What are the responsibilities and job description for the Behavioral Health Intake and Access Specialist - Mobile position at Lutheran Family Services?
Job Type
Full-Time
Position Summary:
Full-Time
Position Summary:
- The Behavioral Health Intake and Access Specialist - Mobile supports individuals and families in accessing behavioral health and community services. This role emphasizes relationship-building, trust, and advocacy while guiding clients through the intake process, reducing barriers to care, and connecting them to appropriate supports. It focuses on early engagement, screening for urgent needs, and helping clients navigate systems from first contact to their initial appointment. This position focuses on identifying and connecting with vulnerable populations in nontraditional or underserved settings to reduce access gaps and promote entry into LFS programs.
- Provide proactive outreach to individuals to support engagement in behavioral health services.
- Provide in-the-moment support for completing registration forms, attending intake appointments, transitions, or stressful encounters.
- Conduct screenings to identify economic, psychosocial, and safety-related needs, including housing instability, food insecurity, mental health crises, and substance use.
- Connect clients to community services, including medical, behavioral, residential, and/or any other needed services.
- Identify and respond to urgent safety needs, collaborating with clinical or crisis teams when risk factors are present.
- Maintain eligibility and professional conduct to access and work within a variety of community partner sites, including homeless shelters and other service locations. This includes adhering to partner site policies, representing the organization with integrity, and sustaining positive working relationships that support ongoing collaboration.
- Coordinate external referrals for client treatment and services based on recommendations from intake assessment.
- Transport and accompany clients to intake appointments to facilitate their engagement and follow through (as needed).
- Assist clients with connecting to services via in-person or telehealth.
- Educate clients about their rights, available services, and how to navigate systems, including use of digital tools like the client portal.
- Maintain documents, records, statistics, and other related reports in an organized, timely, and accurate manner in accordance with policy and procedure.
- Function as a resource to team members on community partners/services.
- Gain training and maintain proficiency with de-escalation and crisis intervention techniques.
- Establish and retain positive working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
- Work cooperatively and effectively with others to foster teamwork, set goals, resolve problems, and make decisions.
- Other job-related duties as assigned.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Excellent interpersonal and conflict resolution skills.
- Excellent organizational skills, critical thinking skills, and attention to detail.
- Excellent time management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines.
- Ability to act with integrity, professionalism, and confidentiality.
- Ability to adapt in a rapidly changing environment.
- Regular and predictable attendance, and promptness for work.
- Commitment to uphold the mission, vision, and values of Lutheran Family Services.
- Support Lutheran Family Services in the organization’s objective to be a diverse, equitable, inclusive, and accessible workplace.
- Empathy
- Helping Others
- Critical Thinking
- Organizational Skills
- Relationship Builder
- High school diploma or equivalent is required. Bachelors degree in human services or related field is preferred.
- At least 3 years’ experience performing direct client support roles within behavioral health, social services, or related settings is required.
- Demonstrated experience in crisis intervention, de-escalation, and guiding individuals through complex processes is strongly preferred.
- Demonstrated skills and competencies to work with individuals regarding a variety of behavioral health needs.
- Knowledge of community services organizations and related human services.
- Bilingual in English and another language preferred. Desired languages mirror our client populations and may include Spanish, Arabic, and/or Kurdish.
- Work environment will be predominantly in-office and in the field.
- Valid driver’s license, liability auto insurance, and ability to drive personal vehicle for work.
- Travel to various locations to support client services, as needed and as applicable by region.
- Laptop and company-issued cell phone.
- Must be able to work a flexible schedule, including evenings and/or weekends (as needed).
- Occasional lifting of office items no more than fifty (50) pounds.