Intake Therapist

Fair Haven Community Health Care; New Haven (CT); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Fair Haven Community Health Care seeks an experienced Intake Therapist to provide crisis emergency care and comprehensive psychosocial assessments within our community health setting in Connecticut.

The role requires bilingual English/Spanish abilities, a Master’s in a clinical behavioral health field, CT licensure or licensure eligibility, and availability for evening and Saturday morning hours as needed to support patients and the community.

Qualifications

• Bilingual English/Spanish required for clinical work.
• Master’s degree in a clinical behavioral health field (e.g., social work, counseling, MFT).
• Licensed or license-eligible in Connecticut (LMSW, LCSW, LMFT, LPC, PsyD, or PhD).
• Experience with crisis, risk assessment, and community referrals.
• Experience serving diverse urban populations and age ranges.

Responsibilities

• Triages clinical emergencies and follows safety protocols.
• Performs crisis assessments for adults/children in urgent situations.
• Develops crisis treatment plans leveraging community resources.
• Completes diagnostic assessments and orients clients to services.
• Facilitates referrals to emergency, behavioral health, and social services.
• Collaborates with BH navigators and team for smooth enrollment.
• Completes screening tools (GAD, PHQ‑9, CSSR, CAGE, SDOH).
• Manages administrative documentation and enrollment forms.
• Interfaces with Billing on insurance matters; works in a multidisciplinary team.

Skills

Bilingual English/Spanish

Clinical assessment

Crisis intervention

Independent functioning

Cultural competence

Diagnostic & treatment planning

Education

Master's degree in clinical behavioral health

Job description

Fair Haven Community Health Care has been an innovative and vibrant community health center for over 54 years, serving multiple generations with more than 165,000 office visits across 21 locations. Guided by a Board of Directors, most of whom are patients themselves, we take pride in providing high‑quality, affordable medical and dental care to everyone, regardless of insurance status or ability to pay. Our extensive range of primary and specialty care services, along with evidence‑based programs, empowers patients to make informed choices about their health. As we expand our reach to underserved areas, our commitment to patient needs remains unwavering. FHCHC’s mission is to enhance the health and social well‑being of the communities we serve through equitable, high‑quality, and culturally responsive patient‑centered care.

Job purpose

FHCHC is seeking a qualified and experienced Intake Therapist to help provide crisis emergency care and perform comprehensive psychosocial assessments.

Duties and responsibilities

• Triages clinical emergencies and implements program specific safety and consultation protocols
• Tasks include telephone triage, risk assessments, de‑escalation, safety planning, working with EMS as needed, facilitating referrals to emergency department, community mental/substance abuse treatment and other linkages in the community
• Completes crisis assessments of adults and/or children who are in crisis in a comprehensive manner attending to their safety and needs
• Develops treatment plans with and for the person in crisis that utilize community‑based health, behavioral health, and social services that will ameliorate the presenting crisis
• Completes a diagnostic assessment for voluntary outpatient program and other supporting documentation at first meeting; along with orienting new clients to the different services offered in our outpatient clinic
• If appropriate they will work with the client on making referrals to other services to meet the full spectrum of client needs assessed
• Works closely with our behavioral health patient navigators, BH Director, and team of clinicians to ensure a smooth transition from enrollment to ongoing treatment
• Completes required evidence‑based screening tools, such as GAD, PHQ‑9, CSSR, CAGE, and social determinants of health (SDOH), among others
• Completes required administrative documentation, consents, agreements, acknowledgements and enrollment forms
• Completes required documentation in a timely manner, meeting regulatory standards
• Collaborates and communicates with the Billing Department in regards to medical insurance issues and payment options
• Works collaboratively as part of a multi‑disciplinary team

This job requires some evening and Saturday morning hours.

Qualifications

The selected candidate will:

• Be bilingual in English and Spanish
• Have clinical skills in assessment and diagnoses as well as experience working with a broad range of clinical presentations and age ranges from young children to elders
• Demonstrate knowledge of psychopathology, crisis theory and other behavioral health concerns and primary modalities of psychotherapeutic intervention
• Be able to function independently and be able to seek guidance when necessary
• Have extensive experience working with culturally diverse urban populations, a wide age range, and a variety of clinical presentations and knowledge of behavioral health, child welfare systems, and community resources
• Strong diagnostic, assessment and treatment planning skills for individuals, families and children; knowledge of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM V)
• At least a Master’s degree (M.A., M.F.T., M.S.W.) in a clinical behavioral health field (e.g. social work, counseling, marriage and family therapy)
• Must be licensed or license‑eligible in the State of Connecticut (LMSW, LCSW, LMFT, LPC, PsyD, or PhD)

American with Disabilities Requirements

External and internal applicants, as well as position incumbents who become disabled, must be able to perform the essential job specific functions (listed within each job specific responsibility) either unaided or with the assistance of a reasonable accommodation to be determined by the organization on a case‑by‑case basis.

Fair Haven Community Health Care is an Equal Opportunity Employer. FHCHC does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, age, non‑disqualifying physical or mental disability, national origin, veteran status or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.