Admissions Counselor

Acadia•Saint Paul, MN

1d•$30 - $35

About The Position

Capitol Park Mental Health Hospital is seeking a compassionate, detail-oriented Admissions Counselor to support admissions and clinical assessment processes on a part-time basis. The role helps ensure people seeking care receive timely, clinically appropriate access to services by conducting intake and pre-admission assessments, coordinating admissions and transfers, and assisting with utilization review and authorization so patients are placed at the appropriate level of care. The Admissions Counselor responds to facility inquiries, develops therapeutic relationships with patients and families, verifies benefit eligibility, collaborates with medical and psychiatric staff on referrals, and communicates admission projections and disposition recommendations. The role gathers clinical information, completes documentation and admission forms, and coordinates follow-up care and referrals for individuals who are not admitted. It also includes patient safety checks and supervision at 15-minute intervals or according to individualized supervision guidelines. Capitol Park Mental Health Hospital is a 144-bed behavioral health facility on the former Bethesda Hospital campus. Opened in September 2025, it provides inpatient psychiatric treatment, Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP), and Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP) in a therapeutic environment. The hospital is part of Acadia Healthcare, a behavioral health provider focused on patient-centered mental health treatment.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in a social services field required if state regulations allow.
Current licensure as appropriate for the area of clinical specialty and as designated by the state in which the facility operates.
CPR and de-escalation/restraint certification required; training is available upon hire and offered by the facility.
Strong clinical assessment and diagnostic skills.
Excellent communication, organization, and interpersonal abilities.
Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, patient-centered environment.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in a social services or related behavioral health field, such as psychology, counseling, social work, sociology, health administration, or nursing; RN is also preferred.
Current licensure or eligibility for licensure, including RN, LMSW, LCSW, LPC, LPCC, LMFT, LCPC, LPA, or LCP.
One or more years of mental or behavioral health experience working with individuals in a clinical or observational capacity.
Experience in behavioral health, crisis assessment, or admissions.
First aid, depending on state or facility requirements.

Responsibilities

Respond to facility inquiries within facility policy timeframes.
Develop therapeutic relationships with patients and families.
Verify benefit eligibility and communicate eligibility information to the business office and the patient or significant other.
Collaborate with medical and psychiatric personnel on recommendations for pending referrals.
Coordinate admissions and transfers from referral sources and between levels of care within the facility.
Maintain knowledge of milieu management.
Promptly communicate projected admissions to designated internal representatives.
Obtain clinical information from referral sources or patients, including medical comorbidity information, before admission when possible.
Schedule pre-admission assessments when applicable, complete assessments, consult the admitting physician, and communicate disposition recommendations to the patient or family.
Prepare and maintain medical record documentation to support authorization for the requested level of care.
Complete initial pre-authorization for treatment and admission before admission when possible and within payor timeframe guidelines.
Enter patients into the registration and accounting system and complete admission and consent forms with them.
Maintain a positive, empathetic, professional attitude; acknowledge and work to resolve complaints when patient needs are not met.
Prioritize patient safety and provide excellent customer service.
Coordinate appropriate follow-up care and referrals for patients who are not admitted.
Conduct safety checks and ensure supervision at 15-minute intervals, as noted in special precautions, or according to individualized supervision guidelines.
Perform other functions and tasks as assigned.