Job Description

Job Location Main Campus - San Diego, CA 92111 Position Type Full Time Education Level Graduate Degree Salary Range $68,640.00 - $79,000.00 Salary/year Job Shift Day Job Category Clinical - Therapeutic

By joining the San Diego Center for Children, you will empower children and families through transformative mental health care and educational services. Our vision is to inspire a world where children and families live joyful, healthy lives. We serve over 1,000 people every day - are you ready to make an impact?

Join us - and work with purpose!

POSITION BENEFITS

• Team-Oriented, Multidisciplinary Approach
• Ongoing, High-Level Learning and Development Opportunities
• Culturally Diverse Environment
• Joint Commission Accredited Organization
• Comprehensive Health Insurance (Medical, Dental, Vision, Pet)
• Retirement Savings Plan: 403(b) - With Employer Match Up To 3%
• Generous Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick Leave, Holidays)
• Wellness Programs
• EAP - Employee Assistance Program
• Tuition Reimbursement Or Assistance For Continuing Education
• Employee Discounts
• Employee Recognition Program
• Opportunities For Career Advancement
• May Be Eligible For State Or Federal Loan Forgiveness Programs For Work With Underserved Populations

The Clinical Admissions Coordinator supports the admission and intake process for youth entering the San Diego Center for Children’s Programs. This role assists with coordinating and completing paperwork, gathering clinical documentation, scheduling assessments, and communicating with internal and external stakeholders throughout the referral and intake process. The Intake Coordinator plays a critical role in ensuring that youth and families are welcomed in a trauma-informed, professional, and efficient manner while maintaining regulatory and contractual compliance.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES (Other duties may be assigned)

• Receive and process incoming referrals in coordination with the Admissions Manager/designee.
• Assist in the collection and review of required intake documentation, including psychological evaluations, IEPs, immunization records, and consent forms.
• Coordinate intake appointments, assessments, and tours with families, referral sources, and internal departments.
• Maintain accurate and timely documentation in electronic records and tracking logs.
• Communicate with county agencies, school districts, caregivers, and other referral sources to ensure smooth coordination.
• Greet and support families during intake appointments with professionalism and cultural sensitivity.
• Prepare admission packets and ensure all required forms and consents are completed.
• Verify Medi-Cal eligibility and coordinate insurance pre-authorization as needed.
• Collaborate with clinical, residential, and educational teams to support transition planning for new admissions.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory and contractual requirements including CCL, CDE, and Joint Commission standards.
• Support internal reporting on referral trends and admissions data.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Admissions Manager.
• Maintain confidentiality and comply with HIPAA and FERPA requirements.
• Serve as liaison between external referral sources and internal treatment teams.
• Participate in internal quality improvement activities and clinical leadership meetings.
• Maintain current knowledge of all relevant regulatory and accreditation standards.
• Ensure the delivery of high-quality, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive services throughout the admissions process.

COMPLIANCE AND DOCUMENTATION OVERSIGHT

• Review clinical documentation (e.g., assessments, treatment plans, progress notes) to ensure accuracy, quality, and compliance with agency, IEP and accreditation standards.
• Support and participate in audits and accreditation processes conducted by CDE, WASC, and other regulatory or funding entities.

CRISIS INTERVENTION AND SUPPORT

• Assist emotional and behavioral concerns when needed by providing de-escalation and safety planning interventions (calling PERT etc.).
• Assist when needed to support a crisis and maintain a safe in a therapeutic environment.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND CONTINUOUS LEARNING

• Stay current on best practices in school-based treatment, trauma-informed care, and evidence-based therapeutic interventions.
• Participate in ongoing professional development activities and engage in regular training to maintain required licensure and certifications.
• Support clinical staff in their professional growth through regular feedback, mentorship, and coaching.

OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES

• Ensure that all safety protocols are followed and immediately report any unsafe conditions or incidents to the appropriate supervisor.
• Contribute to overall program development and improvement initiatives, ensuring the program meets the highest standards of care and compliance.
• All duties as assigned

LANGUAGE SKILLS

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret medical records, journals, reports, and legal documents. Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies, or members of the business community. Ability to effectively present information to management and public groups.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, use hands to finger, handle, or feel, reach with hands and arms, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl, and talk and hear. The employee frequently is required to run, walk, sit and drive a vehicle. The employee must be able to move and/or lift a child when clinically necessary, and must be able to follow a child that AWOLs in a walking or running pace. Applying SPA restraint techniques can involve lifting the child, holding the child down in a standing, sitting or ground level manner, as well separating clients who are acting in an unsafe manner to ensure the safety for the clients and staff. Due to the emotional instability of the clients the employee may be subjected to kicking, hitting, punching, biting, hair pulling, etc. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of the job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

ON THE JOB MANDATORY ONGOING CERTIFICATION TRAINING

• Maintain all certifications and licenses required for the role, ensuring they remain current.
• Complete and stay up to date with all mandatory trainings as specified by the San Diego Center for Children, including but not limited to: Residential Counselor Training, Intervention Toolbox, CPR and First Aid Certification S.P.A. Certification, False Claims, HIPAA, Safety, Trauma Informed Care, Annual Block Trainings as assigned. Any training assigned.

RESTRAINT AND SAFETY TRAINING REQUIREMENTS

• Apply Safe and Positive Approaches (SPA) restraint techniques, which may involve:
• Lifting or holding a child in standing, sitting, or ground-level positions.
• Separating clients who are acting in an unsafe manner to ensure the safety of both clients and staff.
• Prolonged standing, bending, and transitioning youth from a standing to a seated position.
• Must pass a two-day SPA training that focuses on safely initiating a physical hold with youth presenting as a danger to themselves or others.
• It is recommended that staff be able to support up to 50 pounds.

BEHAVIORAL AND EMOTIONAL CHALLENGES

• Due to the emotional instability of the clients, the employee may be subjected to physical aggression, including but not limited to:
• Kicking, hitting, punching, biting, and hair pulling.
• Vision Requirements: Specific vision abilities include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

DIVERSITY STATEMENT

The San Diego Center for Children is committed to:

• Actively recruiting, retaining, and supporting diverse staff at all levels of the organization,
• Ensuring that diverse perspectives are included in the development and implementation of policies, practices and services, and that individuals feel empowered to advance our mission within an atmosphere of trust, safety, and respect.
• Encourage and provide access to professional development in order to deliver equitable and culturally informed services to the population we serve.
• Participation in SDCC’s IDEA (inclusion, diversity, equity and action) initiatives is encouraged.

Qualifications

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Master’s Degree in Social Work, Psychology, Counseling, or a related field (required).
• Licensed or License-Eligible (LCSW, LMFT, LPCC preferred).
• Minimum 3 years of experience in Admissions, Case Management, or Clinical Coordination in a Behavioral Health or Child Welfare setting.
• Experience working with Medi-Cal, managed care, and private insurance plans.

PREFERRED REQUIREMENTS

• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• High attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to work collaboratively across interdisciplinary teams.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and electronic health record systems.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and professionalism.
• Cultural humility and sensitivity when working with diverse populations.