervention and de-escalation practices.
• You set a high bar for maintaining a safe, organized, and welcoming therapeutic environment during crisis stabilization.
• You recognize and respect the direct impact your communication and active listening have on a patient's daily healing journey.
• You thrive in a highly collaborative team environment alongside nurses, physicians, and support services.

To Be Considered

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Sociology, Behavioral Health, or a related field; OR an active AIMS Mental Health Association (MHA) certification.
• Experience Substitution: A minimum of five (5) years of full-time working experience within a behavioral health or medical setting is strictly acceptable in lieu of a degree. Prior experience with psychiatric/substance abuse patients and non-violent crisis intervention is preferred.
• Certification: Ability to obtain an active American Heart Association BLS Provider certification within six (6) months of hire.