Intake Specialist, Behavioral Health Urgent Care

Excitement abounds at Heritage Behavioral Health Center!

We are a mission-driven Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic located in Decatur, Illinois who is dedicated to improving mental health and substance use care to individuals in a multi-county area. We recognize that all individuals at our organization have an impact on patient care - regardless of the position they hold.

Why join us?

• We offer a collaborative work environment, opportunities for professional growth, and a comprehensive benefits package.
• We are expanding our primary care, mental health and substance use services to individuals in Central Illinois and beyond and are looking for dedicated staff to meet the needs of our clientele.
• Our salaries have been updated and are competitive at both the state and national levels with wonderful benefits.
• Full-time employees receive 56 paid days off during their 1^st year of employment (this includes every other Friday off PAID for your wellness needs). This increases to 61 days the 2^nd year and continues to increase with tenure.
• We have expanded our employee insurance benefit offerings and made them more affordable.

At Heritage, we believe in taking care of our staff's needs so that they can concentrate on taking care of the needs of the individuals we serve. Our staff are our greatest asset, and we treat them as such!

We are pleased to present the following position for your consideration:

Overview: Intake Specialist, Behavioral Health Urgent Care

The Intake Specialist plays a critical role in ensuring timely access to behavioral health services and community resources. As a key point of entry into Heritage Behavioral Health Center, this position focuses on behavioral health triage, rapid assessment, and connection to appropriate care and services. Operating within our Behavioral Health Urgent Care Hub, the Intake Specialist provides a welcoming and supportive first point of contact for individuals seeking assistance, ensuring they receive the necessary support, resources, and referrals to meet their needs promptly.

Core Responsibilities:

• Conduct behavioral health triage to assess immediate needs and determine appropriate levels of care and intervention.
• Provide a warm, hospitable welcome to individuals seeking behavioral health services and support.
• Complete comprehensive needs assessments to identify medical, behavioral health, and social service needs, including mental health, substance use, housing, food security, transportation, and employment.
• Rapidly connect individuals to appropriate behavioral health services, crisis intervention, and other essential supports.
• Educate clients and their families on available community resources and assist with referrals, including shelters, food pantries, medical care, and transportation services.
• Develop and implement individualized crisis safety plans in collaboration with clients.
• Administer assessments and screening tools such as suicide risk assessments, IM-CAT, PHQ-9, GAD-7 and screening for social determinants of health.
• Coordinate and facilitate access to care by scheduling intake appointments and assisting with transportation arrangements when necessary.
• Maintain accurate and timely documentation of all services provided.
• Provide advocacy and feedback regarding client and program needs to enhance service delivery.
• Attend required trainings and team meetings to stay current with best practices in behavioral health triage and care coordination.
• Perform other duties as assigned or required by the supervisor.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Strong ability to engage and build rapport with individuals experiencing behavioral health crises in a compassionate and non-judgmental manner.
• Expertise in behavioral health triage, crisis intervention, and service coordination.
• In-depth knowledge of healthcare and community resources, or the ability to research and identify appropriate supports.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively within a multidisciplinary team.
• Exceptional customer service skills with a focus on person-centered care.
• Proficiency in navigating electronic health records and using Microsoft Office applications.
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to adapt to changing client needs and priorities.
• Ability to lift 10 pounds

Education and Experience:

The ideal candidate will have experience providing behavioral health triage and access to care services within a behavioral health setting. Candidates should demonstrate a strength-based approach to supporting individuals in achieving wellness and recovery.

Eligible Credentials:

• Mental Health Professional as defined by:
  1. Five years' experience in behavioral health,
  2. Certified Recovery Support Specialist (CRSS),
  3. Bachelor's degree in psychology, social work, human services, or related field,
  4. Bachelor's degree in any field with two years of experience in a human services or related field.

Preferred Experience:

• 2-3 years of experience providing crisis intervention and behavioral health triage.
• Experience working in high-volume behavioral health settings or urgent care models.

A valid driver's license, reliable means of transportation, and proof of automobile insurance are required.

Salary Range: $47,840-$56,190 per year ($23.00 - $27.00 per hour) - dependent on education and experience

Heritage also offers the following with this position:

1. Generous vacation, sick and personal leave
2. WELLNESS days - 26 days per year (every other Friday off paid)
3. Paid holidays - 9 in 2025
4. Health Club/Fitness Reimbursement
5. Employee Assistance Program
6. Continuing education opportunities
7. Tuition assistance program
8. Agency provided life insurance and short-term disability policies
9. Retirement plans (401k and Roth)
10. Optional insurance benefits, including health, dental, vision, flex spending accounts (healthcare, dependent care), and additional life insurance. (The health insurance benefit includes substantial agency contribution towards the cost.)
11. We are a National Health Service Corp site which gives staff access to the National Health Service Corp federal student loan forgiveness program (LCPC, LCSW, MD, APN, RN, CADC, LSW, and LPC individuals). For more information, visit www.hrsa.gov.