Behavioral Health Intake Clinician I

Job Description

Job Description

Department: Behavioral Health Unit (BHU) - Full-time, Days

Job Summary:

The clinician will be responsible for direct contact with patients, referral sources, families, physicians, nurses and treatment teams. The clinician will provide telephonic and in-person risk assessment and crisis intervention, and will coordinate the referral and intake process. The clinician will be expected to review hospital packets from transferring facilities, or, complete an assessment of the patients in the centralized intake team on the behavioral health psychiatric unit and emergency department. Clinician will coordinate the disposition with Psychiatrist and ED physician (if indicated) and follow the patient through admission to inpatient or referral to another level of care or agency.

  Functions and Duties:

• The clinician will be responsible for all ages pediatric to geriatric.
• Works with the registration department for necessary proof of insurance coverage, begins with authorization / certification process for admission.
• Determines appropriate level of care.
• Facilitates the admission process.
• Maintains communication with referral sources, on-call psychiatrist, on-call therapist, Ed physician, families, patients and unit staff.
• Has responsibility for the timely processing of inquiry/referral calls and walk in/scheduled comprehensive clinical assessments and ensure their referral to the most appropriate service.
• Helps to coordinate and process each admission / disposition to the hospital.
• Attend and participate in all in-service training as necessary.
• Responsible for timely completion of documentation in the client’s clinical record per EMR. 
• Attend clinical and administrative supervision meetings as assigned.
• Performs all other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

Education

• Master’s Degree in social work, counseling, mental health/behavioral sciences, or related field or a registered nurse with relevant clinical experience required

Experience

• 2 years Hospital experience preferred
• 2 years Experience in psychiatry evaluation, triage, and crisis intervention is highly desirable
• Two years of working experience in evaluation and treatment of mental illness preferred
• 2 years Psychiatric intake experience preferred
• 2 years Experience working in an acute care psychiatric setting strongly preferred

Certifications, Licenses, and Registrations

• BLS obtained during orientation period and maintained
• De-Escalation and restraint training obtained during orientation period and maintained

Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of the DSM5 (Diagnostic Statistical Manual 5 and the State of Illinois Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Act
• Experience using an electronic health record is a plus
• Bilingual English/Spanish is preferred but not required

Physical Demands:

• Sit or stand for a prolonged period of time
• Regular working with and viewing of computer screens
• Reaching by extending hands or and/or arms in any direction
• Finger dexterity for using computer mouse, keyboard, etc..
• Requires regular talking and hearing.
• Requires standing and walking.
• Ability to adjust the eye to bring an object into sharp focus
• Ability to lift box of paper
• Must be able to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) (mask, gown, gloves) when required

Full-time, Days