Crisis & Intake Therapist

Banner Health Corporate; United States; On-site; USD 85,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

Banner Health is seeking a Crisis & Intake Therapist to join our behavioral health team in Scottsdale, AZ. The role focuses on emergent and non-emergent assessments, coordinating admissions, and providing crisis stabilization and intervention therapy within a telehealth-enabled framework.

The position supports collaboration with physicians, nursing staff, and community agencies to ensure safe dispositions and appropriate care planning for patients and families.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in counseling, behavioral health, or related field.
• License: LMSW/LCSW/LPC/LAC/LASAC/LISAC/LCMFT/MFT.
• BLS certification.
• Two years of clinical experience.
• Knowledge of psychotherapy, counseling, or clinical social work.
• Understanding hospital operations and resources.
• Strong organizational and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Perform emergent and non-emergent behavioral health assessments.
• Determine level of care and coordinate inpatient/outpatient admissions.
• Provide crisis stabilization and intervention therapy.
• Document in medical records and coordinate with care teams.
• Collaborate with physicians, nursing, and external agencies.

Skills

Clinical expertise

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Hospital knowledge

Education

Master’s degree in counseling

Job description

Primary City/State: Scottsdale, Arizona Department Name: Tele Behavioral-Tele Work Shift: Night Job Category: Clinical Care

Banner Health is looking for a compassionate, skilled and driven Crisis & Intake Therapist to join our behavioral health team. As one of the largest nonprofit health systems in the country, Banner Health is deeply committed to providing exceptional mental health and substance abuse care to the communities we serve — and your clinical expertise is at the heart of that commitment. In this impactful role, you will conduct emergent and non-emergent behavioral health assessments for patients experiencing serious mental health and psychoactive substance abuse disorders, providing critical support to both patients and their families during some of their most vulnerable moments. You will make meaningful recommendations regarding level of care, coordinate inpatient and outpatient admissions, and provide crisis stabilization and intervention therapy in rapidly changing behavioral situations. Collaborating closely with physicians, nursing staff, managed care representatives, community agencies and the broader interdisciplinary healthcare team, you will play a pivotal role in ensuring every patient receives a clinically safe and appropriate care disposition. Your ability to identify the full spectrum of mental health disorders, navigate state and federal psychiatric protocols and develop thoughtful discharge plans will make a lasting difference in the lives of the patients and families you serve.

Schedule: Night shift

Banner Health leverages telehealth technology to improve patient care and support the rapid changes within the health care environment. Regardless of patient location, The Banner telehealth team responds to requests for help from bedside care teams, monitors for adverse trends and intervenes before adverse trends become adverse outcomes, monitors and supports "best practice" compliance and measures clinical outcomes.

POSITION SUMMARY

This position assesses and coordinates behavioral health care to ensure the most appropriate level of care in accordance with all state and federal regulations as well as company policies and procedures. This position provides crisis assessment and support to patients and family members who are experiencing serious psychological or psychoactive substance abuse disorders. This position communicates effectively with multidisciplinary teams within organization and outside agencies.

CORE FUNCTIONS

• Performs emergent/non-emergent behavioral health assessment of mental health and psychoactive substance abuse patients. Makes recommendations regarding patient’s level of care needs and resources. Coordinates inpatient and outpatient admissions or alternate level of care facilities. Provides crisis stabilization therapy or intervention therapy skills during critically changing behavioral situations. Coordination with the patient’s family, attending physician, or other hospitals and agencies may be required.
• Conducts assessments in collaboration with other healthcare professionals as necessary to develop clinically safe patient dispositions according to state regulations.
• Documents complete, accurate and timely in the medical record. Depending on assignment, incumbents with a current RN License may take Doctor's orders.
• Conducts initial utilization review by obtaining treatment authorizations as appropriate with representatives of managed care or other necessary agencies/individuals. Documents accurately and coordinates with patient financial services and payers regarding treatment authorized.
• Identifies the full spectrum of mental health disorders as listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) and is knowledgeable of all state and federal protocols that pertain to the treatment/transfer of psychiatric patients.
• Maintains professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops, reviewing professional publications, establishing personal networks, and participating in professional societies.
• Responds within hospital bylaws to requests for assessment and consultations within organization. Provides emergency interventions and makes disposition recommendations to medical staff.
• May be accountable for external patient placement, advocacy assistance and support to patients and families. Collaborates with all members of the healthcare team to develop, manage and communicate discharge plans.
• This position is responsible for behavioral health assessments within organization. Internal customers: all levels of nursing management and staff, medical staff, and all other members of the interdisciplinary healthcare team. External customers: physicians, payers, community agencies, provider networks and regulatory agencies.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Requires a Master’s degree in counseling, behavioral health, or a related human services field, or education requirement as mandated by the state board in order to obtain licensure in field of specialty.
• Requires one of the following licenses: Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW), Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Associate Counselor (LAC), Licensed Associate Substance Abuse Counselor (LASAC), Licensed Independent Substance Abuse Counselor (LISAC) Marriage and Family Counseling (LCMFT) or MA-Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT).
• Requires BLS.
• Requires a proficiency level typically achieved with 2 years clinical experience.
• Requires extensive knowledge in the areas of psychotherapy, counseling or clinical social work.
• Must have a working knowledge of hospital operations, medical/nursing staff procedures, hospital and community resources.
• Excellent organizational, human relations, and communication skills are required to maintain good rapport and effective working relationships with internal and external customers.

Banner Registry and Travel positions require a minimum of one-year experience in an acute care hospital setting. Experience must include working in an acute care setting within the past 12 months as a Crisis & Intake Therapist in the specialty area. Employees working at Banner Behavioral Health Hospital must possess an Arizona Fingerprint Clearance Card at the time of hire and maintain the card for the duration of their employment. An Arizona Criminal History Affidavit must be signed upon hire. Employees working in the Banner McKee Senior Behavioral Health Inpatient Unit must possess a Colorado Fingerprint Clearance Card at the time of hire and maintain the card for the duration of their employment. Employees working in any Banner Staffing (BSS) Behavioral Health role in Arizona must possess a State of Arizona Department of Public Safety Level One Fingerprint Clearance Card at the time of hire and maintain the card for the duration of their employment.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS Additional related education and/or experience preferred.

EEO Statement: EEO/Disabled/Veterans

Banner Health supports a drug-free work environment.