Mental Health Treatment Aide, Correctional Health Services **Day Tour** OTxHU

New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation

Outposted Therapeutic Housing Units Program (OTxHU)

Since 2016, Correctional Health Services (CHS) has been the direct provider of health care in the New York City jails. Deeply committed to human dignity and patient rights, CHS is part of the NYC Health + Hospitals system and is a key partner in the City’s efforts to reform the criminal-legal system. Our in-jail clinical services include medical, nursing, and mental health care; pharmacy services; substance-use treatment; social work; dental and vision care; discharge planning; and reentry support.

Given the high visibility of this initiative, we are seeking the highest caliber health care professionals in key clinical services to staff our Outposted Therapeutic Housing Units (OTxHU). To be located in three NYC Health + Hospital acute care facilities, the OTxHU is a pioneering approach to safely increasing access to high quality clinical care for patients in custody who have complicated health conditions. OTxHUs will bridge the gap in the continuum between care provided in the jails and inpatient hospitalization, with admission to and discharge from the OTxHU in accordance with a patient’s clinical needs. CHS will be the primary health care providers on these units and the NYC Department of Correction will provide security and custody management.

The OTxHU at NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue in Manhattan will be the first of this unique, groundbreaking project to open with a planned completion date as early as the end of 2024. This is an incredible opportunity to be part of a passionate and motivated team providing care to some of the City’s most marginalized, vulnerable people.

*To help support continuity of operations and care, staff selected to work in the OTxHU may also be required to work in CHS locations within the jails. Additionally, while CHS seeks the most qualified individuals for these positions, preference will be given to equally qualified, internal candidates.

Position Overview

Under the direction of a Senior/Clinical Supervisor, and in collaboration with the interdisciplinary team, performs crisis and/or de-escalation interventions, therapeutic observations, individual and group engagements, client supervision and other behavioral health related duties for individuals incarcerated in the New York City jail system in their assigned area of care. Acts in compliance with corporate, hospital and all relevant regulatory policies.

Responsibilities include:

• Utilize crisis and/or de-escalation intervention practices, when necessary and appropriate, with clients whose behavior cannot be otherwise supported without such interventions.
• Identify client characteristics and environmental variables that may trigger agitated behavior(s) and communicate such information to the treatment team.
• Perform client checks/rounds and video surveillance, completes MH Rounds forms as required, and reports observations, interactions and client activity to the interdisciplinary team.
• Communicates pertinent clinical matters in real-time to assigned supervisor or other professional staff as required.
• Supports medication administration.
• Provides additional support to patients while being escorted
• Participates in staff, departmental and team/committee meetings.
• Participates in departmental quality assurance/performance improvement (QA/PI) activities.
• Participates in departmental and/or facility-wide training as required.
• Lead or co-lead discussion/treatment groups; appropriately documents group activity.
• Performs related work.
• Performs other duties as assigned by Senior/Clinical Supervisor.

Department Preferences

• Familiarity with mental health diagnoses and symptoms related to mental illness.
• Interest in working with patients who have been diagnosed with severe mental illness.
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills and ability to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team, as well as with NYC DOC staff
• Flexible disposition

Corporate Title Qualifications

1. An Associate’s degree in criminal justice, social services or a health-related area; or
2. A High School diploma or a G.E.D. and one (1) year of full-time experience in law enforcement, nursing or psychiatric/behavioral health in a high volume, intensive care environment.
3. *Successful completion of an appropriate training program in the application and use of restraints and seclusion must be completed prior to an individual performing such work.
4. Successful completion of an appropriate training in the performance of vital signs and grooming within ninety (90) calendar days of appointment to the title.

*Special Note:

As required by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Hospital Conditions of Participation - Patients’ Rights (42 CFR Part 482), before applying restraints, implementing seclusion, performing associated monitoring of the restrained or secluded individual, or providing care for such individual, staff must be trained and able to demonstrate competency in the performance of these actions.