Psychiatric Support Assistant - Full time

Suncoast Center, Inc.; Clearwater (FL); On-site; USD 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Suncoast Center, a leader in behavioral health services, seeks a compassionate Psychiatric Support Assistant to support clients and families across telehealth and in-person visits. The role emphasizes HIPAA compliance, data accuracy, appointment coordination, and collaboration with clinical staff.

Applicants should have at least 2 years in a medical or behavioral health setting, solid Zoom experience, and strong customer service skills.

Qualifications

• 2 years of experience in a medical or behavioral health setting.
• Ability to describe Zoom access requirements and troubleshoot telehealth issues.
• Understanding of HIPAA, consents to treat, and releases of information.
• Professional, non-judgemental attitude with strong customer service and scheduling skills.

Responsibilities

• Educate clients and families on the process of psychiatric visits and Zoom sessions.
• Work with clinical staff to ensure timely client flow through services.
• Assist with follow up on pending client issues and data entry quality.
• Enter and maintain accurate information in the electronic health record.
• Coordinate guardianship, youth meetings, and telehealth or in-person sessions.
• Prepare and organize documentation for appointments including authorizations.
• Support scheduling, confirmations, and follow-up for appointments.
• Assist in updating treatment plans and communicate medication line information.
• Provide back-up support to Central Intake or Front Office as needed.

Skills

Telehealth support

Customer service

HIPAA compliance

Zoom platform

Data entry

Education

High School diploma or GED

Tools

Electronic Medical Records

Microsoft Outlook/Office

Job description

Position is Monday through Friday working hours 8am to 5pm with an hour unpaid lunch/break period.

Suncoast Center, a leader in quality behavioral health services, is seeking compassionate and dedicated individuals to join our team of caring professionals as a Psychiatric Support Assistant to support and advocate for our clients. Suncoast Center offers a variety of programs such as intensive community based mental health, forensic programs, office-based mental health and substance use care, as well as programs designed to assist children and their families in an effort to capture the needs of the entire community.

Suncoast Center has devoted over 75 years to ensuring the community has access to mental health services and support to individuals in need.

Schedule

Monday through Friday 8am to 5pm with an hour unpaid lunch/break daily

Minimum Qualifications

2 years of working experience in a medical practice or behavioral health setting required. Ability to understand and clearly describe zoom access requirements and troubleshoot issues with families in order to support effective tele-health experience. Experience with HIPAA, consents to treat, and releases of information. Demonstrates a non-judgemental attitude, a positive disposition, and hope regardless of customer state of mind. Displays excellent customer service, telephone skills, and schedule experience required.

Education

High School or GED

Experience

Demonstrated ability to problem solve computer and telephonic access issues with others.

Other

• Working Conditions: Office based setting in direct contact with others including young children
• Computer Literate and experience with an electronic medical records
• Demonstrate or develop full knowledge of Zoom Platform

Job Duties

• Has knowledge of the general process of psychiatric visits and educates clients and families on the process. Including but not limited to supporting Zoom tele-heath platform sessions and phone sessions.
• Works with clinical staff to ensure timely client flow through scheduled services
• Assists with follow up on all pending client issues.
• Follows department procedures for Avatar entries to insure the quality and integrity of the data entry.
• Serves as back-up to other Central Intake or Front Office Operations overflow as assigned
• Ensures timely and accurate data entry and outcomes for designated service areas and generates required reports.
• Schedules appointments for clients and providers.
• Provides confirmation and follow-up calls for future and missed appointments.
• Coordinates that the guardian or legally authorized person and youth are on the zoom or phone, or in person meetings.
• Provides assistance to children's psychiatric providers in order to have a successful psychiatric visit.
• Prepared support documentation needed for psychiatric appointments including:
• Medication Authorizations and consents for pharmacies; with prior authorizations for medications and/or specialty services
• Special Authorizations
• Verification of documentation of legal guardianship and consent to treat
• Required documentation for youth in foster care
• Ensuring the release of information is complete
• School and parent forms
• Records requests for coordination of care
• Is familiar with the use of an Electronic Health Record and can navigate through required documents for identifying those that need completing or updating.
• Updates client paperwork (electronic and other) so that it is completed prior to the appointment.
• Assists in the coordination of updating treatment plans.
• Provides education to clients and families regarding the use of the Medication Line, and assists with the coordination of medication line communication with providers
• Assists with internal referrals for additional services.
• Provides medical staff updated information regarding compliance with other services and care.
• Reports all risks to supervisor and ensures that risk notes and safety plans are completed as appropriate.
• Meets regularly with program manager to review cases and job performance.
• Accomplishes individual goals.
• Other duties as assigned

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: Indoor work; local travel for meetings, training, and location assignment. Busy, high stress office. Ability to work in high-stress environment; excellent customer service skills, both in person and 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, fax machine and credit card machine.
• Computer Literate in Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel; familiar with electronic medical records.
• Suncoast Center, Inc is a drugfree workplace and follows federal guidelines/regulations related to 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/