Responsibilities Position SummaryThe Director of Intake Services (RN) is responsible for the overall oversight, leadership, and direction of the Intake Department, inclusive of Referral Management and Admissions services. This role provides clinical supervision to clinicians and nurses involved in managing referrals for Hospital services, completion of behavioral health assessments, determining the appropriate level of care, delivering crisis interventions, and coordinating the admission process. The Director of Intake Services works closely with medical staff, nursing staff, department leaders, hospital administration, external referral sources, and payers to ensure efficient, high-quality, and compliant intake operations.
This position also oversees departmental budgeting, policy and procedure development, regulatory compliance, service excellence initiatives, and data management and analysis. As a member of the senior leadership team, the Director contributes to the development and execution of processes that support the hospital's strategic goals.
Key Responsibilities- Provide leadership and oversight for the Intake Department, inclusive of Referral Management and Admissions services.
- Supervise and support clinicians and nurses responsible for intake, referral review, behavioral health assessment, crisis intervention, and admissions coordination.
- Ensure timely assessment of patients to determine clinical needs and appropriate level of care.
- Partner with medical staff, nursing leadership, department heads, administration, referral agencies, and payers to support effective patient flow and placement.
- Oversee departmental budgeting, operational planning, and resource management.
- Develop, implement, and maintain departmental policies and procedures.
- Ensure compliance with all applicable regulatory, accreditation, and organizational standards.
- Promote service excellence and continuous quality improvement across intake operations.
- Collect, monitor, and analyze departmental data to support performance improvement and operational decision-making.
- Participate in senior leadership discussions and contribute to hospital-wide strategic planning and process improvement efforts.
- Foster a collaborative, accountable, and patient-centered department culture.
- Support effective communication and coordination with patients' support systems to promote treatment engagement.
Key Competencies- Strong leadership and supervisory skills
- Effective verbal and written communication
- Clinical judgment in behavioral health and crisis situations
- Knowledge of behavioral health and addiction disorders
- Understanding of patient assessment and level-of-care determination
- Budget management and operational oversight
- Regulatory and compliance knowledge
- Data analysis and reporting skills
- Collaboration with interdisciplinary teams and external stakeholders
- Ability to lead in a dynamic, fast-paced hospital environment
- Commitment to service excellence and quality improvement
Qualifications Required Qualifications- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) with Tennessee licensure as a Registered Nurse
- Minimum of 3 years of direct clinical experience in a psychiatric or mental health setting
- Working knowledge of behavioral health disorders and addiction disorders
- Experience in patient assessment and engagement of patients and their support systems in treatment planning
- Ability to work effectively with a diverse patient population
- Minimum of 2 years of leadership experience in a behavioral health setting or other hospital system
- Strong management and communication skills
Preferred Qualifications- Master's degree in Nursing or related field
- Additional leadership experience in behavioral health or hospital operations
- Experience overseeing admissions, referral management, or intake services in a hospital setting
