Mental Health Clinician - Access

The Access Clinician is a professional, Master’s level position. Access Clinician provides the first contact for all individuals requesting or inquiring about mental health/substance abuse services, and annual contacts to determine the eligibility and need for ongoing care. The Access Clinician completes screenings and assessments to determine eligibility and level of care/need for individuals requesting initial, as well as ongoing services at WMCMH.  The Access Clinician provides triage, level of care authorization/reauthorization, coordination with other providers, disease specific education, follow-up/outreach services to reduce the utilization of higher levels of care, facilitates treatment, enhances compliance with the established provider network, encourages and empowers each person regarding their care, facilitates individual/family early detection and intervention, and enhances accuracy and consistency of diagnostics. 

In addition, the Access Clinicians are responsible for Utilization Management (UM) functions in order to actively manage the use of behavioral healthcare resources and to promote efficiency in the delivery of high-quality care.  Other duties may include responding to crisis requests at the local jails, completing retro-reviews on past psychiatric hospitalizations, conducting OBRA reviews, managing COFR (Count Of Financial Responsibility) arrangements with other CMHs, completing Continued Stay Reviews and Discharge Planning for high acuity psychiatric and SUD placements, managing Alternative Treatment Orders (ATOs/AOTs), and other duties as assigned. Access Clinicians may be required to serve on the crisis stabilization team, and provide crisis stabilization service as scheduled, which could include evenings, weekends, and holidays.