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Behavioral Health Attendant
Career Insights for Mental Health Assistant
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Scorecard
Based on Indiana data
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What they do
A Mental Health Assistant provides basic care and assistance with daily activities to patients with mental illnesses or cognitive disabilities. Helps patients dress and eat, monitors patients' well-being, and restrains patients if they become physically violent. Works in hospitals or mental health care facilities.
$34,938 / year median in Indiana
+6% projected growth
Job Description
A Day in the
Life:
The essential functions of this role are as follows: Ensure security of residents and maintain orderliness which occasionally requires restraining unruly, dangerous residents. Escort residents to and from various activity and therapy areas within building and off grounds for medical, dental, or legal needs ensuring maximum security. Assist in the implementation of resident's treatment plan. Monitor patients during meals, classroom time, bathroom time, and in general areas. Observe, report, and record the condition and behavior of residents. Demonstrate therapeutic interventions using the principles of de-escalation, re-direction, and approved techniques for prevention and management of behavior. Assist residents in cleaning and caring for their living areas, clothing, and supplies. Secure doors, search visitors, operate radio system, issue keys, and escort visitors to various areas of the unit. Conduct searches of patient's rooms, searching for possible contraband, and ensure the safety of each patient. Provide motivational techniques, counsel, teach, and demonstrate daily living skills as prescribed in the individual treatment plan. Conduct ongoing assessments of clients' training needs to meet treatment plan objectives for transitional living. Advise clients regarding appropriate social behavior. Provide a safe environment for the client that will be conducive to learning and promote self-esteem and self-sufficiency. Coordinate client activities under the direction of a professional by adapting prescribed treatment plans to individual client needs. Develop clients' community living skills through activities such as daily living skills exercises (grocery shopping, accessing public transportation, locating community providers, etc.). Maintain clients' money and distribute it as appropriate to individual treatment programs (e.g., to teach budgeting skills). Assist in carrying out occupational therapy/recreational therapy programs to maximize an individual's capacity for independent living. Perform routine clerical functions, including scheduling, ordering supplies, filing progress notes, and answering ward/unit telephone. Obtain drugs from the pharmacy and administer and chart medicine under a Registered Nurse's direction. Assist in managing the aggressive behavior of clients. Perform basic first aid in case of patient injury, such as applying antiseptic, bandages or utilizing CPR techniques and Heimlich maneuver as necessary. Workday attendance at assigned worksite(s) is an essential function of this position. Skill- Required / Desired High school diploma or high school equivalent diploma.
- Required Prior experience with Basic clerical duties: scheduling, filing progress notes, supply ordering, phone coverage
- Required CPR/first aid certification.
- Highly desired IN medical aide certification
- Highly desired CPI (Crisis Prevention Intervention) or similar de-escalation certification
- Highly desired Prior experience in behavioral health, residential treatment, or corrections-adjacent settings
- Highly desired Knowledge or HIPPA