JobsAdvocate Health

Mental Health Worker - Inpatient Peds (Part Time)

Advocate Health · Oak Lawn, IL

Posted Sep 15, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Sep 20, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

Behavioral

Tell me about a time you had to de-escalate a child or teen who was becoming aggressive on the unit. What did you do and how did it turn out?

real-world crisis intervention skill and whether they stay calm and safe rather than escalate the situation

Tell me about a time you disagreed with how a charge nurse wanted to handle a patient situation. What did you do?

whether they can work under nursing direction while still advocating for what they observed

Describe a time you had to provide physical care, like hygiene or vitals, to a patient who was scared or didn't want help.

comfort and skill with hands-on pediatric care combined with emotional sensitivity

This role works overnight shifts, 7pm to 7:30am, with rotating weekends and holidays. What has your experience been with that kind of schedule, and how do you stay sharp at 4am?

honesty about fit with an overnight, weekend-heavy schedule and self-awareness about fatigue management

Tell me about a time you had to physically manage or restrain a patient, or assist someone else who was. How did you make sure everyone stayed safe, including the patient?

experience with safe physical intervention and awareness of trauma-informed, least-restrictive approaches

Have you ever noticed a change in the unit environment, like rising tension among several patients, before anyone else flagged it? What did you do with that observation?

situational awareness and initiative in maintaining a safe, developmentally appropriate environment

Why are you interested in working specifically with kids and adolescents in an inpatient psych setting rather than an adult unit or outpatient work?

genuine motivation and understanding of how different pediatric mental health work is from other settings

Technical

What does good documentation look like to you after a shift on a psych unit, and what have you seen go wrong when it's done poorly?

understanding of accurate, objective charting and its role in patient safety and legal protection

What do you think is the difference between being warm with a patient and being too permissive in a way that undermines the unit's structure?

understanding of therapeutic limit-setting versus simply being liked by patients

Situational

Walk me through how you would build a therapeutic relationship with a kid who refuses to talk to you or engage in any activity.

ability to connect with resistant pediatric patients and patience with slow trust-building

A patient on the unit starts showing signs of getting agitated during a group activity. What do you actually do in that moment, step by step?

practical knowledge of milieu management and limit-setting before things reach a crisis point

How do you decide when something you observe about a patient needs to go straight to the RN versus waiting to mention it at the next team meeting?

clinical judgment about urgency and understanding of their role within the care team

How would you handle a situation where two patients on the unit are escalating each other, maybe arguing or feeding off each other's behavior?

ability to manage group dynamics and protect the whole milieu, not just one patient at a time

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The full job description

As published by Advocate Health.

Department: 34901 Advocate Lutheran General Hospital - Psychology: Child/Adolescent Status: Part time Benefits Eligible: Yes Hou rs Per Week: 24 Schedule Details/Additional Information: Two shifts per week from 7pm-7:30am. Rotating weekends and holidays with other staff members. Pay Range: $24.10 - $36.15 Major Responsibilities: • Establishes therapeutic relationships with patients. •     1)Observes and listens to individual patients and/or group behavior, identifying the dynamics R/T the patient’s diagnosis. •     2)Facilitates therapeutic climate in the milieu by providing structure and limit setting as needed. •     3)Fosters therapeutic environment through verbal interactions, role modeling, and goal-directed activities. • Assists patients needing physical care. •     1)Clarifies priorities in patient care with RN. •     2)Provides general patient care (hygiene, bathing, vital signs, etc.), as assigned. •     3)Collects specimens as assigned. •     4)Accompanies patients on off-unit privileges when appropriate. • Maintenance of a safe environment. •     1)Incorporates policies, procedures, and unit-specific guidelines into direct and non-direct care tasks. Performs unit safety rounds per protocol. •     2)Assists in maintaining a safe environment that is developmentally and age appropriate for patient. •     3)Recognizes changes in the milieu and modifies the physical environment under the direction of the charge RN to promote safety. Assists in managing the milieu and de-escalating patients. • Documents all pertinent information, accurately and completely. •     1)Utilizes proper interviewing techniques during patient admissions; completes all forms according to unit policy. •     2)Documents observations, communications, and interventions gathered from interactions with patients, including groups. • Contributes to the development and implementation of the multidisciplinary plan of care. •     1)Serves as a member of the treatment team through active participation in team meetings. •     2)Assists in the development of the plan of care and implements interventions. •     3)Communicates with other team members to promote optimum patient care. • Initiates personal growth and professional development. •     1)Participates in inservices and continuous education programs as required. •     2)Seeks out resources to enable self-learning. •     3)Maintains required certification, competencies, and skills. •     4)Provides orientation to new employees as assigned. Education/Experience Required: • Bachelor’s degree in Behavioral Science. Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required: • Must be able to communicate effectively in the English language. • CPR certified. Demonstrates required competencies and skills. Physical Requirements and Working Conditions: • Ability to lift and transport patients, equipment, and other heavy items (up to 100 lbs.). Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with established time constraints and in difficult situations. May be exposed to body substances and hazardous materials. Ability to work rotating shifts and days of the week, including weekends. Ability to flex hours in order to meet patient care needs. Physical ability to manage aggressive patients. • If position has direct patient care or direct patient contact the following lifting requirement supersedes any previous lifting requirement effective 06/01/2015. Ability to lift up to 35 pounds without assistance. For patient lifts of over 35 pounds, or when patient is unable to assist with the lift, patient handling equipment is expected to be used, with at least one other associate, when available. Unique patient lifting/movement situations will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent. Incumbent may be required to perform other related duties. Our Commitment to You: Advocate Health offers a comprehensive suite of Total Rewards: benefits and well-being programs, competitive compensation, generous retirement offerings, programs that invest in your career development and so much more – so you can live fully at and away from work, including: Compensation • Base compensation listed within the listed pay range based on factors such as qualifications, skills, relevant experience, and/or training • Premium pay such as shift, on call, and more based on a teammate's job • Incentive pay for select positions • Opportunity for annual increases based on performance Benefits and more • Paid Time Off programs • Health and welfare benefits such as medical, dental, vision, life, and Short- and Long-Term Disability • Flexible Spending Accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses • Family benefits such as adoption assistance and paid parental leave • Defined contribution retirement plans with employer match and other financial wellness programs • Educational Assistance Program Note: Eligibility for programs listed above may depend on your FTE or status (e.g., full-time, part-time, per diem, temporary, etc.); please ask a Recruiter for more information during an interview. About Advocate Health  Advocate Health is the third-largest nonprofit, integrated health system in the United States, created from the combination of Advocate Aurora Health and Atrium Health. Providing care under the names Advocate Health Care in Illinois; Atrium Health in the Carolinas, Georgia and Alabama; and Aurora Health Care in Wisconsin, Advocate Health is a national leader in clinical innovation, health outcomes, consumer experience and value-based care. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Advocate Health services nearly 6 million patients and is engaged in hundreds of clinical trials and research studies, with Wake Forest University School of Medicine serving as the academic core of the enterprise. It is nationally recognized for its expertise in cardiology, neurosciences, oncology, pediatrics and rehabilitation, as well as organ transplants, burn treatments and specialized musculoskeletal programs. Advocate Health employs 155,000 teammates across 69 hospitals and over 1,000 care locations, and offers one of the nation’s largest graduate medical education programs with over 2,000 residents and fellows across more than 200 programs. Committed to providing equitable care for all, Advocate Health provides more than $6 billion in annual community benefits.

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