SPECIALIST-INTAKE-INPATIENT PSYCH CENTER

POSITION TITLE:                           Intake Specialist

DEPARTMENT:                               Inpatient Psychiatric   

 FLSA STATUS:                              Exempt

REPORTING RELATIONSHIP:      Director, Inpatient Psychiatric            

Job Summary: General responsibility of providing professional evaluation and triage of patients. The responsibilities will entail crisis management, intake, and referral for placement of patients within the Psychiatric programs and case coordination with community referral sources.

Essential Functions:

• Consistently performs using an outward mindset and puts forth exemplary effort in accomplishing his/her goals and objectives in a manner that helps others to achieve their goals and objectives.
• Evaluates and coordinates psychiatric intakes.
• Assesses, orients, and establishes rapport with clients by conducting patient/family intake interviews, coordinating assessment intake, and reviewing, summarizing, and recording data; completes documentation of the face-to-face intake assessment prior to end of shift
• Routinely conducts collateral interviews with the patient’s support system to gain input into the presenting symptoms and issues.
• Forms diagnostic impressions for mental, emotional and substance abuse disorders according to the DSM IV criteria
• Presents psychiatric intake information to the psychiatrist in an organized concise formulation of the problem including impression and recommendations.
• In conjunction with the patient, generates a service plan designed to meet assessed needs.
• As necessary, contacts appropriate third-party payers or community mental health authorities for required pre-admission screening or pre-authorization for psychiatric admission.
• Routinely reviews voluntary admissions process with patients, recipient rights, other hospital polices as applicable, and completes the written documentation with the patient, obtaining appropriate patient signatures for psychiatric hospitalization.
• Acts as a liaison between PCP offices and Inpatient Psychiatric department when necessary
• Assists the Emergency Department with case management needs when appropriate. 
• Assists with group therapy as needed.
•        May work in the role of Inpatient Therapist as needed.

Minimum Qualifications: Master’s degree (accredited) in Social Work, Counseling or Clinical Psychology, plus two (2) years’ experience working in a mental health treatment setting. Licensed in good standing in the State of Michigan in respective discipline.Completion of Handle with Care Basic Certification in physical and nonverbal patient management within two (2) months of hire and annual re-certification.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities: Experience in psychiatric diagnostic interviewing, suicide and behavioral risk assessment, crisis management, and evaluation of adult and pediatric psychiatric patients. Experience working as an emergency department behavioral health evaluator preferred. Familiarity with pre-admission utilization review procedures, and case management of individuals in psychiatric crisis.  Familiar with electronic medical record documentation system.

Working Conditions: Subject to exposure to infectious waste, diseases, conditions, etc., including the AIDS and Hepatitis B viruses.  Scheduled for after-hours on-call shifts. 

Physical Requirements: Constantly sit, see/visual acuity, handle/grasp/feel, talk/hear, lift/carry 1 to 25 lbs.  Frequently stand, walk, reach, lift/carry 25 to 50+ lbs.  Occasionally lift/carry 50+ lbs.

The intent of this job description is to provide a representative and level of the types of duties and responsibilities that will be required of positions given this title and shall not be construed as a declaration of the total of the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position. Employees may be directed to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.