PRN Assessment and Referral Specialist- Weekend Only

Job Title: Assessment & Referral Specialist

Reports To: Director of Assessment & Referral

Positions Supervised: None

FLSA Status: Exempt

JOB SUMMARY: The Assessment & Referral Specialist is responsible for providing procedural information, legal forms and hands on assistance to self-represented litigants. This position is required to conduct interviews and assist with the preparation, completion, and notarization of family court documents. The Assessment & Referral Specialist position is responsible for performing case screenings, case intake and case coordination for family law cases. Work involves the use of unified family court practices and differentiated case management techniques to promote case progression and disposition. The Assessment & Referral Specialist position is required to handle a high volume of public and professional inquiries, manage intake appointments, schedule case events and use a multi-line telephone system. Work is performed in a team setting, as well as on an individual basis and is performed under the supervision of the Director of Assessment & Referral.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: To perform this job successfully, a staff person must be able to perform each of these essential duties satisfactorily. The requirements listed below reflects the overall knowledge, skill, and/ or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties listed below:

1. Serves as Intake Specialist for the Behavioral Health Services; conducts intake interviews to establish and assesses for appropriate level of care.

2. Has knowledge and skills related to the developmental stages of children and the special needs of the geriatric population.

3. Utilizes cultural, spiritual, and social groups and their relationship to the deliverance and acceptance of healthcare.

4. Receives incoming inquiry calls and interviews “walk-ins” to establish viability for services.

5. Serves as client liaison, providing accurate, complete interviews of client needs and making appropriate referrals (i.e., free initial consultation, direct admission, or outpatient referrals).

6. Accurately and appropriately assesses the psychosocial and emotional status utilizing knowledge and skills related to developmental stages of children and the special needs of the geriatric population.

7. Serves as liaison to business office; coordinates insurance verification with business office.

8. Coordinates communications and activities between clinical staff, nursing staff, business office, and marketing staff.

9. Monitors direct/indirect referral sources; follows up with professional or agency referral sources regarding outpatient referrals.

10. Documents, collects, and organizes data resulting from inquiry calls to assist with referral development.

11. Possesses the ability to adjust to constantly changing workloads. Ability to conduct safety and contraband searches on new patients admitting to the facility.

12. Utilizes a logical approach to solve problems and manage situations in a positive manner.

13. Demonstrates ability to be self-directed and highly motivated.

14. Willingly accepts expected and unexpected duties.

15. Participates in hospital programs designed to ensure patient safety, i.e., fire drills, Code 1, etc.

16. Exhibits a desire to contribute to the long and short-range goals of the department and hospital.

17. Completes necessary mandatory requirements for job. This may include CPR, in services, TB annual testing, age specific.

18. Maintains current knowledge of behavioral health care and treatment.

19. Maintains current certification in SAMA.

20. Expresses ideas and concerns in a constructive manner.

21. Demonstrates ability to communicate with patients, visitors, physicians, co-workers, and other department personnel in a professional, pleasant manner.

22. Appropriately notifies supervisor of essential information.

23. Utilizes the proper defined channels of communication and lines of authority.

24. Demonstrates good judgment in communication with patients, physicians, visitors, and other departments.

25. Demonstrates appropriate telephone etiquette; answers telephone by identifying self and area.

26. Provides oral and written communication that reflects clarity and accuracy.

27. Maintains an open line of communication with physicians and staff throughout the hospital, to support facility goals and to facilitate the delivery of patient care.

28. Works and interacts with others to accomplish overall hospital and departmental goals.

29. Assists in all areas of department as needed.

30. Demonstrates flexibility with scheduling and staffing.

31. Demonstrates knowledge of HIPAA, including patient rights/privacy and confidentiality (email, faxes, sharing codes).

32. Demonstrates knowledge of safety for patients, visitors, and co-workers; makes recommendations for any safety issues.

33. Treats peers with respect and dignity.

34. Handles patient/family complaints appropriately and according to policy.

35. Perform other duties as assigned or directed by supervisor.

QUALIFICATIONS:

1. AGE

At least twenty-one (21) years of age.

2. EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

· Must be a Master’s Level Clinician or LPN.

· Experience in Behavioral Health assessment and/or treatment.

· At least one year previous experience on an inpatient Behavioral Health Unit preferred.

· Knowledge of legal and ethical issues related to patient’s rights.

· Knowledge of crisis intervention techniques.

· Knowledge of community/regional mental health resources.

· Knowledge of principles and practices of customer service.

· Knowledge of computers, preferably in a PC, Windows-based operating environment.

· Knowledgeable of the philosophy and objectives of the hospital.

· Knowledgeable of literature and new developments in the behavioral health field.

· Knowledge of insurance information and verification systems, including PPO’s and Managed Care Programs.

· Knowledge of behavioral health theory and practice, including basic knowledge related to physical, psychological, social, cultural, safety, and/or educational needs.

· Knowledge and skills related to the developmental stages of children and the special needs of the geriatric population; ability to interpret information needed to identify each patient’s requirements relative to his/her age-specific needs.

3. CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

None required

4. LANGUAGE SKILLS

Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and policy/procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports, correspondence, and document client behavior. Ability to speak effectively after groups of clients or employees of organization.

5. MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.

6. REASONING ABILITY

Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

7. PHYSICAL DEMANDS

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and talk or hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move a minimum of 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close, distant, and peripheral vision, color and depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. The employee may occasionally be required to physically restrain clients, using authorized restraint procedures as a last resort for protection of client and staff.

8. WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment for this position is a residential facility setting. While performing the duties of this job, the employee will be exposed to clients who may ask inappropriate personal questions, display socially unacceptable personal behaviors, use profanity and sexually explicit phrases, make insulting remarks or threats regarding appearance, age, sex, or race, and exhibit defiance, dishonesty, and assaultive or self-destructive behaviors. The employee is occasionally exposed to outside weather conditions, and may be subject to occasional local travel as required by facility needs. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet to moderate.

Note: This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive; an employee will also perform reasonably related responsibilities as assigned. This organization reserves the right to review or change job duties as need arises. This job description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment

Employee Declaration

I have reviewed and understand the job functions of this position and state that I can perform the essential functions without accommodations. ______Yes ______No

If an accommodation is needed, please describe the reasonable accommodations required for you to perform these essential job functions.

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Employee Name: (Please Print) ______________________________________________________________

Employee Signature: ______________________________________ Date:___________