Intake Therapist, Youth Recovery

Jefferson Center for Mental Health; Lakewood (CO); On-site; USD 63,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Jefferson Center for Mental Health in Lakewood, Colorado seeks an Intake Therapist to manage admissions for Youth Residential Recovery. You will evaluate medical necessity, liaise with referral sources, parents, and youth, and coordinate admissions alongside the YRR team to ensure timely, appropriate placement.

Work is performed in a trauma-informed environment with emphasis on comprehensive assessments, interagency collaboration, and compliance with regulatory requirements.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a related field with two years of relevant experience.
• CAS or LAC credential or ability to obtain within 18 months of hire.
• CPR/First Aid certification preferred or obtainable within two months of hire.
• Must be at least 21 years old and have a valid Colorado driver’s license.

Responsibilities

• Greet clients and coordinate admissions and referrals.
• Enter client information into electronic medical records.
• Assess medical necessity using ASAM criteria and determine level of care.
• Maintain waitlist tracker and coordinate admissions with the team.
• Ensure compliance with trauma-informed care and center policies.

Skills

CPR/First Aid Certification

Colorado Driver's License

Education

Master’s Degree in related field

CAS or LAC credential

Job description

• Pay or shift range: $62,700 USD to $84,920 USD Jefferson Center pay is determined by various factors including education level, licensure level, years of relative experience, and internal equity amongst current staff.

Description

At Jefferson Center, it is our policy and our mission to be inclusive and mindful of the diversity of everyone who comes through our doors. We are passionate about building a community where mental health matters and equitable care is accessible to all races, ethnicities, abilities, socioeconomic statuses, ages, sexual orientations, gender expressions, religions, cultures, and languages.

The Intake Therapist is responsible for the overall admissions for Jefferson Center’s Youth Residential Recovery. The Intake Therapist implements an efficient admissions procedure and process with the referral source, parents, and youth. The Intake Therapist manages medical necessity by evaluating the client medical records to determine the medical necessity concerning the ASAM and determining the appropriateness of level of care. The Intake Therapist will interact with both outside agencies and with YRR team members with diplomacy, respect, and professionalism.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Greet clients and visitors upon arrival for intakes.
• Coordinate with referral sources for the transportation for intakes as needed.
• Coordinate and facilitate the admission of YRR clients onto the unit, as well as maintain the waitlist tracker to ensure any client who is of the priority population ensures preferential placement.
• Serve as admissions liaison between all stakeholders to facilitate efficient, professional communication and problem-solving activities.
• Accurately enter incoming client information into electronic medical record systems.
• Assemble client's chart and distribute intake information to YRR team members.
• Accurately and concisely complete the Census Report for the end of each shift.
• Provide ongoing feedback and information on the status of admissions to clinical team members to coordinate intake and admission efforts.
• Conduct ASAMs and evaluating client referrals for appropriate LOC.
• Identifies risk factors including lethality for suicidal, homicidal and/or grave disability. As appropriate, complete involuntary mental health holds (27-65) according to Center protocol and assist Supervisor with Involuntary Commitment protocols.
• Provides behavioral and diagnostic assessments. Completes initial engagement strategies, treatment and discharge planning, and case management/wrap around services. Provides ASAM level of care assessment and referral, as needed to meet client needs and fulfill insurance/payor requirements.
• Works constructively with clients to reach agreed upon outcomes, and coordinates care with internal and external providers.
• Obtains collateral information from family, and other providers as appropriate.
• Understands and will adhere to mandated reporting requirements.
• Participates in the weekly interdisciplinary team meeting to review consumer treatment and discharge planning.
• Serves as a liaison with community agencies and referral sources with regard to consumer needs.
• Maintain professional and ethical behavior at all times.
• Adheres to all Jefferson Center Policies and Procedures and maintains appropriate professional standards.

Other Duties (Productivity Performance Measures, Professional Growth/Development, Relationships/Communication):

• Attends mandatory in-services; compliance with individualized training plan if required.
• Participates in supervision by coming prepared with an agenda. Reports high risk/problem cases and utilizes a problem solving approach as well as feedback. Attends supervision at times and interval agreed upon with supervisor.
• Corporate Compliance including documentation on practice in accordance with regulatory requirements and clinical guidelines.
• Submits 90% of all Progress-to-Date forms before the end of shift.
• Completes 95% of all paperwork by the due date.
• Exhibits enthusiasm, courtesy, adaptability, flexibility, and spirit of cooperation in the work environment.
• Maintains effective interpersonal relations with consumers, peers, subordinates, upper management, visitors and the general public. Uses language and behavior to promote dignity and respect.
• Effectively responds to the client/consumer needs and problems, initiates and maintains positive interactions, timely response to phone calls, emails and other requests.
• Demonstrates knowledge and skills to develop therapeutic alliance with consumers and to work effectively and with cultural competence with consumers from diverse backgrounds.
• Participates in staff development activities to enhance professional growth.
• Addresses the whole health needs of the consumer by ensuring that appropriate releases are in place for physical health care providers, making appropriate referrals as needed when significant physical health needs are a consideration.
• Assesses individuals with various disorders within the scope of one’s expertise.
• Utilizes a range of appropriate clinical and recovery focused interventions according to clinical need.
• Understand how trauma impacts the lives of the people being served, so that every interaction is consistent with the recovery process and reduces the possibility of re-traumatization.
• Participate in the Center’s training/educational programs designed to enhance knowledge about Trauma Informed Care, the impact of trauma and trauma recovery.
• Ensure that delivery practices are guided by the principles of trauma informed care, the principles of addiction treatment and ASAM Criteria.
• Completes required paperwork for substance use treatment licenses and billing to Medicaid and other funding sources, including Substance Abuse ROI and Discharge Plan.
• Endorse the Center’s belief that drug testing can be an effective therapeutic tool as it can serve as a deterrent to substance use, a safety measure for prescribing psychotropic medications and provide support to the client to increase the likelihood of successful abstinence.
• Participates in and promotes a positive, supportive, cooperative team environment.
• Participates in staff development activities that enhance professional growth.
• This is an awake position for the entire shift.
• This role may require cross functional responsibilities and contingency support including but not limited to:
• Adaptability to staffing needs: In the event of a staffing crisis or emergency, the employee may need to be deployed to another unit / team, whether working with adults or youth, within Jefferson Center for which they are qualified and credentialed, as determined by leadership.
• Skill Utilization: Staff may be assigned to support different teams or departments to address client needs while remaining within the scope of their professional licensure and credentialing.
• Staff working with youth must be in good medical, mental, physical, and emotional health. They must also be free from communicable diseases and current on all immunizations routinely recommended for adults. The role may involve lifting, pushing, or pulling objects weighing up to 25 pounds. In rare and extreme situations, staff at the Crisis Stabilization Unit (CSU) may be required to assist in safely holding a youth for up to 60 seconds.

Required Education, Knowledge, Skills, & Experience:

• Master’s Degree (from an accredited university or college) related field plus two years of relevant experience and/or training.
• CAS or LAC required or can obtain within 18 months of hire.
• Skills or experience in integrated health approaches preferred.
• CPR/First Aid Certification preferred or obtain within two months of hire.
• Must be at least 21 years of age or older.
• Valid Colorado Driver's License with a driving record that meets agency requirements.

Salary Grade 51 - Master’s Unlicensed Clinician - $62,700 - $70,400*

Salary Grade 52- (LCSW, LMFT, LPC) $77,000 – $84,920*

Additional Salary Information*:

• The salary range above includes a 10% salary differential for working with youth in a 24/7 residential setting.
• The salary range above is based on 1.0 FTE (full time equivalent) or 40 hours per week. Less than 40 hours/week will be prorated and adjusted to the appropriate FTE.*
• Jefferson Center pay is determined by various factors including education level, licensure level, years of relative experience, and internal equity amongst current staff.

Youth Residential Recovery Bonus*

$1,500 1 month anniversary
$1,500 6 month anniversary
$2,000 1 year anniversary
($5,000 Total)

Additional Bonus Information*:

• Based on full time (40 hours/week). Prorate if less than 40 hours/week*
• Must work a minimum of 20 hours/week to be eligible for bonus*
• Current Jefferson Center employees not eligible for sign on bonus*
• Bonuses are not earned unless and until continuous employment reaches the bonus effective date*

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.