Mental Health Screener

RWJBarnabas Health; Union (NJ); On-site; USD 61,000 - 78,000; Full time

Job summary

RWJBarnabas Health in Union, NJ, is seeking a Mental Health Screener to support emergency psychiatric screening and disposition decisions. The role involves rapid assessment of adults and children in crisis, coordination with psychiatrists and ER staff, and comprehensive documentation.

Ideal candidates will have a Master's in psychology, 3+ years in mental health, and at least 1 year in crisis screening; bilingual English/Spanish is preferred.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in psychology or related field is required.
• Minimum of three (3) years of full-time, post-bachelor’s experience in a mental health setting.
• At least one (1) year of the required experience must be specifically within a crisis or emergency screening setting.
• Preferred: Bilingual in English and Spanish.

Responsibilities

• Screen adults and children experiencing psychiatric emergencies at PES, NPC, or WSC to determine the most appropriate, least restrictive level of care.
• Consult with psychiatrists, medical staff, and emergency room teams to formulate safe patient dispositions.
• Answer the 24-hour crisis Hotline immediately to provide rapid emergency responses and guidance.
• Assess patients for voluntary or involuntary hospitalization and complete state screening and legal commitment documents.
• Assist mobile screeners by gathering patient data and prioritizing community outreaches based on acuity.
• Collaborate with medical units, voluntary psychiatric floors, and affiliated emergency rooms to manage psychiatric consultations.
• Complete thorough clinical documentation in AVATAR, including assessments and suicide risk evaluations.
• Provide vital consultation to community agencies and hospitals regarding management of emergency psychiatric patients.

Skills

Bilingual in English and Spanish

Education

Master's degree in psychology or related field

Job description

Job Title: Mental Health Screener

Location: Union (UNC)

Department Name: Psychology

Req #: 0000269511

Status: Salaried

Shift: Day

Pay Range: $61,100.00 - $77,500,00 per year

Pay Transparency

The above reflects the anticipated annual salary range for this position if hired to work in New Jersey.

The compensation offered to the candidate selected for the position will depend on several factors, including the candidate's educational background, skills and professional experience.

Mental Health Screener

Are you passionate about making a critical difference for individuals experiencing psychiatric emergencies? At RWJBarnabas Health, our Emergency Screening teams work collaboratively to provide high-quality, compassionate crisis intervention when our communities need it most. By delivering rapid assessments and connecting vulnerable patients to the right level of care, our screeners serve as a vital lifeline. We view our Mental Health Screeners as a crucial component of our care plan, redefining the patient experience through teamwork, empathy, and excellence. We hope you are excited by the opportunity to join a dedicated, supportive team that navigates complex crises together!

As a Mental Health Screener, a typical day might include the following:

• Screening adults and children experiencing psychiatric emergencies at PES, NPC, or WSC to determine the most appropriate, least restrictive level of care.
• Consulting with psychiatrists, medical staff, and emergency room teams to formulate safe patient dispositions.
• Answering the 24-hour crisis "Hotline" immediately to provide rapid emergency responses and guidance.
• Assessing patients for voluntary or involuntary hospitalization and accurately completing all state screening and legal commitment documents.
• Assisting mobile screeners by gathering patient data and prioritizing community outreaches based on acuity.
• Collaborating with medical units, voluntary psychiatric floors, and affiliated emergency rooms to manage psychiatric consultations.
• Completing thorough clinical documentation in AVATAR, including assessments, suicide risk evaluations, and internal handoffs.
• Providing vital consultation to community agencies and hospitals regarding the management of emergency psychiatric patients.

This Role Might Be For You If:

• You are deeply passionate about providing a safe, therapeutic, and empathetic healthcare experience for individuals in acute psychiatric distress.
• You thrive in fast-paced, dynamic environments and can make critical, legally-grounded care decisions under pressure.
• You set a high bar for yourself and your team to maintain strong communication and coordinate seamless handoffs during critical situations.
• You treat every caller and patient with profound kindness, answering emergency lines promptly with excellent customer care.
• You believe that true healing begins with meeting patients where they are during their most vulnerable moments.

To be considered for this opportunity, you must have:

• Required Masters degree in psychology or related field, such as social work
• A minimum of three (3) years of full-time, post-bachelor’s experience in a mental health setting.
• At least one (1) year of the required experience must be specifically within a crisis or emergency screening setting.
• Preferred: Bilingual in English and Spanish