Emergency Services Intake Counselor at Universal Health Services in Chicago, IL

Job description

Responsibilities Garfield Park Behavioral Hospital provides compassionate, evidence-based psychiatric and behavioral health support to children and teens ages 3 to 17. Guided by the highest standards of ethics and individualized care, our mission is to exceed patient expectations, instill hope in families, and meet the diverse needs of our community. We are passionate about transforming lives through quality behavioral healthcare, and we are excited to further serve our patients by expanding our partial and intensive outpatient programs through an upcoming construction project. Job Summary: As the Emergency Services Intake Counselor , you will conduct crisis risk assessments and provides clinical triage for families and professionals. You will also manage the fast-paced, high-stress admissions process, ensuring compliance with mental health laws and confidentiality policies. Key Responsibilities: Clinical Assessment: Conducts risk evaluations (suicide, psychosis, substance abuse) and gathers health and treatment histories. Admissions Management: Coordinates intake paperwork, pre-certifications, and physician care collaboration. Team Collaboration: Manages bed availability, patient deflections, and multidisciplinary team updates. Regulatory Compliance: Maintains records and upholds legal and confidentiality standards. Environment & Demands: Fast-Paced Setting: Operates in an environment equivalent to an Emergency Room. High-Stress Resilience: Requires strong multitasking skills and high physical stamina to support children and families in crisis Work Schedule: Full- Time: Sunday–Thursday, Overnight shift; 11:00pm-7:30am Work Location: Garfield Park Hospital 520 North Ridgeway Ave. Chicago, Illinois 60624 Benefit & Reward Highlights: Challenging and rewarding work environment Competitive Compensation & Generous Paid Time Off Excellent Medical, Dental, Vision and Prescription Drug Plans 401(K) with company match and discounted stock plan SoFi Student Loan Refinancing Program Career development opportunities within UHS and its 300+ Subsidiaries! For information about the benefits we offer, please visit UHS Benefits Service Center. Qualifications Education: **Masters Degree required in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, Required** Licensure/Certification: Licensure or eligibility for licensure (LPC, LSW, LCPC, LCSW) or Registered Nurse in the State of Illinois preferred BLS (AHA) and CPI certifications required upon orientation completion Knowledge: Thorough understanding of the DSM-V criteria, psychotropic medications, and assessment skills with the ability to develop quick and strong clinical rapport. Working knowledge of Illinois Confidentiality Act, Illinois Mental Health Code, EMTALA and ILPA process. Must posses a detailed understanding of psychiatric criteria for various levels of care and insurance/benefit verifications. Have the ability to provide de-escalation techniques and crisis stabilization. Must be able to utilize CBT, Trauma Informed Care and Crisis Intervention effectively. Must be able to work cooperatively with other hospital staff and community agencies. Good organization skills, attentive to detail, thorough, as well as excellent oral and written clinical communication skills. Language: Bilingual in both Spanish and English preferred About Universal Health Services One of the nation’s largest and most respected providers of hospital and healthcare services, Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS) has built an impressive record of achievement and performance. Growing steadily since its inception into an esteemed Fortune 500® corporation, annual revenues during 2025 were $17.4 billion. In 2026, UHS was again recognized as one of Fortune World’s Most Admired Companies™ and in 2025, was listed in Forbes ranking of America’s Largest Public Companies. Headquartered in King of Prussia, PA, UHS has approximately 101,500 employees and continues to grow through its subsidiaries. Operating acute care hospitals, behaviora