What are the responsibilities and job description for the Mental Health Specialist (NRC) position at Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services?
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Hiring Agency:
Health & Human Services - Agency 25
Location:
Norfolk, NE
Hiring Rate:
$27.320
Job Posting:
JR2025-00019911 Mental Health Specialist (NRC) (Evergreen) (Open)
Applications No Longer Accepted On (If no date is displayed, job is posted as open until closed):
10-20-2025
Job Description:
As a Mental Health Specialist working at Norfolk Regional Center, your role will be centered on fostering rehabilitation through clinically informed, ethically grounded, and trauma-aware care.
You will provide direct care and monitor patients in a hospital environment under the direction of licensed nursing and medical staff. Incumbents perform duties related to activities of daily living, programming, and behavior interventions. They observe, report, and document patient/group behavior, activities, and interventions as assigned while supporting a therapeutic environment.
The Norfolk Regional Center is Phase I of the Nebraska Sex Offender Treatment Program. The Sex Offender Treatment Program is for patients who have completed their criminal sentence but have been deemed at high risk to sexually re-offend if outside an inpatient treatment facility. The Mental Health Specialist is a full performance level position, where incumbents perform the full range of care and monitoring of patient care in a secure hospital environment under direct supervision as prescribed by standards and procedures. The full range of duties may include organizing or leading group patient activities, providing input into treatment plans, supporting admissions, assisting in activities of daily living, and other duties as assigned.
Job Duties:
First shift (6:45AM-3:15PM), Second shift (2:45PM-11:15PM) and 3rd Shift (11PM-7 AM). Plus 12 Hour Shifts. On-Call/PRN positions require working 16 weekend hours (minimum) per month (11:00 pm Fridays - 7:00am Mondays), many other hours available for On-Call/PRN.
Shift availability will be discussed at time of interview.
Hiring Rate:
$27.320/per hour plus shift differential pay for 2nd and 3rd shifts.
Requirements / Qualifications:
Minimum Qualifications: Be at least 19 years of age to work with adult client populations; be at least 21 years of age to work with adolescent client populations. Must possess a high school diploma or equivalent education.
Preferred Qualifications: One or more years of education or experience in human services or stable experience in customer service or military service, where the candidate is working with others, directly or indirectly. Experience with behavioral interventional programs, crisis intervention and de-escalation. Working with a diverse population.
Other: Valid Drivers License. Ability to repeatedly lift 50-200 pounds unassisted. This position requires proficiency in English, including the ability to read, write, speak, and comprehend the language effectively.
SPECIAL NOTES: State agencies are responsible to evaluate each of their positions to determine their individual overtime eligibility status as required by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Incumbents are required to work regularly scheduled shifts with predictable attendance and work overtime up to and including entire shifts. These positions are subject to call back during emergency conditions (e.g., severe weather, evacuation, post disaster, etc.) Positions classified to this class may be exposed to infectious waste, communicable diseases, and blood and airborne pathogens such as TB, HIV and Hepatitis. May work with potentially dangerous patients. May be Required to acquire and maintain a Medication Aide certification. Must maintain an active Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation, (CPR) certification, and behavioral intervention certification courses for facility requirements. Positions in this class may require an employee to possess a valid driver’s license and provide a passenger vehicle with adequate liability insurance.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED: (These are needed to perform the work assigned.)
Knowledge of: safety and security measures required in the care of mentally ill patients; techniques of caring for physically and/or mentally ill patients; knowledge of principles and methods of maintaining a therapeutic environment.
Skill in: listening and understanding; communicating effectively as appropriate for the intended audience while supporting patients’ daily living activities.
Ability to: complete courses and competency evaluations; interpret and follow all policies; provide quality daily care to patients; make decisions and act quickly in situations involving patient care or safety; use computer programs to document patient care information; count accurately and record numerical and alphabetical data; implement written treatment/training plans with supporting written and computer record keeping; effectively communicate with co-workers, management and patients; observe, recognize, report on physical status; offer support to lesser experienced workers; stand on feet for long periods of time; work regularly scheduled shifts with predictable attendance; work overtime up to and including entire shifts.
Benefits
We offer a comprehensive package of pay, benefits, paid time off, retirement and professional development opportunities to help you get the most out of your career and life. Your paycheck is just part of your total compensation.
Check out all that the State of Nebraska has to offer! Benefit eligibility may vary by position, agency and employment status. For more information on benefits, please visit: https://statejobs.nebraska.gov/index.html#benefits
Equal Opportunity Statement
The State of Nebraska values our teammates as well as a supportive environment that strives to promote diversity, inclusion, and belonging. We recruit, hire, train, and promote in all job classifications and at all levels without regard to race, color, religion, sex. age, national origin, disability, marital status or genetics.
Current employees of the State of Nebraska should NOT apply on this external career. Instead go to Workday and access the Jobs Hub - Internal Apply app from your home landing page.
Hiring Agency:
Health & Human Services - Agency 25
Location:
Norfolk, NE
Hiring Rate:
$27.320
Job Posting:
JR2025-00019911 Mental Health Specialist (NRC) (Evergreen) (Open)
Applications No Longer Accepted On (If no date is displayed, job is posted as open until closed):
10-20-2025
Job Description:
As a Mental Health Specialist working at Norfolk Regional Center, your role will be centered on fostering rehabilitation through clinically informed, ethically grounded, and trauma-aware care.
You will provide direct care and monitor patients in a hospital environment under the direction of licensed nursing and medical staff. Incumbents perform duties related to activities of daily living, programming, and behavior interventions. They observe, report, and document patient/group behavior, activities, and interventions as assigned while supporting a therapeutic environment.
The Norfolk Regional Center is Phase I of the Nebraska Sex Offender Treatment Program. The Sex Offender Treatment Program is for patients who have completed their criminal sentence but have been deemed at high risk to sexually re-offend if outside an inpatient treatment facility. The Mental Health Specialist is a full performance level position, where incumbents perform the full range of care and monitoring of patient care in a secure hospital environment under direct supervision as prescribed by standards and procedures. The full range of duties may include organizing or leading group patient activities, providing input into treatment plans, supporting admissions, assisting in activities of daily living, and other duties as assigned.
Job Duties:
- Monitor the safety and security of patients within assigned unit.
- Assist with security procedures such as patient searches, room searches, and safety checks of the environment.
- Interact with patients in care to instruct, orient and assist patients with program goals; report and/or document care delivery and observations.
- Lift and reposition patients.
- Encouraging participation and input into treatment plans.
- Modeling appropriate interactions.
- May be required to transport patients to appointments & activities inside or outside the facility, using a state car.
First shift (6:45AM-3:15PM), Second shift (2:45PM-11:15PM) and 3rd Shift (11PM-7 AM). Plus 12 Hour Shifts. On-Call/PRN positions require working 16 weekend hours (minimum) per month (11:00 pm Fridays - 7:00am Mondays), many other hours available for On-Call/PRN.
Shift availability will be discussed at time of interview.
Hiring Rate:
$27.320/per hour plus shift differential pay for 2nd and 3rd shifts.
Requirements / Qualifications:
Minimum Qualifications: Be at least 19 years of age to work with adult client populations; be at least 21 years of age to work with adolescent client populations. Must possess a high school diploma or equivalent education.
Preferred Qualifications: One or more years of education or experience in human services or stable experience in customer service or military service, where the candidate is working with others, directly or indirectly. Experience with behavioral interventional programs, crisis intervention and de-escalation. Working with a diverse population.
Other: Valid Drivers License. Ability to repeatedly lift 50-200 pounds unassisted. This position requires proficiency in English, including the ability to read, write, speak, and comprehend the language effectively.
SPECIAL NOTES: State agencies are responsible to evaluate each of their positions to determine their individual overtime eligibility status as required by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Incumbents are required to work regularly scheduled shifts with predictable attendance and work overtime up to and including entire shifts. These positions are subject to call back during emergency conditions (e.g., severe weather, evacuation, post disaster, etc.) Positions classified to this class may be exposed to infectious waste, communicable diseases, and blood and airborne pathogens such as TB, HIV and Hepatitis. May work with potentially dangerous patients. May be Required to acquire and maintain a Medication Aide certification. Must maintain an active Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation, (CPR) certification, and behavioral intervention certification courses for facility requirements. Positions in this class may require an employee to possess a valid driver’s license and provide a passenger vehicle with adequate liability insurance.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED: (These are needed to perform the work assigned.)
Knowledge of: safety and security measures required in the care of mentally ill patients; techniques of caring for physically and/or mentally ill patients; knowledge of principles and methods of maintaining a therapeutic environment.
Skill in: listening and understanding; communicating effectively as appropriate for the intended audience while supporting patients’ daily living activities.
Ability to: complete courses and competency evaluations; interpret and follow all policies; provide quality daily care to patients; make decisions and act quickly in situations involving patient care or safety; use computer programs to document patient care information; count accurately and record numerical and alphabetical data; implement written treatment/training plans with supporting written and computer record keeping; effectively communicate with co-workers, management and patients; observe, recognize, report on physical status; offer support to lesser experienced workers; stand on feet for long periods of time; work regularly scheduled shifts with predictable attendance; work overtime up to and including entire shifts.
Benefits
We offer a comprehensive package of pay, benefits, paid time off, retirement and professional development opportunities to help you get the most out of your career and life. Your paycheck is just part of your total compensation.
Check out all that the State of Nebraska has to offer! Benefit eligibility may vary by position, agency and employment status. For more information on benefits, please visit: https://statejobs.nebraska.gov/index.html#benefits
Equal Opportunity Statement
The State of Nebraska values our teammates as well as a supportive environment that strives to promote diversity, inclusion, and belonging. We recruit, hire, train, and promote in all job classifications and at all levels without regard to race, color, religion, sex. age, national origin, disability, marital status or genetics.
Current employees of the State of Nebraska should NOT apply on this external career. Instead go to Workday and access the Jobs Hub - Internal Apply app from your home landing page.
Salary : $27
