State of South Dakota hiring Mental Health Assistant in Yankton, SD | LinkedIn (2024)

Job ID: 27188

Agency: Department of Social Services / Human Services Center / Psych Rehab

Location: Yankton

Salary: $19.72 per hour, plus shift pay and weekend pay

Pay Grade: GF

Closing Date: Open Until Filled

This is a Full-Time 40 Hours Weekly position with the Department of Social Services. For more information on the DSS, please visit https://dss.sd.gov .

SummaryThe Mental Health Assistant provides direct patient care by maintaining an atmosphere conducive to treatment, listening to and helping psychiatric and chemically dependent patients deal with their problems and assisting with unit management duties to meet the physical and emotional needs of psychiatric patients.

This position works primarily 10:30 pm - 6:30 am, including holidays and weekends.

The Human Services Center provides a comprehensive employee orientation including completion of the Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) certification.

Knowledge OfThe Ideal Candidate Will Have:

• unit routine and the physical and psychological needs of the mentally ill;
• patient safety procedures;
• procedures for documenting patient behavior and progress;
• patient’s rights;
• effective methods of assigning and monitoring subordinates’ work and providing training.

Ability To

• provide work direction;
• deal effectively with patients from diverse ethnic and sociological backgrounds;
• ability to intervene and de escalate aggressive behavior;
• pay attention to and be empathetic with patients;
• accurately remember and recall information;
• utilize computers and other electronic devices for charting and other tasks as needed;
• maintain flexibility while ensuring safety and security in an in-patient psychiatric setting;
• provide individual and/or group crisis and de-escalation interventions;
• effectively diffuse potentially explosive confrontations between patients;
• plan and organize work;
• lift 75 pounds;
• effectively communicate with patients, staff, family members, professionals, and others;
• maintain records and prepare documentation;
• interpret and follow established policies, operations memoranda, procedures, and guidelines.

This position is eligible for Veterans’ Preference per ARSD 55:10:02:08.

Successful applicant(s) will be required to undergo a background investigation. An arrest/conviction record will not necessarily bar employment. Successful applicant(s) will undergo an abuse and neglect screening. Offers of employment are conditional upon successful completion of a drug screening.

NCRC: If you possess a National Career Readiness Certificate, please submit the certificate with your application. For more information on how to acquire a National Career Readiness Certificate contact a South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation Job Service Office. A certificate is not necessary to be considered.

The State of South Dakota does not sponsor work visas for new or existing employees. All persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and complete an Employment Eligibility Verification, Form I-9. The State of South Dakota as an employer will be using E-Verify to complete employment eligibility verification upon hire.

The State of South Dakota offers $0 premium employee health insurance option plus eleven paid holidays, generous vacation and sick leave accrual, dental, vision, and other insurance options, and retirement benefits. You can view our benefits information at https://bhr.sd.gov/job-seekers/work-for-state-government/ . This position is a member of Class A retirement under SDRS.

South Dakota Bureau of Human Resources

Telephone: 605.773.3148 Email: careers@state.sd.us

http://bhr.sd.gov/workforus

"An Equal Opportunity Employer"