Intake Social Worker

CenterPointe Hospital Columbia•Columbia, MO

About The Position

The Intake Social Worker responds to inquiries about the facility, supports admission and transfer coordination, and helps ensure patients receive appropriate care and follow-up. The role includes developing therapeutic relationships with patients and families; evaluating benefit eligibility; coordinating with medical and psychiatric personnel and referral sources; completing pre-admission assessments and recommendations; preparing documentation to support requested levels of care; and handling admission, authorization, registration, and consent processes. The position also involves maintaining knowledge of milieu management, prioritizing patient safety, resolving concerns, and conducting safety checks and supervision according to applicable precautions or individualized guidelines. The role is at CenterPointe Hospital of Columbia, a psychiatric hospital providing inpatient and outpatient mental health and addiction programming for people of all ages. The scheduled shift is Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, from 7 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in a social services field required if permitted by the state.
Current licensure as preferred for the area of clinical specialty, as designated by the state in which the facility operates.
CPR certification required; training is available upon hire and offered by the facility.
De-escalation/restraint certification required; training is available upon hire and offered by the facility.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in a social services field, such as psychology, counseling, social work, sociology, health administration, or nursing, or an RN credential.
One or more years of experience in mental or behavioral health working with individuals in a clinical or observational capacity.
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 the results to the business office and the patient or significant other.
Collaborate with medical and psychiatric personnel on recommendations regarding pending referrals.
Coordinate admissions and transfers from referral sources and between facility levels of care.
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 and complete pre-admission assessments when applicable, consult the admitting physician, and communicate disposition recommendations to patients or families.
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 timeframes.
Admit patients into the registration and accounting system and complete admission and consent forms with them.
Maintain a positive, empathetic, and professional attitude toward customers, acknowledge unmet needs, and work to resolve complaints.
Coordinate care and appropriate follow-up referrals for patients who are not admitted.
Act with urgency regarding patient safety and provide excellent customer service.
Conduct safety checks and ensure supervision at 15-minute intervals, as specified in special precautions, or according to individualized supervision guidelines.
Perform other functions and tasks as assigned.