Director of Assessment and Referral

Perimeter Behavioral Hospital of Springfield is hiring for Director of Admissions.  This position manages the daily functions and operations of the Assessment and Referral Department. Responsible for providing supervision and training to staff on accuracy and appropriate assessments of clients with behavioral, emotional, and mental health disorders as noted on the intake assessment. Must work in conjunction with Psychiatrist, Nursing and Therapy staff, Marketing staff and Business office staff to coordinate communication and activities with both internal and external resources.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:  To perform this job successfully, a staff person must be able to perform each of these essential duties satisfactorily. The requirements listed below reflects the overall knowledge, skill, and/ or ability required. 

• Serves as Director of Assessment and Referral for the Behavioral Health Services; conducts initial assessments to establish and refer patients to provider/unit for appropriate level of care.
• Utilizes cultural, spiritual, and social groups and their relationship to the deliverance and acceptance of healthcare.
• Receives incoming inquiry calls and interviews “walk-ins” to establish appropriate level of care
• Serves as client liaison and referring agency liaison to Business Development by providing accurate completed interviews of client needs and making appropriate referrals (i.e., free initial consultation, direct admission, or outpatient referrals).
• Monitors direct/indirect referral sources; follows up with professional or agency referral sources regarding outpatient referrals.
• Documents, collects, process daily logs, budget supply inventory and organizes data resulting from inquiry calls to assist with referral development.
• Participates in hospital programs designed to ensure patient safety, i.e., fire drills, Special Duty.
• Exhibits a desire to contribute to the long and short-range goals of the department and hospital.
• Completes necessary mandatory requirements for job. This may include CPR, in services, TB annual testing, age specific.
• Supervises staff and assures relevant competencies are completed in a timely manner.
• Appropriately notifies supervisor of essential information and changes.
• Utilizes the proper defined channels of communication and lines of authority.
• As a member of the Senior Leadership team will serve as Administrator-On-Call through a rotation schedule. This includes receiving calls after hours and making visits to the facility during off-shift.
• Maintains an open line of communication with physicians and staff throughout the hospital, to support unit goals and to facilitate the delivery of patient care.
• Works and interacts with other staff members to accomplish overall hospital and departmental goals by utilizing a logical approach to solve problems and manage situations in a positive manner.
• Must be willing to perform a variety of clinical and clerical duties, as well as speak with patients and their families to ensure that patients get the assistance and specialized services they need to recover successfully.
• Demonstrates appropriate telephone etiquette; answers telephone by identifying self and should always exemplify professionalism with disgruntle clients, during crises and disagreements.
• Willingly accepts expected and unexpected duties as assigned or directed by supervisor and must demonstrate flexibility with scheduling, staffing and assists in all areas of department as needed.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Serves as Assessment and Referral Director for the inpatient behavioral health and conducts intake interviews to establish and assesses for appropriate level of care.
• Has knowledge and skills related to the developmental stages of children and adolescents
• Utilizes cultural, spiritual, and social groups and their relationship to the deliverance and acceptance of healthcare.
• Receives and processes incoming inquiry calls, faxes and  “walk-ins” to establish viability for services.
• Serves as client liaison, providing accurate, complete interviews of client needs and making appropriate referrals (i.e., free initial consultation, direct admission, or outpatient referrals). 
• Accurately and appropriately assesses the psychosocial and emotional status utilizing knowledge and skills related to developmental stages of children and adolescents
• Serves as liaison to Utilization Management and Financial Counseling; coordinates insurance verification, and initial authorizations for care.
• Coordinates communications and activities between clinical staff, nursing staff, business office, and marketing staff.
• Refers patients to provider/unit for assessment for appropriate level of care.
• Monitors direct/indirect referral sources; follows up with professional or agency referral sources regarding outpatient referrals. 
• Documents, collects, and organizes data resulting from inquiry calls to assist with referral development.
• Utilizes a logical approach to solve problems and manage situations in a positive manner.
• Demonstrates ability to be self-directed and highly motivated.
• Willingly accepts expected and unexpected duties.
• Participates in hospital programs designed to ensure patient safety, i.e., fire drills, Process and Quality Improvement
• Exhibits a desire to contribute to the long and short-range goals of the department and hospital.
• Completes necessary mandatory requirements for job.  This may include CPR, in-services, TB annual testing, age specific development, etc.
• Maintains current knowledge of behavioral health care and treatment.
• Supervises subordinates and assures relevant competencies are completed.
• Expresses ideas and concerns in a constructive manner.
• Demonstrates ability to communicate with patients, visitors, physicians, co-workers, and other department personnel in a professional, pleasant manner.
• Appropriately notifies supervisor of essential information.
• Utilizes the proper defined channels of communication and lines of authority.
• Demonstrates good judgment in communication with patients, physicians, visitors, and other departments.
• Demonstrates appropriate telephone etiquette; answers telephone by identifying self and area. 
• Provides oral and written communication that reflects clarity and accuracy.
• Maintains an open line of communication with physicians and staff throughout the hospital, to support unit goals and to facilitate the delivery of patient care.
• Works and interacts with others to accomplish overall hospital and departmental goals.
• Assists in all areas of department as needed.
• Demonstrates flexibility with scheduling and staffing, and is expected to fill staffing needs if other adequate coverage cannot be obtained
• Serves as an Administrator on Call which requires taking after hours calls to problem solve critical events with the facility staff, and after-hours in person presence at the facility
• Perform other duties as assigned or directed by supervisor.

QUALIFICATIONS:

  AGE
At least twenty-one (21) years of age.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

• Experience in Behavioral Health assessment and/or treatment.
• At least two previous experience on an inpatient Behavioral Health Unit preferred.
• At least one year of previous supervisor experience
• Experience with computers and statistics preferred.
• Knowledge of legal and ethical issues related to patient’s right and EMTALA
• Knowledge of crisis intervention techniques.
• Knowledge of community/regional mental health resources.
• Knowledge of principles and practices of customer service.
• Knowledge of computers, preferably in a PC, Windows-based operating environment.
• Knowledgeable of the philosophy and objectives of the hospital.
• Knowledgeable of literature and new developments in the behavioral health field.
• Knowledge of insurance information and verification systems, including PPO’s and Managed Care Programs.
• Knowledge of behavioral health theory and practice, including basic knowledge related to physical, psychological, social, cultural, safety, and/or educational needs.
• Knowledge and skills related to the developmental stages of adults and the special needs of the geriatric population; ability to interpret information needed to identify each patient’s requirements relative to his/her age-specific needs.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

• Must hold a Master’s degree and license (or be actively pursing licensure) in counseling, social work, or related helping profession.
• RN licensure preferred.

LANGUAGE SKILLS
Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and policy/procedure manuals.  Ability to write routine reports, correspondence, and document client behavior.  Ability to speak effectively before groups of clients or employees of organization.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS
Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. 

REASONING ABILITY
Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS 
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and talk or hear.  The employee must occasionally lift and/or move a minimum of 50 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close, distant, and peripheral vision, color and depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.  The employee may occasionally be required to physically restrain clients, using authorized restraint procedures as a last resort for protection of client and staff.

WORK ENVIRONMENT 
The work environment for this position is an inpatient hospital setting.  While performing the duties of this job, the employee will be exposed to clients who may ask inappropriate personal questions, display socially unacceptable personal behaviors, use profanity and sexually explicit phrases, make insulting remarks or threats regarding appearance, age, sex, or race, and exhibit defiance, dishonesty, and assaultive or self-destructive behaviors.  The employee is occasionally exposed to outside weather conditions, and may be subject to occasional local travel as required by facility needs.  The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet to moderate. 

Note: This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive; an employee will also perform reasonably related responsibilities as assigned.  This organization reserves the right to review or change job duties as need arises.  This job description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment

Perimeter Healthcare is one of the leading mental and behavioral health care providers in the country. We deliver hope to our patients through the delivery of comprehensive and dedicated treatment programs. Our focus and commitment on service excellence is available across several states and different care settings. Our team ensures you receive the required care that you or your loved one needs. We offer several settings for our patients including inpatient psychiatric hospitals, residential treatment centers as well as outpatient counseling and therapies.

EEO

We are committed to providing an environment of diversity and inclusion where equal opportunities are available to all applicants and fellow employees. Perimeter Behavioral Health is an equal opportunity employer regarding all recruitment, training, and selection process within the company regarding race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, and gender identity, genetic information, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

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