Discharge Planner

Job Description:

Job Title: Discharge Planner

Location: Springfield, Missouri

Department: Youth Resiliency Campus

Employment Type: Full-time

Job Summary:

Join a compassionate, collaborative team dedicated to supporting individuals and families during behavioral health crises - make a meaningful difference by ensuring safe, timely transitions of care, reducing readmission risk, strengthening community connections, coordinating person-centered plans, and advocating for client needs. We seek a detail-oriented, empathetic professional with strong communication, care‑coordination, and problem‑solving skills who thrives in fast‑paced, multidisciplinary settings.

The Discharge Planner coordinates discharge planning from admission through post‑discharge follow‑up, develops individualized discharge and safety plans, schedules follow‑up appointments, and links clients to outpatient, community, residential, and other appropriate services. This role documents plans in the EHR, participates in case reviews, works with clinical teams to align recommendations with treatment goals, and helps remove barriers such as transportation or insurance to promote continuity of care.

This position offers…

• Employee Assistance Program - 24/7 counseling services, legal assistance, & financial consultation for you and your household at no cost
• Mileage Reimbursement - Company paid for work functions requiring travel
• Employee Discounts - Hotels, Theme Parks & Attractions, College Tuition
• Workplace Culture - An environment cultivating employee wellbeing, valuing each individual's humanity, and actively promoting a healthy, joyful workforce
• Additional Perks & Benefits - Scroll down to bottom of this post to learn more

Key Responsibilities:

• Coordinate and lead discharge planning beginning at admission and update plans throughout the stay to ensure safe, timely transitions
• Develop individualized discharge and safety plans that reflect clinical needs, client preferences, and available resources
• Schedule follow‑up appointments and confirm community linkages prior to discharge whenever possible
• Build and maintain collaborative relationships with internal service lines and external community partners to facilitate seamless care transitions
• Provide written discharge instructions, resource information, and safety plans to clients and identified supports
• Identify high‑risk factors and coordinate appropriate higher or alternate levels of care; participate in case reviews for complex discharges
• Document discharge plans, referrals, and coordination activities accurately in the EHR and track discharge outcomes and follow‑up compliance
• Advocate for clients to overcome barriers to care (transportation, insurance, access) and promote trauma‑informed, culturally responsive practices
• Support multidisciplinary treatment teams to align discharge plans with treatment goals and recommended services

Education, Experience, and/or Credential Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Psychology, or related field required; Master's degree preferred
• Experience working with individuals in crisis preferred
• Clinical or case management experience preferred

Additional Qualifications:

• Successful completion of background check including criminal record, driving record, abuse/neglect, and fingerprint check
• Current driver's license, acceptable driving record, current auto insurance, and reliable transportation required
• Completion of New Hire Orientation and required training (including Relias) at hire and annually thereafter

Physical Requirements

• Sedentary work: exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amounts of force frequently; sitting most of the time with occasional walking or standing
• Repetitive movements of hands, fingers, and arms for typing and/or writing during the work shift

Keywords: Discharge Planner, Care Coordination, Behavioral Health, Crisis Services, Transition of Care, Case Management, Safety Planning, Community Resources, EHR Documentation, Trauma-Informed Care

Position Perks & Benefits:

Paid time off: full-time employees receive an attractive time off package to balance your work and personal life

Employee benefits package: full-time employees receive health, dental, vision, retirement, life, & more

Top-notch training: initial, ongoing, comprehensive, and supportive

Career mobility: advancement opportunities/promoting from within

Welcoming, warm, supportive: a work culture & environment that promotes your well-being, values you as human being, and encourages your health and happiness.

Brightli is on a Mission:

A mission to improve client care, reduce the financial burden of community mental health centers by sharing resources, a mission to have a larger voice in advocacy to increase access to mental health and substance user care in our communities, and a mission to evolve the behavioral health industry to better meet the needs of our clients.

As a behavioral and community mental health provider, we prioritize fostering a culture of belonging and connection within our workforce. We encourage applications from individuals with varied backgrounds and experiences, as we believe that a rich tapestry of perspectives strengthens our mission. If you are passionate about empowering local communities and creating an environment where everyone feels valued and supported, we invite you to join our mission-driven organization dedicated to cultivating an authentic workplace.

We are an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.

Burrell Behavioral Health is a Smoke and Tobacco Free Workplace.