Current jobs related to Intake Counselor - Madera - River Vista Behavioral Health

**Responsibilities**:
**River Vista Behavioral Health** sits along the bluffs overlooking the San Joaquin River, this brand new, 128-bed facility, will provide high-quality and advanced behavioral health services to residents and visitors in the Central Valley. The new hospital will employ more than 250 people, including clinicians, nurses, mental health technicians, support staff and administration.

**River Vista Behavioral Health** is currently seeking a dynamic **Intake Counselor. **The Intake Counselor, under the supervision of the Director of Admissions, interviews and assesses potential patients and inquiry callers. The Intake Counselor works with the Business Office regarding patient financial data, as well as with the UR Department for the certification of patients admitted. Also initiates the referral process when indicated and communicates with referral sources.

***QUALIFICATIONS**

**_Education:_** Master's Degree from an accredited college or university, in Social Work or a clinical related mental health field required.

**_ Experience_**: 2-3 years in the area of substance abuse/psychiatric treatment programs, including experience in intake/admissions and managed care preferred.

**_ License:_** Must be state certified in social work or clinical related mental health field. LCSW, LFMT, or RN license required.

**_ Additional Requirements:_** CPR certification, CPI and Verbal De-Escalation training within 30 days of employment prior to assisting in a restraining procedure. Must be able to pass a competency exam for the area upon hire. May be required to work flexible hours and overtime.

**_ STANDARDS OF PERFORMANCE_**
- THE ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS ARE CATEGORIZED UNDER THE JCAHO STANDARDS OF PERFORMANCE. THIS POSITION WILL BE EVALUATED BASED UPON SOCIAL SERVICES PRACTICE/COMPETENCIES, AS WELL AS THERAPEUTIC PRACTICES COMPETENCIES AS LISTED BELOW._

**Admissions Practices/Competencies**
- Performance_
- Communicate effectively with patients, families, health care team members and community providers.
- Interact and communicate with community agencies in assessment of and service to patients.
- Provide referral services to community agencies.
- Maintain confidentiality in compliance with professional ethics according to professional and facility standards.
- Identify opportunities for the program and participate in Performance Improvement projects and activities.
- Continue professional development and maintain professional development in personnel file.
- Assist in the orientation of new colleagues.
- Milieu_.
- Meet the social work needs of the patient population being serviced.
- Contribute to the effective functioning of the patient.
- Report unsafe conditions to appropriate personnel.
- Assure that patient’s rights are upheld.
- Professional Competencies_
- Demonstrate a professional attitude that supports the objectives of the facility’s business development/marketing and guest relations philosophy through internal and external communications and interactions with all levels of staff, patients, family members, guests, community and referral sources.

**Admissions/Competencies**
- Intervention_
- Utilize a variety of techniques to assist in the resolution of patient problems.
- Effectively employ principles of communication, interviewing techniques, problem solving and crisis intervention when performing intake assessments.
- Utilize appropriate interventions in psychiatric emergencies.
- Document and report infections to the Infection Control Nurse.
- Milieu_
- Utilizes universal precautions when caring for a patient.
- Promote health communication.
- Document Q15 checks on all patients, notify On Call doctor is modified checks are needed.

Qualifications:

- Specific Standards for the Care of Child Patients Ages 5 through 11_
- Maintain knowledge of the Child Program rules, protocols and handbooks guidelines.
- Maintain knowledge of children’s stages of development and seek guidance from the nurse in charge when questions about the norms for behavior related to child development arise.
- Assess patients for behaviors consistent with the developmental stages and make note of any deviations in behavior.
- Recognize acting out behavior of child specific age group and set appropriate limits in clear, concise, behavioral and non-judgmental terms based on the age of the patient.
- Demonstrate an awareness of learning disabilities and translates treatment/program expectations to the learning disabled child.
- Relate to child patients in an age appropriate manner.
- Utilize seclusion and restraint procedures with an understanding of the need for modification in regard to smaller body sizes of children, abandonment issues and the history of physical and/or sexual abuse issues.
- Act as a resource to other staff in regard to the Child Patient Programs.
- Specific Standards for the Care of Adolescent Patients Ages 12 through 18_
- Maintain knowledge of the Adolescent Program rules, protocols