Admissions & Assessment Specialist

Job Description

Job Description

Admissions & Assessment SpecialistAdvocate Support Services, Inc.

Annapolis, Maryland | Hybrid | Full-Time | Exempt

Change a Life Before Services Even Begin.

At Advocate Support Services, we believe that admissions is far more than paperwork—it's the first opportunity to engage someone on their recovery journey and help them access life-changing psychiatric rehabilitation services. The person who fills this role will be one of the most important clinical touchpoints in our organization, ensuring that individuals living with serious mental illness receive timely, compassionate, person-centered assessments and a clear path to services.

We're seeking an exceptional Admissions & Assessment Specialist who thrives in a fast-paced behavioral health environment, possesses strong clinical documentation skills, and understands that timely, high-quality admissions processes directly impact client outcomes, compliance, revenue integrity, and organizational growth.

Why You'll Love This Role

This is not a traditional administrative admissions position.

You will:

✅ Conduct meaningful, person-centered assessments

✅ Develop individualized rehabilitation plans that reflect each person's unique goals and strengths

✅ Guide individuals from referral to enrollment

✅ Collaborate with a mission-driven clinical and operational team

✅ Help expand access to services for adults experiencing serious mental illness

✅ Play a critical role in Medicaid documentation integrity, authorization readiness, audit readiness, and continuity of care

Your work will directly influence whether people receive services quickly, whether documentation supports funding and compliance requirements, and whether clients begin their rehabilitation journey with dignity and hope.

What You'll DoLead the Admissions Process

• Manage assigned referrals from acceptance through admission
• Review referral documentation for completeness and eligibility
• Schedule intake appointments and engage prospective clients
• Collaborate with referral sources, providers, and support staff
• Track admissions activity and ensure no referral languishes without action

Complete Comprehensive Assessments

• Conduct PRP assessments within credentialed scope
• Administer and document DLA-20 assessments
• Evaluate functional needs, strengths, barriers, goals, and medical necessity
• Produce complete, defensible, audit-ready clinical documentation

Develop Individual Initial Rehabilitation Plans (IRPs)

• Create individualized, strengths-based rehabilitation plans
• Ensure goals reflect the client's voice and priorities
• Complete required documentation accurately and timely
• Support seamless transition into ongoing PRP services

Coordinate Care Handoffs

• Communicate assessment findings, barriers, risks, and recommendations
• Collaborate with Program Leadership, Rehabilitation Specialists, Case Workers, QA, and Operations staff
• Ensure continuity of care from Day One

Maintain Compliance Excellence

• Meet same-day documentation expectations
• Support audit readiness and Medicaid billing integrity
• Adhere to COMAR, Medicaid, CARF, HIPAA, and organizational requirements
• Maintain complete, accurate, defensible records

Who We're Looking For

You may be the perfect fit if you:

• Thrive in a deadline-driven environment
• Are exceptionally organized and detail-oriented
• Take ownership of your work and follow through on commitments
• Communicate professionally with clients, providers, and team members
• Enjoy balancing clinical work with operational excellence
• Value compliance, accuracy, and quality documentation
• Have a strong sense of urgency without sacrificing quality
• Believe that documentation is an important part of client care—not merely a task to complete

Required Qualifications

• CPRP (Certified Psychiatric Rehabilitation Practitioner), LMHP (Licensed Mental Health Professional), or other qualification approved under applicable COMAR requirements
• DLA-20 certification or willingness to obtain certification within required timelines
• Experience conducting behavioral health assessments, intakes, rehabilitation planning, or comparable clinical documentation
• Knowledge of person-centered planning and recovery-oriented services
• Strong written communication and documentation skills
• Ability to utilize electronic health records and organizational technology systems effectively

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in a behavioral health or human services field
• Maryland PRP experience
• Experience developing Individual Rehabilitation Plans
• Knowledge of Maryland Medicaid and behavioral health systems
• Experience with Alleva, HubSpot, Teams, SharePoint, Outlook, or similar platforms

What Success Looks Like

Our best Admissions & Assessment Specialists:

• Respond quickly
• Complete high-quality documentation the same day whenever possible
• Create individualized—not templated—IRPs
• Keep referrals moving efficiently through the pipeline
• Communicate clearly with the treatment team
• Identify and escalate barriers early
• Consistently produce accurate, audit-ready work
• Balance compassion with accountability

About Advocate Support Services

Advocate Support Services is a CARF-accredited, Maryland-based Psychiatric Rehabilitation Program serving adults with serious mental illness. Our mission is to help individuals achieve greater independence, stability, recovery, and community integration through person-centered, recovery-focused services. Every employee contributes to improving lives while maintaining the highest standards of quality, compliance, and professionalism.

Ready to Make an Impact?

If you're a clinically strong, highly organized professional who understands that timely admissions can change the trajectory of someone's recovery journey, we'd love to hear from you.

Apply today and help Advocate Support Services ensure that every person begins their rehabilitation journey with dignity, hope, and the support they deserve.