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Northeast Georgia Health System is rooted in a foundation of improving the health of our communities.

The Specialist-Intake, Behavioral Health is responsible for interviewing the patient, reviewing records and determining the therapist with the appropriate specialty to meet the patient’s particular needs. Serves as a care navigator on the front end of the delivery of behavioral health services. When social determinants of health are a factor, the Behavioral Health Specialist may address these through connections to community resources and services.

• Licensure or other certifications:

• Educational Requirements: Bachelors Degree in mental health related field, Social Work or Psychology

• Minimum Experience: 3 years experience in mental health assessment / screening

• ​Other:

• Preferred Licensure or other certifications: Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) or Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC).

• Preferred Educational Requirements:

• Preferred Experience:

• Other:

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

• Strong knowledge of mental health and substance use disorder symptomology.

• Confidence interacting with patients who may be experiencing significant distress.

• Ability to accurately assess mental health symptoms and determine the appropriate level of care required to improve the patient's outcomes.

• Ability to work autonomously and to make sound clinical decisions independent of direct supervision.

• Provides initial assessments for all patients referred to Ambulatory Behavioral Health:  Using a comprehensive screening tool, the Behavioral Health Screening Specialist will contact patients referred for treatment by their NGPG Primary and/or Specialty provider.  Patients will be educated about the services offered and the screening specialist will assess patient's current level of distress, symptomology, and readiness for treatment.  A suicide risk assessment will also be conducted using the Columbia-Suicide Rating Sale and the Screening Specialist will be expected to take action to ensure patient safety if necessary.

• Maintains appropriate records of initial screening:  The Behavioral Health Screening Specialist will document all encounters with patients in their Electronic Medical Record (EMR).  The Screening Specialist will comply with HIPPA laws and regulations to ensure patient confidentiality.

• Connects patients with the appropriate level of care:  After completing the initial assessment, the Screening Specialist will determine if the patient is appropriate for care in the outpatient setting, or if the patient requires a higher level of care.  The Screening Specialist will schedule the patient with the appropriate outpatient clinician or provide referrals outside of the system.

• Maintains connection with patients awaiting care:  Due to high demand, patients may need to wait up to several weeks to begin treatment with the appropriate clinician.  The Behavioral Health Screening Specialist will maintain a log of all patients waiting for care and attempt to connect with them weekly to monitor their symptoms.

• Follows up with patient who do not engage in treatment:  The Screening Specialist will track new patient no-shows and follow up to identify barriers to care.

• Other duties as assigned.

• Weight Lifted: Up to 20 lbs, Occasionally 0-30% of time

• Weight Carried: Up to 20 lbs, Occasionally 0-30% of time

• Vision: Heavy, Constantly 66-100% of time

• Kneeling/Stooping/Bending: Occasionally 0-30%

• Standing/Walking: Occasionally 0-30%

• Pushing/Pulling: Occasionally 0-30%

• Intensity of Work: Frequently 31-65%

• Job Requires: Reading, Writing, Reasoning, Talking, Keyboarding, Driving

Working at NGHS means being part of something special: a team invested in you as a person, an employee, and in helping you reach your goals. 

NGHS: Opportunities start here.

Northeast Georgia Health System is an Equal Opportunity Employer and will not tolerate discrimination in employment on the basis of race, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, disability, ethnicity, national origin, marital status, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected classification or status.