Access Center Counselor

General Summary

Assists with security and client behavioral management and provide crisis intervention services throughout the Mt. Gretna facility, facilitate the admissions process, and serve as a resource about internal and external emergency response services.

Essential Functions:

• Responds to behavioral emergencies throughout the Well Span Philhaven system as requested by the Director of Access, Director of Nursing, Coordinator of MBMT or their designees in order to provide both physical and crisis intervention support. Responds as member of "Green Staff" when this situation is announced.
• Maintains Workplace Violence Prevention Training proficiency and extensive knowledge of other behavioral management techniques. Assists in behavioral management emergencies throughout the campus
• Maintains an awareness of campus security issues, implements security policies, conducts walking security rounds and campus security motor vehicle patrols as scheduled, and communicates with other Well Span Philhaven staff as necessary.
• Provides support and acts as a resource for the clinical management team of the unit to which he/she is responding for behavioral emergencies. Works collaboratively with unit managers/staff to assist the unit in managing their crisis situation in a manner that promotes client and employee safety.
• Serves as an initial contact for internal emergencies, administrative concerns, and public relations issues, and directs these contacts to the appropriate Well Span Philhaven staff.
• In the absence of the Director of Access, Access Managers, Director of Safety or In House Supervisors takes the lead in responses to behavioral emergencies and safety concerns in non-clinical areas of the hospital.
• Participates in the management of behavioral crises including 1:1 observation, de-escalation, seclusion, physical restraints, response team intervention and team crisis intervention.
• Participates in the pre-planning of behavioral interventions to help avert or better manage behavioral crises.
• Provides effective feedback, coaching, and mentoring to assist in professional development of staff regarding milieu management and safety.
• Supports program staff by assisting with post crisis response through re-stabilization interventions and team debriefings following a behavioral crisis event.
• Triages requests for services providing prompt assistance to all requests in relation to their urgency.
• Reviews and screens referrals for possible program placements, coordinates data gathering to determine appropriateness of referrals for acceptance following program admission guidelines and procedures.
• Maintains an accurate and up-to-date awareness of Well Span Philhaven programs and services, and provides this information to clients as requested.
• Maintains an awareness of community resources and provides this information to clients as requested.
• As necessary consults with the program clinical team, nurse, and physician to decide on acceptance of referrals as directed by admission guidelines.
• Collects insurance information from clients, parents/guardians, verifies insurance coverage and benefits, and relays information to necessary departments.
• Maintains working and accurate statistical and census reports on a regular basis of clients currently being served, prospective clients awaiting service, and referrals made for program placement.
• Documents all requests for service using computerized inquiry functions.
• Determines appropriate level of care based on the client's history, psychosocial history, clinical presentation, and funding situation.
• Maintains a knowledge base of insurance/managed care processes related to pre-certifications and authorizations.
• Responds to off-hours medication concerns of clients by coordinating contact between the client, families, pharmacy, physicians, and others as needed to mediate the situation.
• Coordinates admissions to Well Span Philhaven programs by gathering necessary information from clients, parents/counties; scheduling admissions; and meeting with the aforementioned on the day of admission for initial assessment and completion of initial paperwork.
• Completes insurance pre-certifications and authorizations for individuals being admitted to Well Span Philhaven Programs.
• Utilizes a structured interview tool to conduct an in-depth clinical assessment, and documents this using approved Well Span Philhaven evaluation forms.
• Instructs and assists the client and client family in completing all necessary paperwork, and witnesses signatures as necessary.
• Works cooperatively with program staff to transition the client to the program, and participates in the conference call with the psychiatrist as necessary. Provides a summary of pertinent clinical information and special needs as a part of this process.
• Interacts with all clients and family members with an awareness of confidentiality requirements and client rights issues, and sensitivity to the client's and family's level of distress and needs.
• Verifies…