Crisis​/Intake Counselor

Job Title:

Crisis/Intake Counselor

Department:
Admissions / Utilization Review

Reports To:

UR / Admissions Director

FLSA Status:
Non-Exempt
Job Type: Full-Time 12 hour shifts, 3-4 days per week

Location:

Ascent Behavioral Hospital – Millcreek, UT

At Ascent Behavioral Hospital, we provide compassionate care, helping adolescents navigate challenges related to anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation in a supportive and safe environment. We are committed to providing compassionate, evidence-based mental health care to adolescents who are in need of our services. We uphold the highest standards of integrity, respect, and excellence while fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability and safety.

The Crisis/Intake Counselor plays a critical frontline role in the psychiatric hospital admission and discharge process. This position serves as an initial point of contact for individuals, families, and referral sources seeking psychiatric services. The Crisis Coordinator conducts mental health assessments, responds to crisis calls, supports verification of benefits (VOBs), and collaborates closely with clinical, nursing, utilization review, and discharge planning teams to ensure appropriate level-of-care determinations and smooth transitions into and out of treatment.

This role requires strong clinical judgment, organization, and the ability to engage effectively with individuals and families during periods of acute emotional distress. The Crisis Coordinator must be a licensed therapist and is expected to function with professionalism, empathy, and a clear understanding of psychiatric admissions and continuity-of-care processes (training provided).

• Serves as a clinical contact for incoming admissions inquiries, crisis calls, and referrals.
• Conducts comprehensive mental health assessments to evaluate clinical presentation, safety risks, and appropriateness for inpatient psychiatric hospitalization.
• Responds to individuals and families in crisis with professionalism and empathy, utilizing trauma-informed principles.
• Provides clear information to families and referral sources regarding services provided, admissions criteria, and next steps toward admission, as appropriate.
• Processes and supports insurance Verification of Benefits (VOBs) in collaboration with the UR/Admissions team.
• Collaborates with Utilization Review staff to support authorization, clinical documentation, and payer communication as needed.
• Coordinates closely with nursing, therapy, psychiatry, and leadership teams to support timely and appropriate admissions.
• Assists with discharge-related coordination by supporting referrals, continuity-of-care planning, and communication with outpatient providers, when appropriate.
• Maintains accurate, timely, and compliant documentation in the electronic medical record (EMR).
• Participates in interdisciplinary collaboration to ensure safe, ethical, and clinically appropriate patient placement decisions.
• Supports hospital policies, regulatory requirements, and Joint Commission standards related to admissions, documentation, and patient safety.

• Performs clinical assessments and level-of-care recommendations for prospective patients.
• Manages a high volume of phone calls, emails, and referrals while maintaining organization and attention to detail.
• Communicates effectively with families, referral sources, payers, and internal hospital teams.
• Applies sound clinical judgment when assessing risk, assuring safety, and evaluating appropriateness for admission.
• Maintains confidentiality and complies with HIPAA and hospital privacy standards.
• Supports the admissions-to-discharge continuum by facilitating smooth handoffs between departments.
• Navigates crisis situations calmly and professionally while supporting distressed individuals and families.

• Clinical Judgment:
  Demonstrates sound assessment skills and appropriate level-of-care decision-making.
• Crisis Intervention:
  Effectively engages individuals and families during periods of emotional distress.
• Communication:
  Communicates clearly, compassionately, and professionally with…