Clinical Therapist - Centralized Intake - Lancaster

Counseling and Research Associates•Lancaster, CA

22d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Clinical Therapist - Centralized Intake provides timely, comprehensive, clinically sound, and client-centered behavioral health screening and assessment services for children, youth, adults, and families. The role conducts diagnostic assessments, evaluates risk and functional impairment, formulates diagnoses and case conceptualizations, determines medical necessity, and recommends appropriate levels of care and services. The therapist provides clinical screenings and diagnostic assessments; evaluates safety and risk; coordinates referrals and transitions to services; documents clinical work; and completes applicable assessment and outcome measures, including LOCUS and IP-CANS. Services may be delivered in office, clinic, home, school, community, field-based, telehealth, or other approved settings. The position requires independent travel to service locations as necessary, and driving is an essential function. This is a hybrid position with in-office attendance based on agency policy, department requirements, and operational needs. The work is primarily in office, clinical, or remote/hybrid settings and may include community locations. The role may involve contact with people experiencing significant behavioral health symptoms, psychiatric crises, or acute emotional distress. It is not assigned to the agency after-hours or on-call rotation. The annual salary range is $75,001-$95,000 for BBS-registered clinicians and $85,001-$105,000 for licensed clinicians.

Requirements

Master's degree in Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, Professional Clinical Counseling, Psychology, or another related behavioral health field from an accredited institution.
Current California licensure as an LCSW, LMFT, LPCC, PhD, or PsyD, or current California Board of Behavioral Sciences registration as an ASW, AMFT, or APCC, as applicable.
Valid California Driver's License, proof of automobile insurance, and a good driving record; driving is an essential function.
Meet applicable requirements to provide Medi-Cal Specialty Mental Health Services within professional scope of practice.
Demonstrated knowledge of clinical assessment, DSM diagnostic criteria, case conceptualization, treatment planning, psychotherapy, risk assessment, crisis intervention, safety planning, mandated reporting, level-of-care determination, and care coordination.
Knowledge of or ability to learn LACDMH requirements, Medi-Cal documentation standards, Specialty Mental Health Services requirements, medical necessity standards, and behavioral health compliance requirements.
Knowledge of or ability to develop proficiency with LOCUS, IP-CANS, and other agency-designated assessment, level-of-care, and outcome-measurement tools applicable to assigned populations and programs.
Demonstrated experience with trauma-informed care, strengths-based practice, family engagement, and culturally responsive services with children, youth, adults, and families from diverse backgrounds.

Nice To Haves

Work experience in a behavioral health, community mental health, assessment, diagnostic, or comparable clinical setting.

Responsibilities

Conduct timely, comprehensive, strengths-based, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive clinical screenings and diagnostic assessments.
Gather and evaluate behavioral health, developmental, psychosocial, family, medical, educational, substance-use, trauma, and systems information.
Formulate supported diagnoses, differential diagnoses, and case conceptualizations using current DSM criteria and clinical theory; seek consultation for complex or unclear presentations.
Evaluate clinical need, functional impairment, strengths, preferences, and risk to determine medical necessity and recommend the appropriate type, intensity, frequency, and level of service.
Use clinical judgment and agency- or LACDMH-designated assessment tools to support level-of-care decisions, and make appropriate referrals when other services are needed.
Assess suicide risk, self-harm, danger to others, grave disability, abuse, neglect, exploitation, substance-related risk, and other urgent safety concerns.
Provide crisis assessment, intervention, and safety planning during scheduled work hours; consult with the Clinical Supervisor, complete mandated reporting, and coordinate crisis or emergency resources as necessary.
Communicate assessment findings and recommendations to receiving programs and collaborate with supervisors, staff, clients, caregivers, referral sources, and community partners to support continuity and transition to care.
Complete accurate, thorough, timely documentation that supports medical necessity and meets agency, LACDMH, Medi-Cal, payer, legal, and regulatory requirements.
Complete required clinical assessment and outcome measures, including LOCUS for applicable adults and IP-CANS for applicable children and youth, within required timelines.
Meet productivity, scheduling, documentation, performance, and service-delivery timelines, and promptly communicate barriers.
Provide services in office, clinic, home, school, community, field-based, telehealth, or other approved settings as required; travel independently to service locations and transport clients only when authorized and required.
Engage clients and caregivers respectfully, explain the assessment process, identify strengths, and incorporate client preferences, cultural considerations, and family voice.
Provide culturally responsive, trauma-informed, strengths-based, recovery-oriented, and client- and family-centered services.
Collaborate with agency teams and external systems, including county agencies, schools, healthcare providers, child welfare, probation, managed care organizations, and community providers.
Participate in supervision, case consultation, team meetings, case presentations, training, and other required clinical activities; seek supervisory review when appropriate.
Use the electronic health record and agency-approved platforms, including Greenspace, Eleos, iDashboards, and applicable assessment or outcome systems.
Participate in quality improvement, quality assurance, documentation review, utilization review, peer review, audits, and corrective actions as assigned.
Practice within professional scope and applicable ethical, legal, licensing, confidentiality, and regulatory standards; protect client rights, professional boundaries, and protected health information.
Communicate clinical findings, recommendations, safety concerns, service barriers, and follow-up needs clearly, professionally, and promptly.
Complete required agency, clinical, regulatory, evidence-based practice, outcome-measure, LPS, and program-specific training; maintain applicable registration or licensure, continuing education, certifications, and LPS designation.
Follow agency safety policies, OSHA requirements, and workplace health and safety procedures; report injuries, illnesses, hazards, unsafe conditions, or safety incidents promptly.
Perform other duties consistent with the position's scope and responsibilities as assigned by the Clinical Supervisor, Clinical Program Manager, Director, or executive leadership.