Clinical Therapist - Centralized Intake - Carson

Counseling and Research Associates, Inc.; Carson (CA); Hybrid; USD 75,000 - 105,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Job summary

Counseling and Research Associates, Inc. is seeking a Clinical Therapist - Centralized Intake to perform timely behavioral health screenings, assessments, and level-of-care determinations for diverse age groups.

The role supports risk assessment, crisis planning, documentation, and coordinated care across Masada programs in a hybrid in-office/community setting. Responsibilities include clinical formulation, service recommendations, and collaboration with providers to ensure appropriate services

Qualifications

• Master's degree in a behavioral health field.
• Current California licensure as LCSW/LMFT/LPCC or equivalent or eligibility.
• Experience with DSM criteria, LOCUS, IP-CANS is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Conduct clinical screenings and diagnostic assessments.
• Determine level of care and medical necessity.
• Document assessments and treatment recommendations.
• Collaborate with Masada staff and community partners.
• Provide crisis intervention and safety planning as needed.

Skills

Clinical screening

Assessment

Risk assessment

Documentation

Collaboration

Culturally responsive care

Crisis intervention

Professional communication

Education

Master's degree in Behavioral Health

California licensure eligibility (LCSW/LMFT/LPCC/PSY,D or PD etc)

Job description

The Clinical Therapist - Centralized Intake provides timely, comprehensive, clinically sound, and client-centered behavioral health screening and assessment services for children, youth, adults, and families. The position conducts diagnostic assessments, evaluates risk and functional impairment, formulates diagnoses and case conceptualizations, determines medical necessity, and recommends the appropriate level of care and services.

Annual Salary Range

BBS Registered: $75,001-$95,000

Licensed: $85,001-$105,000

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

1. CLINICAL SCREENING AND ASSESSMENT: Independently conducts timely, comprehensive, strengths-based, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive clinical screenings and diagnostic assessments. Obtains and evaluates relevant behavioral health, developmental, psychosocial, family, medical, educational, substance-use, trauma, and systems information needed to understand clinical presentation, functioning, strengths, and service needs.2. DIAGNOSTIC FORMULATION AND CASE CONCEPTUALIZATION: Applies current DSM diagnostic criteria and clinical theory to formulate supported diagnoses, differential diagnoses, and case conceptualizations. Seeks clinical consultation when presentations are complex, unclear, or require supervisory review.3. LEVEL OF CARE: Evaluates clinical need, functional impairment, strengths, preferences, risk, and other relevant factors to determine medical necessity and recommend the appropriate type, intensity, frequency, and level of behavioral health service. Ensures recommendations are individualized, clinically supported, and consistent with applicable program criteria. Uses clinical judgment and agency- or LACDMH-designated assessment tools to support level-of-care decisions. Makes clinically appropriate referrals and coordinates services when clients require additional, different, more intensive, or less intensive services. Collaborates with internal and external providers to support continuity of care.4. RISK ASSESSMENT, CRISIS RESPONSE, AND LPS RESPONSIBILITIES: Maintains an active Los Angeles County LPS designation and exercises designated authority in accordance with applicable law, county requirements, agency policy, and scope of practice. Assesses suicide risk, self-harm, danger to others, grave disability, abuse, neglect, exploitation, substance-related risk, and other urgent safety concerns. Provides crisis assessment, intervention, and safety planning during scheduled work hours; consults promptly with the Clinical Supervisor; completes mandated reporting; and coordinates with crisis or emergency resources when necessary.5. REFERRAL AND SERVICE RECOMMENDATIONS: Demonstrates sound knowledge of Masada programs, behavioral health levels of care, community resources, and other available services. Makes clinically appropriate internal and external service recommendations based on assessment findings, medical necessity, client needs, strengths, preferences, eligibility, and program criteria.6. REFERRAL COORDINATION AND TRANSITION TO SERVICES: Communicates assessment findings, clinical recommendations, and required clinical information clearly and promptly to the receiving program or service. Collaborates with the Clinical Supervisor, program staff, referral sources, clients, caregivers, and community partners to address barriers and support continuity of care and successful transition to recommended services.7. DOCUMENTATION: Completes accurate, thorough, clinically appropriate, and timely documentation of screenings, assessments, diagnoses, risk evaluations, clinical formulations, recommendations, collateral contacts, referrals, and other required services. Ensures documentation supports medical necessity and meets agency, LACDMH, Medi-Cal Specialty Mental Health Services, payer, legal, and regulatory requirements.8. ASSESSMENT AND OUTCOME MEASURES: Completes agency-required clinical assessment and clinical outcome measures accurately and within required timelines. This includes the Level of Care Utilization System (LOCUS) for applicable adult clients, the Integrated Practice - Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (IP-CANS) for applicable children and youth, and other required outcome or clinical measurement tools. Uses assessment and outcome information to inform clinical formulation and service recommendations.9. PRODUCTIVITY AND TIMELINESS: Meets productivity, scheduling, documentation, and performance expectations established for the position. Completes assigned assessments, documentation, outcome measures, and related responsibilities within required timelines and promptly communicates barriers that may affect quality or timely service delivery.10. FIELD-BASED AND COMMUNITY SERVICES: Provides services in office, clinic, home, school, community, field-based, telehealth, or other approved settings according to clinical need and assigned program requirements. Meets applicable field-based service expectations and travels independently to service locations as necessary. Transports clients only when authorized and required by assigned program responsibilities and agency policy.11. CLIENT AND FAMILY ENGAGEMENT: Establishes professional rapport with clients and caregivers and promotes meaningful participation throughout the assessment process. Explains the purpose of assessment, obtains information respectfully and developmentally appropriately, identifies strengths, and incorporates client preferences, cultural considerations, and family voice into recommendations.12. CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE AND TRAUMA-INFORMED PRACTICE: Demonstrates respect for the intrinsic value, individuality, identities, backgrounds, experiences, and cultures of clients, families, colleagues, and community partners. Provides services using culturally responsive, trauma-informed, strengths-based, recovery-oriented, and client- and family-centered practices. Demonstrates cultural humility and sensitivity to the impact of trauma, systemic involvement, social determinants, and environmental factors on behavioral health and treatment outcomes.13. CLINICAL COLLABORATION: Collaborates effectively with Masada staff and departments, including Clinical Supervisors, Program Managers, psychiatry, nursing, occupational therapy, integrated care management, Quality Improvement, and other teams as appropriate. Maintains professional relationships with county agencies, schools, healthcare providers, child welfare, probation, managed care organizations, community providers, and other involved systems.14. CLINICAL CONSULTATION AND SUPERVISION: Participates actively and punctually in individual and group supervision, case consultation, team meetings, case presentations, training, and other required clinical activities. Appropriately utilizes the Clinical Supervisor for diagnostic questions, complex presentations, risk and safety concerns, mandated reporting, ethical issues, service recommendations, and other matters requiring supervisory review.15. CLINICAL TECHNOLOGY AND SYSTEMS: Demonstrates proficiency in the electronic health record and agency-approved clinical platforms, including Greenspace, Eleos, iDashboards, and designated assessment or outcome systems as applicable. Accurately enters required clinical information and uses technology to support documentation quality, outcomes, communication, and service coordination.16. QUALITY IMPROVEMENT, QUALITY ASSURANCE, AND OUTCOMES: Participates in quality improvement, quality assurance, documentation review, utilization review, peer review, audit, and corrective action activities as assigned. Responds to feedback and completes required corrections within established timelines.17. ETHICS, CONFIDENTIALITY, AND PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE: Performs all responsibilities within professional scope of practice and applicable ethical, legal, licensing, confidentiality, and regulatory standards. Protects client rights, maintains professional boundaries, safeguards protected health information, and demonstrates ethical decision-making.18. COMMUNICATION AND PROFESSIONALISM: Demonstrates effective written, verbal, interpersonal, organizational, and problem-solving skills. Communicates clinical findings, recommendations, safety concerns, service barriers, and follow-up needs clearly, professionally, and in a timely manner.19. TRAINING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: Completes required agency, clinical, regulatory, Evidence-Based Practice, outcome-measure, LPS, and program-specific training within established timeframes. Maintains required professional registration or licensure, continuing education, certifications, LPS designation, and other training requirements applicable to the position. Participates in ongoing professional development to strengthen clinical assessment, diagnostic, treatment, crisis-response, and level-of-care decision-making competencies.20. SAFETY RESPONSIBILITIES: Supports and maintains a safe, hazard-free workplace and complies with agency safety policies, OSHA requirements, established safety procedures, and applicable workplace health and safety regulations. Promptly reports injuries, illnesses, hazards, unsafe conditions, or safety incidents. Employee-related injuries or illnesses must be reported immediately to Human Resources, and Nurse First Response (NFR) should be notified for assessment in accordance with agency procedures. NFR is available 24/7/365 at [phone]. Promotes client and staff safety by identifying and responding to behavioral health emergencies and seeking supervisory or emergency consultation when circumstances exceed the clinician's role or available resources.21. OTHER DUTIES: Performs other duties consistent with the scope and responsibilities of the position as assigned by the Clinical Supervisor, Clinical Program Manager, Director, or executive leadership.

Position Requirements

• Master's degree in Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, Professional Clinical Counseling, Psychology, or another related behavioral health field from an accredited institution.
• Current California licensure as an LCSW, LMFT, LPCC, PhD, or PsyD; or current registration with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences as an ASW, AMFT, or APCC, as applicable.
• Valid California Driver's License, proof of automobile insurance, good driving record. Driving is an essential function of the position.
• Must meet applicable requirements to provide Medi-Cal Specialty Mental Health Services within professional scope of practice.
• Work experience in a behavioral health, community mental health, assessment, diagnostic, or comparable clinical setting preferred.
• Demonstrated knowledge of ongoing clinical assessment, DSM diagnostic criteria, case conceptualization, treatment planning, psychotherapy, risk assessment, crisis intervention, safety planning, mandated reporting, level-of-care determination, and care coordination.
• Knowledge of or ability to learn LACDMH requirements, Medi-Cal documentation standards, Specialty Mental Health Services requirements, medical necessity standards, and behavioral health compliance requirements.
• Knowledge of or ability to develop proficiency with LOCUS, IP-CANS, and other agency-designated assessment, level-of-care, and outcome measurement tools applicable to assigned populations and programs.
• Demonstrated experience with trauma-informed care, strengths-based practice, family engagement, and culturally responsive services with children, youth, adults, and families from diverse backgrounds.

Work Environment

This is a hybrid position requiring in-office attendance based on agency policy, department requirements, and operational needs. The work environment is primarily an office, clinical, and remote or hybrid setting and may include community-based locations when required by operational needs. The position may involve contact with individuals experiencing significant behavioral health symptoms, psychiatric crises, or acute emotional distress. Work schedules and in-office attendance are based on agency policy, department requirements, and operational needs. This position is not assigned to the agency after-hours or on-call rotation.