Intake Specialist

Suncoast Center, Inc.; Saint Petersburg (FL); On-site; USD 34,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

EAP

Company paid Life Insurance

Long-term Disability

401k with company match

Monthly Social Committee Events

Job summary

Suncoast Center, Inc. is seeking an Intake Specialist in St. Petersburg, FL. This onsite role handles first contact with new clients, screens for program eligibility, and schedules intake appointments while maintaining accurate records in Avatar.

The position emphasizes warm client interactions, collaboration with teams, and timely follow-up on issues. Requires a BA in human services or related field with experience in mental health, plus eligibility screening and documentation duties.

Qualifications

• BA degree in human services or BA in non-human service field with over 1 year experience with target population
• One to two years' experience in a mental health setting working directly with clients preferred; ability to triage crisis calls
• Must be 21 years of age; Negative Drug Screening prior to hire and throughout employment
• Clear Criminal Background Check and DCF checks prior to hire; valid Florida Driver's License and reliable vehicle

Responsibilities

• Speaks in a warm, friendly manner consistently to all clients, guests and staff
• Assists staff with following up on all pending client issues
• Serves as the client’s initial contact to Suncoast Center
• Screens individuals seeking services via telephone and determines eligibility
• Schedules individuals for Intake and completes enrollments in EMR
• Insures accurate and thorough documentation in Avatar for every call and voicemail
• Informs clients of documentation needed and/or estimated fees at first appointment
• Conducts intake interviews with new or readmitted clients to gather necessary information
• Follows up on all pending client issues
• Establishes and prioritizes tasks and develops a realistic plan for accomplishment
• Works as an effective team member and participates in team meetings

Skills

Customer service

Communication

Crisis handling

Organization

Education

BA in human services

BA in non-human field + 1+ year experience

Tools

Avatar EMR

Microsoft Office

Outlook

Job description

The Intake Specialist plays a critical role in the initial phase of client engagement by efficiently gathering, verifying, and processing essential information to facilitate smooth service delivery. This position serves as the primary point of contact for new clients, ensuring that all necessary documentation and data are accurately collected and entered into the system. The Intake Specialist collaborates closely with various internal teams to coordinate client onboarding and support timely follow-up actions. By maintaining meticulous records and adhering to compliance standards, this role helps uphold organizational integrity and client satisfaction. Ultimately, the Intake Specialist contributes to building a positive client experience and supports the overall operational efficiency of the organization.

Intake Specialist Monday through Friday 8am to 5pm with an hour unpaid lunch/break period on Central Ave in St Petersburg FL Office/onsite position

Job Duties:

• Speaks in a warm, friendly manner consistently to all clients, guests and staff.
• Assists staff with following up on all pending client issues.
• Relates well with others and deals calmly with a diverse population.
• Serves as the client’s initial contact to Suncoast Center.
• Live-Answers calls coming into the central intake office.
• Insures that client receives a warm, friendly greeting and response during contact with the Intake Office.
• Screens individuals seeking services via telephone and determines eligibility for specific programs.
• Schedules individuals for Intake and completes community based enrollments according to office-based Open Access model or home-based program admission criteria in EMR as required.
• Returns all calls by the end of the business day.
• Insures accurate and thorough documentation in Avatar for every call and voicemail.
• Insures that client receives information on documentation needed and/or estimated fees required at first appointment.
• Demonstrates knowledge about admission and exclusion criteria for the various Suncoast Center programs.
• Maintains up-to-date knowledge of community resources in order to refer individuals who do not meet criteria for admission to other appropriate service providers in the community.
• Relates well with others and demonstrates cultural competence with a diverse population.
• Effectively manages crisis situations and identifies individuals who require risk assessment and takes appropriate action.
• Receives hospitalization discharge reports and referral documents from managed care entities and notifies enrollment staff/manager.
• Schedules or accesses interpreter services or auxiliary aids for intake clients as needed.
• Follows up on all pending client issues.
• Informs clients of payment responsibility for services rendered and offers financial resources as needed.
• Reviews Avatar admission criteria, insurance information and all other data collected.
• Understands the support function of the job and assumes responsibility for assignments.
• Establishes and prioritizes job tasks, desired solutions to problems and develops a realistic plan for their accomplishment.
• Works as an effective team member.
• Actively participates in Team Meetings and Supervision.
• Participates in all team meetings.
• Accomplishes individual goals.
• Other duties as assigned.
• Conducts intake interviews with new or readmitted clients to gather necessary information.
• Refers clients demonstrating suicidal or disoriented thoughts immediately.
• Summarizes information from client in a concise manner using proper grammar.
• Requires organizational skills, communication proficiency, discretion, ethical conduct, decision making, technical skills
• Minimum Qualifications:

  Education: BA degree required in human services field or BA in non-human service field with over 1 year experience with target population

  Licensure: N/A

  Experience: One to two years' experience in a mental health setting working directly with clients preferred; ability to triage crisis calls to appropriate resource, experience in fast-pace/call center environment preferred.

  Additional Requirements:

  Must be 21 years of age.

  Negative Drug Screening prior to hire and throughout employment.

  Clear Criminal Background Check throughout employment with Suncoast Center and local checks prior to hire and annually along with DCF Level II prior to hire and as required by DCF, and Must have valid Florida Driver's License Motor Vehicle checks prior to hire and annually with acceptable driving record maintained throughout employment along with reliable vehicle, valid registration, and valid vehicle insurance. (must be in compliance with Florida Laws and Administrative Codes with fingerprinting and determined to be of good moral character).

  Must be able to provide official transcripts.

  Working Conditions: Office-based assignment. Busy, high stress office. Ability to work in high-stress environment; excellent customer service relation skill on the telephone; ability to be flexible, able to multi-task and learn new procedures readily, ability to operate multi-line switchboard, copy machine, personal computer, calculator, and fax machine. Evening shift(s) required.

  Computer Literate: Microsoft Office Products & Outlook, electronic medical records

  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance with 0 copy for Teledoc Appointments
  • EAP Supports
  • Company Paid Basic Life, Accidental Death and Dismemberment, and Long term Disability
  • Options to secure additional Life/AD&D as well as short term disability

Work-Life Balance

• Paid time off + 10 company paid holidays

Growth & Development

• Professional development options through our Learning Management System and live trainings

Other Perks

• 403b with up to a 5% company match

Monthly Social Committee Events

Suncoast Center is a drugfree workplace and follows all Federal laws and regulations regarding marijuana use

All positions require a screening through the Clearinghouse. This site was implemented under the directive of House Bill 531 (2025). https://info.flclearinghouse.com/