The Clinical Intake Coordinator assesses the clinical needs and urgency of clients seeking counseling and psychological assessment services. The position serves as a key point of contact for clients requesting services and collaborates with New Beginnings programs, external service providers, and local social service, healthcare, governmental, community, and professional organizations.
Responsibilities
Responsibilities include conducting telephone and in-person triage screenings, completing intake assessments, providing crisis intervention, making service recommendations and referrals, and consulting with counselors, staff, and clinical supervisors. All responsibilities are performed in accordance with professional and ethical standards, applicable laws and regulations, and New Beginnings policies and procedures.
The position requires strong clinical assessment and evaluation skills, sound clinical judgment, excellent communication and organizational skills, and the ability to work independently in a fast-paced, high-volume clinical environment.
Major Responsibilities
- Conduct clinical assessments and provide service recommendations for clients seeking counseling and psychological services whose needs range from severe psychopathology to developmental, behavioral, and interpersonal concerns. Educate clients regarding available services and make appropriate referrals to internal programs, community resources, or other providers.
- Provide telephone and in-person triage, crisis evaluation, and crisis intervention for clients seeking mental health services. Assess urgency and help prioritize, schedule, and assign new clients.
- Conduct intake interviews, including administration and interpretation of appropriate psychological inventories, client questionnaires, and medical and psychological histories. Collaborate with the Clinical Supervisor to determine appropriate clinician or group therapy assignments and prepare timely intake documentation in the electronic health record.
- As intake responsibilities permit, provide individual counseling utilizing a short-term, time-sensitive therapy model. Coordinate client services as appropriate, including consultation with psychiatric providers, referrals to community resources, follow-up, and case disposition.
- As intake responsibilities permit, assist with the development and delivery of group interventions, including group therapy and psychoeducational groups for designated populations.
- Provide emergency and crisis intervention services and respond appropriately to urgent clinical situations.
- Provide consultation to counselors, supervisors, and other staff regarding client needs, behavior, treatment planning, and welfare, as appropriate.
- Contribute to the training and professional development of graduate students and other trainees through participation in applicable training and educational activities.
- Collect, maintain, and analyze data related to client services, program evaluation, grant administration, curriculum development, research activities, and agency accreditation.
- Maintain accurate and timely clinical records in accordance with Counseling Center policies, professional standards, and applicable state and federal regulations.
- Participate in scheduled staff, clinical, case consultation, and other meetings as required.
- Participate in continuing education and professional development activities to maintain and enhance clinical knowledge and skills.
- Maintain current knowledge of community resources and available behavioral health and social service programs to support appropriate client referrals.
- Perform other duties and administrative responsibilities related to counseling and clinical services, including research activities, special projects, and other duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications
Education
- Master’s or doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology, Counseling Psychology, Social Work, Mental Health Counseling, or a closely related mental health discipline.
- Appropriate professional licensure or eligibility for licensure in California, as applicable to the position and scope of services provided.
Experience
- Three to five years of clinical experience with a doctoral degree or five to seven years with a master’s degree providing clinical assessments and mental health interventions in a psychiatric facility, hospital, mental health clinic, counseling center, or similar setting.
- Demonstrated experience in clinical assessment, treatment planning, crisis intervention, and clinical documentation.
- Experience with program evaluation, research, or accreditation activities preferred.
- Experience providing services to individuals experiencing homelessness, severe and persistent mental illness, or other complex behavioral health needs preferred.
- Experience working with diverse populations and individuals from varied cultural, socioeconomic, and life backgrounds.
Required Qualifications
- Demonstrated ability to manage complex clinical situations, including crisis situations, severe psychopathology, and suicide and homicide risk assessment.
- Ability to conduct timely clinical assessments and exercise sound clinical judgment.
- Experience providing short-term individual and/or group therapy, crisis intervention, and case management across a range of clinical needs and diagnoses.
- Knowledge of developmental and mental health concerns the lifespan.
- Demonstrated ability to provide culturally responsive and trauma-informed services to diverse client populations.
- Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively as part of a collaborative, team-oriented environment.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Ability to work independently and effectively in a fast-paced, high-volume clinical environment.
- Understanding of ethical, legal, and professional standards related to the provision of clinical services and protection of confidential information.
- Proficiency with electronic health records, information technology, computerized databases, and standard office technology.
- Ability to maintain professionalism, discretion, and confidentiality at all times.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with program evaluation, research, grant administration, or accreditation.
- Experience developing or facilitating group therapy or psychoeducational groups.
- Familiarity with brief and integrative models of psychotherapy.
- Experience working with individuals experiencing homelessness or severe and persistent mental illness.
- Experience working with diverse populations and communities.
Work Environment
The position operates in a clinical environment with frequent interaction with clients, clinical staff, community providers, and agency partners. The role requires the ability to manage multiple priorities, respond appropriately to urgent clinical situations, maintain accurate documentation, and work effectively in a high-volume setting.