Admissions Specialist - Behavioral Health

Skyway Behavioral Health; Illinois; Hybrid; USD 50,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

401K

PTO

Paid Holidays

Paid sick time

Wellness days

Clinical supervision

Professional growth

Job summary

Skyway Behavioral Health seeks an Admissions Specialist to lead intake assessments and admissions coordination, collaborating with the clinical team to ensure accurate referrals and smooth onboarding for patients.

This clinical/customer-service role requires license in Illinois, strong organization, and ability to work four 10-hour days. The team values compassionate, patient-centered care across the treatment continuum.

Qualifications

• Two years+ direct intake, assessment, admission, and crisis intervention with psychiatric population.
• Undergraduate degree and/or master’s degree preferred.
• Illinois license required (LPC, LSW, LCPC, LCSW).
• Ability to work four 10-hour days Monday–Saturday.

Responsibilities

• Lead initial intake assessments and coordinate admissions with the treatment team.
• Provide referrals aligned with client medical/psychiatric status.
• Coordinate admission paperwork, pre-certifications, and benefit verifications.
• Keep patients and clinicians informed on care/treatment options.
• Address patient or customer concerns during admissions process.
• Collaborate with physicians/providers to ensure smooth care.

Skills

Clinical assessment

Crisis intervention

Customer service

Communication

Multitasking

Education

Licensed Illinois professional (LPC/LSW/LCPC/LCSW)

Bachelor’s degree or Master’s degree preferred

Tools

Microsoft Word

Outlook

Excel

EHR systems

Job description

Skyway Behavioral Health is an innovative behavioral health center that goes beyond the treatment of psychiatric symptoms to address underlying biological, behavioral, and psychosocial causes of psychiatric disorders. Our belief is that maladaptive coping strategies are adopted by patients for survival. While adaptive at one time or in specific ways, these coping strategies are now preventing patients from living the life they want to live. Our treatments teach patients new skills that enable them to serve as their own behavioral therapists- thereby helping them to maintain recovery and generalize skills to their home environments.

At Skyway, we provide a fully immersive, intensive, whole-person experience that covers everything from neuroscience to nutrition. We believe that the path to recovery from traumatic stress requires a focus that encompasses not just symptom management but also the treatment of underlying individual, systemic, developmental, and familial traumas. We use leading-edge, specialized, evidence-based treatment modalities to help our patients address the trauma and pain behind their behaviors and diagnoses – thereby empowering them to make lasting changes in their lives.

Our team has extensive clinical and leadership experience in the areas of traumatic stress, eating disorders, mood disorders, and personality disorders/pathology. At Skyway, we are committed to building a culture and team that cares for one another such that we may care for our families, communities, and clients. At Skyway, we believe that recovery is not only possible but also attainable for all patients.

Role Description

The Admissions Specialist reports to the Director of Admissions and serves on the Skyway support team. This person is a trusted leader who collaborates with senior management to embody and promote the mission of Skyway Behavioral Health. The Admissions Specialist is both a clinical and customer service role and it responsible for the performance of intake calls and patient assessments through collaborative efforts with attending physicians, case managers, and clinical treatment team members.

Essential Functions/Core Responsibilities

• To ensure success as Admissions Specialist, candidate should have excellent knowledge of clinical assessment and case management principles and the ability to advocate for patients needs
• Responsible for the initial assessment process (which includes prior treatment history, previous medications, health screen, risk factors, and family dynamics). Provides treatment referrals which are consistent with the customer's medical and psychiatric status/symptoms
• Coordinates the admission process including appropriateness of the admission, program placement, completion of all required admission paperwork, pre-certifications and benefit verifications and coordination with the treatment team.
• Keep patients and clinicians informed on care and treatment options.
• Promote quality patient services and overall patient satisfaction. Responsible for resolution of any patient or customer concerns during the admissions process.
• Respond to telephone inquiries from persons seeking mental health care or information about mental health-related services.
• Ensures all policies governing pre-certification and authorization are followed to achieve clinical goals and objectives that minimize risk and align with Joint Commission standards.
• Establishes and maintains effective communications and working relationships with physicians, providers, and all colleagues. Responds timely to provider concerns and resolves problems as appropriate. Actively leads and participates in established committees as needed.
• Collaborates with the leadership team in creating and sustaining a culture of compassion and healing. Demonstrates servant leadership by performing all tasks needed to meet the clinic needs at that moment in time and in conjunction with direct reporting therapists.
• Supports the organization's mission, vision, values, and strategic initiatives. Develops, implements, and improves processes to ensure that established policies, goals, and objectives are achieved.
• Develops and administers policies and procedures to accomplish department-specific and organizational initiatives. Ensures compliance with all applicable local, state, federal regulations, and guidelines.
• Maintain completion of all competencies associated with role and in accordance with Skyway Behavioral Health policies and subsequent Joint Commission standards.
• Performs other job duties as assigned.

Minimum Requirements

• Two (2) years or more of direct intake, assessment, admission, and crisis intervention experience with a psychiatric mental health population required.
• Undergraduate college degree and/or master’s degree minimum is preferred.
• Must be licensed in the state of Illinois (either LPC, LSW, LCPC, LCSW)
• Ability to work four 10-hour days Monday through Saturday
• Knowledge of screening tools to assist in determining if the proposed services are clinically indicated and provided at the appropriate level or determine whether further evaluation is required.
• Exceptional organization skills, reliable and timely.
• Excellent customer service skills and interpersonal and communication skills that are clear, respectful, and considerate of other’s perspectives.
• Must be fluent in reading, writing and speaking English.
• Clinical proficiency in treatment, diagnosis, and documentation.
• Current State of Illinois driver's license required if the incumbent is selected to perform related duties at an alternate location
• Reliable form of transportation to work.
• Proficiency in Microsoft products (Word, Outlook, Excel), and familiarity with use of EHR systems.

Additional Preferred Skills

• A passion for coaching, mentorship and team-development.
• A problem-solving orientation and eagerness to identify process gaps and implement practical solutions.
• Ability to work independently as needed, recognizes the need for support and demonstrates the willingness to ask for help.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and respond with confidence during challenging or chaotic situations.

Someone who embodies Skyway values:

• Embraces the whole person.
• Commits to innovative research-based programs.
• Believes we are better together.
• Celebrates expressions of diversity.
• Believes in service and supporting our communities.
• Views leadership as a privilege to elevate others to their highest potential.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and taste or smell. The employee is occasionally required to walk and climb or balance. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Benefits:

• Medical benefits- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois
• Dental benefits- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois
• Vision benefits- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois
• Short Term Disability- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois
• 401K Safe Harbor Match- Ameritas BlueStar
• PTO
• Paid Holidays
• Paid Floating Holidays
• Paid Sick Time
• Paid Wellness Days
• Regular clinical supervision
• Collaborative professional growth development

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions and outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Work hours may vary in this leadership role and may require responding to phone calls from direct reports during off hours.

Skyway Behavioral Health is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.

We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.