What are the responsibilities and job description for the Intake Counselor position at Acadia Behavioral Health (Pioneer Behavioral Health)?
Make a Difference from Day One
Join California’s Best Evidence-Based Drug & Alcohol Treatment Center as an Intake Counselor at Serenity Knolls—where compassion meets clinical excellence.
Located in the serene San Geronimo Valley of West Marin—just 20 minutes from downtown San Rafael and 30 minutes from Novato—Serenity Knolls is a 42-bed co-ed Residential Treatment Center, including 6 detox beds, serving adults 18 and older.
We are a 12-step based, social model program that integrates traditional recovery principles with cutting-edge, evidence-based therapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), psychodynamic approaches, and trauma-informed care.
About the Role
As an Intake Counselor, you’ll be the first point of contact for individuals seeking treatment—playing a vital role in helping them take the first step toward recovery. You’ll guide clients and families through the admissions process with empathy, professionalism, and clarity.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
- Facilitate intake, admission and utilization review process for incoming patients.
- Perform insurance benefit verifications, disseminating the information gathered to patient, their families and appropriate internal staff.
- Provide accurate and ongoing assessment of patient’s status in the admission and utilization process.
- Respond to inquiries about the facility within facility policy timeframes.
- Collaborate with other facility medical and psychiatric personnel to ensure appropriate recommendations and admissions.
- Provide accurate and ongoing assessment of patient’s status in the admissions, intake and utilization process.
- Provide education to patient and their family throughout stay.
- Perform ongoing assessments of physical/function, emotional, social, spiritual and financial needs patients and implements crisis intervention and referral.
- Provide education regarding healthcare and social resource systems to empower patient and their family to access resources independently.
OTHER FUNCTIONS:
- Perform other functions and tasks as assigned.
EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE/SKILL REQUIREMENTS:
- Experience in the managed care pre-certification process, level of care assessments and utilization.
LICENSES/DESIGNATIONS/CERTIFICATIONS:
- Registered or Certified AOD Counselor.
- CPR and de-escalation/restraint certification required (training available upon hire and offered by facility).
- First aid may be required based on state or facility.
COMPENSATION:
Compensation for roles at Serenity Knolls varies depending on a wide array of factors including but not limited to the specific location, role, skill set, and level of experience. As required by local law, Serenity Knolls provides a reasonable hourly range of compensation for roles that may be hired in California as set forth below.
Role Location: CALIFORNIA
Calculated Hourly Range for role of Intake Counselor:
State - California: $24.00 - $28.00 per hour
BENEFITS:
Serenity Knolls provides a comprehensive package of benefits for our Intake Counselor.
Current benefits include:
- Competitive hourly rate
- Shift differential for overnight shifts
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance
- Acadia Healthcare 401(k) plan
- Excellent training program
- Complimentary AOD education to certify as a substance use disorder counselor
- Professional growth opportunity that is second to none in the industry.
Salary : $24 - $28
