Emergency Services Intake Counselor
UHS
Summary
Garfield Park Behavioral Hospital provides compassionate, evidence-based psychiatric and behavioral health support to children and teens ages 3 to 17. Guided by the highest standards of ethics and individualized care, our mission is to exceed patient expectations, instill hope in families, and meet the diverse needs of our community.
Job description
Job Summary
As the Emergency Services Intake Counselor, you will conduct crisis risk assessments and provide clinical triage for families and professionals. You will also manage the fast-paced, high-stress admissions process, ensuring compliance with mental health laws and confidentiality policies.
Key Responsibilities
- Clinical Assessment: Conducts risk evaluations (suicide, psychosis, substance abuse) and gathers health and treatment histories.
- Admissions Management: Coordinates intake paperwork, pre-certifications, and physician care collaboration.
- Team Collaboration: Manages bed availability, patient deflections, and multidisciplinary team updates.
- Regulatory Compliance: Maintains records and upholds legal and confidentiality standards.
- Environment & Demands: Fast-Paced Setting: Operates in an environment equivalent to an Emergency Room.
- High-Stress Resilience: Requires strong multitasking skills and high physical stamina to support children and families in crisis.
Work Schedule
Full-Time: Sunday–Thursday, Overnight shift; 11:00pm-7:30am
Requirements
- Masters Degree required in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, or related clinical field.
- Licensure or eligibility for licensure (LPC, LSW, LCPC, LCSW) or Registered Nurse in the State of Illinois preferred.
- BLS (AHA) and CPI certifications required upon orientation completion.
- Thorough understanding of the DSM-V criteria, psychotropic medications, and assessment skills with the ability to develop quick and strong clinical rapport.
- Working knowledge of Illinois Confidentiality Act, Illinois Mental Health Code, EMTALA and ILPA process.
- Must possess a detailed understanding of psychiatric criteria for various levels of care and insurance/benefit verifications.
- Have the ability to provide de-escalation techniques and crisis stabilization.
- Must be able to utilize CBT, Trauma Informed Care and Crisis Intervention effectively.
- Must be able to work cooperatively with other hospital staff and community agencies.
- Good organization skills, attentive to detail, thorough, as well as excellent oral and written clinical communication skills.
- Bilingual in both Spanish and English preferred.
Benefits
- Competitive Compensation
- Generous Paid Time Off
- Medical, Dental & Vision
- Prescription Drug Plans
- 401(k) Matching
- Discounted Stock Plan
- Student Loan Refinancing
- Career Development
Company overview
Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS) is one of the nation's largest and most respected providers of hospital and healthcare services, operating as a Fortune 300 corporation headquartered in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1979, UHS has grown into a major healthcare enterprise with approximately 99,000 employees and annual revenues exceeding $14 billion. The company operates through its subsidiaries, managing 29 acute care hospitals, 331 behavioral health facilities, and 60 outpatient and other facilities across 39 U.S. states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, and the United Kingdom. UHS provides comprehensive healthcare services including acute care, behavioral health treatment, cancer centers, and ambulatory surgical centers. The company's strategy focuses on building or acquiring high-quality hospitals in rapidly growing markets and investing in advanced medical equipment and skilled personnel to become the leading healthcare provider in each community it serves. UHS is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: UHS) and has established a strong reputation for delivering compassionate, high-quality care while maintaining financial stability and operational excellence.