Intake Clinician

Evolve Life Centers (corporate)•Pasadena, MD

About The Position

Summary of Primary Duties: The Intake Clinician is responsible for conducting biopsychosocial assessments with incoming and prospective clients who are scheduled for assessment and intake with an Evolve Life Centers program. Intake Clinicians also conduct assessments for individuals in the community who are considering engaging, or are mandated to undergo a substance abuse evaluation. The Intake Clinician conducts all aspects of the clinical assessment and treatment recommendation process, and completes all related clinical documentation for the intake. Primary Duties and Responsibilities: The Intake Clinician meets with incoming or prospective clients to conduct a biopsychosocial assessment interview in accordance with current regulatory requirements and Evolve Standards. The Intake Clinician may be required to conduct unplanned biopsychosocial assessments in the event of a walk-in, and in some cases may be asked to stay later in the day in the event of a late arrival for intake. The Intake Clinician gathers client information through direct client report, observation, client records, ancillary documentation, and other information sources – including but not limited to family members, significant others, therapists, doctors, case managers, crisis response workers, or legal representatives. The Intake Clinician synthesizes all relevant client information and makes a diagnostic impression and clinical recommendation for treatment (if appropriate) based on DSM-5 Diagnostic Criteria and ASAM Placement Criteria – while balancing factors or available resources, client readiness, and most urgent treatment needs. The Intake Clinician completes all clinical documentation associated with the biopsychosocial assessment process, including but not limited to the complete assessment interview note, clinical diagnostic summary, written ASAM ratings and level of care recommendations, formal preliminary recovery plan, initial discharge/transition plan, and new client emails. When needed, the Intake Clinician will communicate with other necessary staff any special problems or issues that may affect the course of treatment, including but not limited to MAT information, upcoming court dates, insurance issues, and other pertinent details. The Intake Clinician is able to ease client concerns during the assessment process and effectively describe and answer questions about all of the treatment programs, levels of care, and services that Evolve offers. The Intake Clinician works closely with the rest of the Admissions Department as a member of a dynamic team and is sensitive to pre-assessment planning and scheduling conducted by admissions staff, outreach representatives, other significant involved parties, and the clinical review team. The Intake Clinician is responsible for conducting biopsychosocial evaluations in the context of court ordered evaluations or individuals who are resistant or ambivalent toward engaging in treatment. In these circumstances, the Intake Clinician pays special attention to context and motivational factors and provides a written and individualized treatment recommendation that the client can share with their significantly involved parties – whether they agree to participate in treatment with Evolve or not. The Intake Clinician maintains and demonstrates a working knowledge of the ERES Further Review Criteria and integrates that knowledge when assessing for admission appropriateness into Evolve’s residential programs. The Intake Clinician maintains and demonstrates a working knowledge of program criteria and integrates that knowledge when assessing for admission or referral appropriateness for all other programs and services at Evolve, including but not limited to outpatient programs, satellite locations, recovery housing, mental health services, and primary care services. The Intake Clinician performs and assists with administrative admissions duties by completing an end of day report and submitting it to the Admissions Supervisor. The Intake Clinician is ultimately responsible for gatekeeping a client from entrance into any Evolve program if it is discovered that it is not safe for them to enter into the desired level of care that they are seeking. In these rare instances, it is required that the clinical decision and reasoning be documented in the assessment note and communicated with all relevant parties. In the event that an Intake Clinician conducts an assessment and denies a potential client entrance into an Evolve program, then then Intake Clinician must discuss this clinical recommendation with the client and recommend an alternative level of care of SUD treatment (or otherwise appropriate facility i.e., hospital, psychiatric stabilization, skilled nursing facility etc.). Finally, the Intake Clinician must facilitate a formal referral and warm handoff to the recommended service if the client is willing to follow the recommendation. The Intake Clinician always protects the confidentiality of clients and the privacy of staff and communicates information only on a need to know basis and when allowable by law. The Intake Clinician accepts and utilizes supervision, training, and teaching from the Admissions Supervisor & Clinical Supervisor and addresses any problems or performance issues as directed.

Requirements

Currently approved, certified, or licensed in the State of Maryland to provide SUD treatment services independently or under the supervision of Board Approved Supervisor.
Basic understanding of DSM-5 diagnostic criteria of substance use and co-occurring disorders.
Basic understanding of ASAM placement criteria.
Warm and welcoming personality
Ability to effectively work in a fast paced and demanding environment
Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Ability to establish and maintain working relationships
Ability to work well with others
Basic computer literacy and use of computers ie; e-mail and word processing
Knowledge of substance abuse and treatment
In-depth understanding of the Evolve Life Centers programs and services
Understanding of HIPAA and COMAR regulations that are relevant to the intake process

Responsibilities

Conduct biopsychosocial assessment interviews
Gather client information
Synthesizes all relevant client information and makes a diagnostic impression and clinical recommendation for treatment
Completes all clinical documentation associated with the biopsychosocial assessment process
Communicate with other necessary staff any special problems or issues that may affect the course of treatment
Ease client concerns during the assessment process and effectively describe and answer questions about all of the treatment programs, levels of care, and services that Evolve offers
Works closely with the rest of the Admissions Department as a member of a dynamic team
Conducting biopsychosocial evaluations in the context of court ordered evaluations or individuals who are resistant or ambivalent toward engaging in treatment
Maintains and demonstrates a working knowledge of the ERES Further Review Criteria
Maintains and demonstrates a working knowledge of program criteria
Performs and assists with administrative admissions duties
Responsible for gatekeeping a client from entrance into any Evolve program if it is discovered that it is not safe for them to enter into the desired level of care that they are seeking
Recommends an alternative level of care of SUD treatment
Protects the confidentiality of clients and the privacy of staff
Accepts and utilizes supervision, training, and teaching from the Admissions Supervisor & Clinical Supervisor