Greenleaf Behavioral Health Hospital·Valdosta, Georgia
Facilitate patient admissions by completing clinical intake assessments and managing utilization review processes to ensure appropriate levels of care. Coordinate with medical personnel and referral sources while maintaining detailed medical records and ensuring patient safety.
00 am - 7:00 pm Greenleaf Behavioral Health Hospital in Valdosta, GA Greenleaf Behavioral Health Hospital is seeking a compassionate and detail-oriented Clinical Intake / Admissions Counselor to join our dedicated behavioral health team in Valdosta, GA. This role is essential in ensuring timely, clinically appropriate admissions and a seamless experience for patients, families, and referral partners.
The Clinical Intake / Admissions Counselor is a frontline clinical professional responsible for facilitating admissions, completing intake assessments, and managing utilization review processes. You will help ensure continuity of care and placement at the most appropriate level of care while supporting patient safety, service excellence, and effective resource utilization. Required for this role: Registered Nurse, Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) Clinical professional is responsible for facilitating admissions, clinical intake assessments, and utilization review processes to assure continuity for the most appropriate level of care for patients and their benefit/resource utilization.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: Respond to inquiries about the facility within facility policy timeframes. Ability to develop therapeutic relationships with patients and families. Perform benefit eligibility to ensure patient benefits are active at the time of admission. Communicate benefit eligibility to the business office and the patient or significant other. Collaborate with facility medical and psychiatric personnel to ensure appropriate recommendations regarding pending referrals. Coordinate admission and transfer from referral sources and between levels of care within the facility. Maintain knowledge of milieu management. Communicate projected admissions to designated internal representatives promptly. Ensure all clinical information from referral sources or patients (including medical comorbidity information) is received, when possible, prior to patient admission. Schedule (when applicable) and complete pre-admission assessments, consult with the admitting physician and communicate disposition recommendations to the patient or their family. Possess skill in preparing and maintaining appropriate medical record documentation that will result in authorization at the level of care being requested of the payor. Complete initial pre-authorization for treatment and admission prior to admission, when possible, and within payor timeframe guidelines. Admit the patient to the registration and accounting system. Complete all admission and consent forms with the patient. Demonstrate a positive, empathetic, and professional attitude toward customers always. When patient needs are not met, acknowledge and work to resolve complaints. Recognize that patient safety is a top priority. When a patient’s needs are not met, acknowledge and work to resolve complaints. Recognize that patient safety is a top priority. Coordinate care for patients who are not being admitted and ensure that they receive appropriate follow-up care and referrals. Demonstrate a sense of urgency related to the importance of patient safety and provide excellent customer service. Responsible for conducting safety checks and ensuring that supervision is conducted at 15-minute intervals, as noted in special precautions, or by individualized supervision guidelines as needed. OTHER FUNCTIONS: Perform other functions and tasks as assigned.
EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE/SKILL REQUIREMENTS: Bachelor’s degree in a social services field required (if state allows). Master's degree in a social services field (psychology, counseling, social work, sociology, health administration, nursing) or RN preferred. One or more years’ experience in mental/behavioral health working with individuals in a clinical or observational capacity preferred. LICENSES/DESIGNATIONS/CERTIFICATIONS: Current licensure, as preferred for the area of clinical specialty, as designated by the state in which the facility operates. CPR and de-escalation/restraint certification required (training available upon hire and offered by facility). First aid may be preferred based on state or facility. ADDITIONAL REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS: AHMKT While this job description is intended to be an accurate reflection of the requirements of the job, management reserves the right to add or remove duties from particular jobs when circumstances (e.g. emergencies, changes in workload, rush jobs, or technological developments) dictate. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment regardless of an individual’s characteristics protected by applicable state, federal and local laws. AHMKT #LI-GBHH #LI-AM2
Requires a Bachelor's degree in social services and a valid professional license (RN, LMHC, LPC, LCSW, or LMFT). CPR and de-escalation certifications are required, with a preference for a Master's degree and experience in behavioral health.
Market context
Behavioral health roles in Georgia are often competitive because employers look for candidates with a master’s degree in a related field or an active Georgia nursing license, plus prior behavioral health experience; inpatient experience is especially valued. Benefits commonly include medical, dental, vision, paid time off, and a 401(k) with company match. Review the AI-summarized requirements and benefits here to save time, then confirm your fit against the original posting before applying.
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