Intake Specialist - Same Day Access

BJC HealthCare•Saint Louis, MO

41d•Onsite

About The Position

BJC Behavioral Health is a community health center that provides and coordinates behavioral health services for more than 8,000 seriously mentally ill adults and seriously emotionally disturbed children in St. Louis City, St. Louis County, St. François, Iron and Washington counties. As an Administrative Agent of the Missouri Department of Mental Health (DMH), it serves as a major point of entry for people eligible for DMH-funded mental health services and as a gatekeeper to the public mental health system. The Intake Specialist provides initial screening and evaluation for individuals seeking services from BJC Behavioral Health. The role uses knowledge of eligibility requirements to connect individuals with appropriate internal and external services, provides interim case management to people awaiting assignment to an internal case-management team, and offers brief evidence-based therapies for problems that can be addressed through clients’ own actions or thought processes. The position completes intake assessments for new clients, screens potential clients for eligibility, and uses electronic medical records and other computer systems. Clients may be referred by community sources such as hospitals, the Behavioral Health Response crisis line, emergency rooms, and Department of Mental Health programs, or may walk in requesting services. The current intake volume is about two assessments per day, with a goal of increasing to three per day. The stated schedule is 8 AM–5 PM, and the location is South Lindbergh Business Court in South County. The position may assess individuals with serious mental illness or serious emotional disturbance, including diagnoses such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, ADHD, and anxiety disorders.

Requirements

Master’s degree in education or a related field.
2–5 years of experience.
LCSW or LPC licensure.
Ability to navigate electronic medical records and other computer systems.
No supervisor experience required.

Nice To Haves

Licensed Master Social Worker certification.

Responsibilities

Evaluate individuals’ needs and triage services according to assessed need.
For individuals appropriate for BJC Behavioral Health services, complete initial psychosocial assessments and treatment plans that meet accrediting and third-party payer requirements.
Evaluate observed and reported symptoms and information from others, perform mental status exams, assess crisis and safety issues, assign provisional ICD-10 diagnoses, and administer standardized assessments such as the DLA-20, Level 1 diagnostic screenings, and suicide risk assessments.
Present relevant history and the client’s current clinical picture clearly and concisely in formal assessments, with recommendations logically based on gathered information.
Engage individuals and families empathetically and non-threateningly to build trust, gather accurate information, and formulate realistic treatment goals while preserving the dignity of people with mental illness.
Use knowledge of developmental stages, psychiatric illnesses, evidence-based treatments, best-practice interventions, crisis prevention and intervention, health issues, and psychotropic medications.
Apply knowledge of Children’s System of Care principles and Fidelity Wraparound.
Connect individuals with appropriate internal and external services using knowledge of BJC Behavioral Health and community-agency services, levels of care, and eligibility criteria.
Provide interim case management to individuals who will receive internal case management but are awaiting assignment to a team.
Work collaboratively with colleagues and community partners, assist team members with difficult cases, and build positive relationships across the service system.
Provide brief evidence-based therapies to adults, children, and families, including CBT, DBT, and Motivational Engagement, for problems assessed as resolvable through the individual’s or family’s actions or thought processes.

Benefits

Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance, plus legal services, available the first day of the month after hire.
Disability insurance paid for by BJC.
Annual 4% BJC Automatic Retirement Contribution.
401(k) plan with BJC match.
Tuition assistance available on the first day.
BJC Institute for Learning and Development.
Health Care and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts.
Paid Time Off combining vacation, sick days, holidays, and personal time.
Adoption assistance.
Up to a $2,300 sign-on bonus.