INTAKE COUNSELOR (DEGREED)

Del Amo Behavioral Health; Torrance, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Generous PTO

Medical, Dental, Vision plans

401(k) with company match

Educational assistance

Student loan refinancing assistance

Career development opportunities

Job summary

Del Amo Behavioral Health System, a subsidiary of UHS, is seeking an Intake Counselor to provide psychiatric assessment, crisis intervention and referrals. The role includes responding to requests by telephone or in person and coordinating admissions with hospital departments.

Candidates should have a Master’s in Psychology/Social Work or a nursing degree, plus relevant licensure and clinical experience. The Intake Counselor ensures safe patient intake, coordinates bed availability, and supports

Qualifications

• Masters degree in Psychology, Social Work, or related field, or nursing degree required.
• Licensure by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences as an LCSW, MFT or Associate/Intern preferred; Nurses licensed by the appropriate board in California.
• Previous clinical experience in a psychiatric hospital/behavioral health facility required.

Responsibilities

• Provide psychiatric assessment, crisis intervention and referrals to hospital staff and services.
• Respond to telephone or in-person requests for psychiatric assistance.
• Coordinate admissions with Business Office, Utilization Review and Nursing Services.
• Conduct intake screening, document high risks, and hand off to unit staff.
• Maintain good working relationships with referral sources and contact outside referrals.

Skills

Empathy

Communication

Diplomacy

Community networking

Stress tolerance

Judgment

Driver's license

Education

Master's degree in Psychology or Social Work or related field

Nursing degree

Job description

Responsibilities

Intake Counselor

Del Amo Behavioral Health System, a subsidiary of UHS, offers a safe and compassionate environment for individuals looking for hope and healing from emotional, psychiatric and addiction issues.

Del Amo Behavioral Health offers a wide range of options, including inpatient, outpatient and specialty programs that includes children, adolescents, adults and seniors. Whether addressing the needs of adults, adolescents or children, we are committed to providing our patients with treatment to help them find recovery that endures. Our patients receive the same quality treatment from our thoughtful and compassionate team no matter the level of care.

Benefits include

• Competitive Compensation & Generous Paid Time Off
• Excellent Medical, Dental, Vision and Prescription Drug Plans
• 401(K) with company match and discounted stock plan
• Educational Assistance up to $5,250 at 6 months of hire
• Sofi Student Loan Refinancing Assistance available
• Challenging and rewarding work environment
• Career development opportunities within UHS and its 300+ Subsidiaries!

The Intake Counselor responds to all persons requesting assistance either by telephone or in person, and provides psychiatric assessment, crisis intervention and referrals to Hospital staff and services to outside sources, based on the nature of the problem(s) and financial resources. Admissions to the Hospital are facilitated through coordinated efforts with the Business Office, Utilization Review and the Department of Nursing Services.

Intake Counselors, who are Registered Nurses, may service as a Qualified Medical Professional (QMP) and/or a Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP) to perform medical screens (Medical and Mental Health Component) to determine whether an individual has an emergency medical condition. Intake Counselors who are Masters degreed or above may serve as a QMHP to perform medical screens (Mental Health Component) to determine whether an individual has an emergency medical condition.

Intake/ Assessment Process

• Assertively responds to telephone and/or walk-in requests for psychiatric assistance.
• Assesses each inquiry to determine clinical need of caller and/or patient,.
• Identifies high risks and documents clearly on Intake Screening Form, completes High Risk Screening Form and hands off both to unit staff.
• Documents all inquiries on Intake Screening Form, including requests for beds that are currently not available. Conducts follow-up on potential bed availability

Referral Process

• Maintains a good working relationship and ongoing communications with referral sources.
• Contacts Therapist, Nurse, Parents, or other Person(s) to obtain pertinent medical and clinical information in order to thoroughly complete the Intake Screening Form.
• Telephones direct outside referral source regarding disposition of case.

Crisis Intervention

• Makes arrangements with a member of the Psychiatric Assessment Team(“P.A.T.”) to evaluate patient.
• Obtains all pertinent information including name of person and/or agency requesting P.A.T. services, i.e. name of patient, telephone number, address, crisis/problem, etc.

Admissions Process

• Knowledgeable of admission criteria for all services, units, and programs.
• Offers admission to Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) and Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) levels of care when appropriate.
• Obtains signatures for “Conditions of Admissions” from adult patients admitted on involuntary detention (5150).
• Inquires as to whether potential patient has access to dangerous items that can potentially be used to harm self or others has been assessed.
• Carefully screens all Detox admissions for severity of withdrawal symptoms, quantity and frequency of use, treatment history, etc.

Admission Process: Financial Information

• Researches insurance benefits carefully to determine correct payer sources.
• Ensures that an attempt is made to pre-certify/authorize patient.

As one of the nation’s largest and most respected hospital companies, Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS) has built an impressive record of achievement and performance. Steadily growing from a startup to an esteemed Fortune 500 corporation, UHS today has annual revenue nearing $10 billion. In 2017, UHS was recognized as one of the World's Most Admired Companies by Fortune; ranked #276 on the Fortune 500, and listed #275 in Forbes inaugural ranking of America's Top 500 Public Companies.

Our operating philosophy is as effective today as it was 40 years ago: Build or acquire high quality hospitals in rapidly growing markets, invest in the people and equipment needed to allow each facility to thrive, and become the leading healthcare provider in each community we serve. Headquartered in King of Prussia, PA, UHS has more than 81,000 employees and through its subsidiaries operates more than 320 acute care hospitals, behavioral health facilities and ambulatory centers in the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the United Kingdom.

EEO Statement

All UHS subsidiaries are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and teammates. UHS subsidiaries are equal opportunity employers and as such, openly support and fully commit to recruitment, selection, placement, promotion and compensation of individuals without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), genetic information, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

We believe that diversity and inclusion among our teammates is critical to our success.

Qualifications

Education: Minimum of a Masters Degree in Psychology, Social Work, or related field, or nursing degree required.

Credentials: Licensure by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences as an LCSW, MFT or Associate/Intern preferred; Nurses are required to be licensed by the appropriate board in the State of California.

Experience: Previous experience in a clinical department of a psychiatric hospital/behavioral health facility and previous clinical experience with psychiatric patients required.

Knowledge/ Skills:

• Must the ability to function in a caring and empathetic manner with clients and their families.
• Must have diplomacy and tact in all interactions including dealing with members of the Medical and Hospital staff.
• Must have strong community contact base and knowledge of community referral sources.
• Superior verbal and written communication skills
• Must be able to perform assignments with minimal supervision;
• Must be able to perform concentrated and/or complex mental activity with frequent involvement in complex and/or highly technical situations;
• Must be able to work successfully under highly stressful conditions;
• Must be able to make sound, independent judgments based on scientific and/or ethical principles;
• Must be able to comprehend and perform oral and written instructions and procedures;
• Must be able to collaborate with other multidisciplinary team members in an appropriate fashion;
• Must be capable of adapting to varying workloads an work assignments on a constant basis;
• Must have effective comprehensive reading skills, strong communication skills, written and verbal.
• Must possess a valid California Drivers License in order to drive hospital vehicles or on hospital business.