POSITION TITLE: Intake Clinician

REPORTS TO (TITLE): Director of Intake

PAY RANGE: $40.23-$56.13

DESCRIPTION OF POSITION:

To evaluate the needs of prospective patients and phone callers and ensure their referral to the service or resource that best addresses those needs.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Responds to telephone and face-to-face inquiries from persons seeking mental health care or information about mental health-related services.
• Through a systematic process of interaction with patients, the patient’s significant others, and the appropriate health care providers, collects and analyzes data regarding the patient’s physical, psychosocial, environmental, self-care, educational, spiritual, cultural and anticipated discharge needs; determines patient’s alcohol or drug toxicity; identifies signs of withdrawal; conducts screenings or evaluations to determine needs from treatment.
• The care and treatment of the patient are rendered in a competent manner and are based on current chemical dependency and psychiatric nursing/clinical knowledge and standards; care is evaluated against the goals and plan of care and is revised as needed and appropriate to the patient.
• Facilitates the patient’s access to the appropriate level of care and treatment.
• Assumes responsibility in maintaining a safe, orderly and therapeutic physical environment for all patients.
• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with physicians and health professional affiliates, healthcare facilities, and nursing staff.
• Demonstrates good skills in assessing client’s crisis and clinical indicators via phone and in-person and documenting such on a call sheet and scheduling assessment as clinically appropriate.
• Prepares written report of evaluation results in a timely manner (immediately following completed screenings and evaluations) and includes recommendations for the level of care and treatment needs.
• Makes appropriate interventions during evaluations, and crisis situations with patients, family/friends and other professional staff.
• Evaluates the need for involuntary hospitalization to ensure the safety of client and others.
• Enters the data of calls and evaluations in the computer system in a timely manner.
• Assists clients who are not admitted into a program with follow-through of clinical referrals and recommendations.
• Provides pertinent clinical information to physician and program staff who will be reviewing the patient to ensure a smooth transition for the patient.
• Distributes documentation of admissions to the Business Office, Admitting Unit and the Utilization Review Department.
• Maintains knowledge of the developmental tasks and sociological theories of pertinent age groups.
• Maintains knowledge of legal guidelines pertaining to Emergency Medical Treatment & Labor Act (EMTALA)/Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) and abuse/neglect reporting.
• Communicates with managed care organizations to obtain insurance pre-authorizations in a timely manner.
• Stays abreast of organization’s programs and services.
• Participates in activities which enhance professional growth and development.
• Performs related duties, as requested.
• Upholds the Organization’s ethics and customer service standards.

Requirements

Knowledge and Experience:

• Licensed Marriage Family Therapist (LMFT), Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) or registration with the CA Board of Behavioral Sciences (AMFT, ACSW, or APCC), or Registered Nurse
• Current Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification, or obtained during initial orientation period.
• Handle with Care (HWC) obtained during initial orientation period.

• Inpatient experience preferred
• Familiarity with continuum of care and clinical terminology

Benefits

• Medical
• Vision
• Dental
• 401(k)
• 3.5 Weeks Paid Time Off
• $25,000 Life insurance policy is provided at no charge to the employee