Senior Care Advocate - Austin, TX

• Utilize advanced clinical skills to engage and motivate Consumers via a recovery, health and wellness-oriented approach.


• Assist consumers and their families/caregivers with connections to appropriate psychiatric, medical, and psychosocial referrals and services.


• Identify and remove barriers to procurement, delivery, participation in and success of services.


• Provide supportive follow-up, monitoring and education as indicated.


• Meet with consumers in-person at facilities, provider offices, and in homes as appropriate for market.


• Serve as OBHS liaison and subject matter expert for applicable UnitedHealth Care Medical Partners; establish and foster positive relationships with medical team, participate in medical-behavioral integration activities and discussions.


• Identify high-risk, co-morbid needs of consumers.


• Accept referrals via designated processes, collaborate in evaluating available services, and coordinate necessary psychiatric and community referrals as needed.


• Contribute to treatment plan discussions; routinely attend clinical rounds and other meetings with medical partner or external entities when applicable.


• Partner with internal Optum Behavioral Health Services Teams to coordinate a seamless transition for consumers from an inpatient setting to community based services.


• Coalesce FCA role and relationships within context of established Care Advocacy Operating Model and customer/contractual requirements; collaborate early and frequently with other teams in the management of cases stratified as having intensive, complex, and high-risk needs.


• Participate jointly in rounds, discussions, supervision and staffings.


• Assist in the development of a relevant and consumer-specific aftercare plan.


• Comply with all policies, procedures and documentation standards in appropriate systems, tracking mechanisms and databases.


• For specific markets, conduct focused facility-based or outpatient clinical utilization review activities.


• Establish a cooperative relationship with Optum Behavioral Network Services and the Provider community in order to improve access to services and ensure that consumers are served within proper standards of care.


• Identify new programs, services and gaps in market; share information with network teams.


• Maintain knowledge of provider availability and barriers to access.


• Collaborate with providers to determine acuity of mental health concerns, barriers and progress; coordinate appropriate services.


• Conduct provider networking visits or attend consumer care conferences as determined by market.


• Attend state, professional and association and conference call meetings as needed.

Other activities as assigned, including but not limited to:

• Partnership with Account Management and Sales departments to provide best level of customer service to market accounts.


• Participate in committees, educational opportunities and trainings.


• Maintain approved workload and support metrics and outcomes.

For those who want to invent the future of health care, here's your opportunity. We're going beyond counseling services and verified referrals to behavioral health programs integrated across the entire continuum of care. Join us and help people live healthier lives while doing your life's best work.(sm)

• Licensed Master's degree in Psychology, Social Work (LCSW), Counseling (LPC) or Marriage or Family Counseling, or Licensed Ph.D., or an RN with 2 or more years of experience in behavioral health


• Licenses must be active and unrestricted


• 2 years experience in a related mental health environment working in the local community            


• Demonstrated ability to use a PC in a Windows environment, including email and Microsoft Office applications


• Excellent customer service, interpersonal and problem-solving skills


• Strong team player and team building skills


• Able to function independently and responsibly with minimal supervision


• Maintain direct and open communication with all levels of the organization


• Able to handle sensitive issues with peer, members and providers in a confidential manner


• Demonstrate initiative in achieving individual, team, and organizational goals and objectives


• Ability and flexibility to assume responsibilities and tasks in a constantly changing work environment


• Strong oral and written communication skills — specifically telephone skills


• Current, unrestricted driver's license and access to reliable transportation

• Medical/Behavioral setting experience (i.e. hospital, managed care organization, or joint medical/behavioral outpatient practice)


• Dual diagnosis experience with mental health and substance abuse


• Experience working in an environment that required coordination of benefits and utilization of multiple groups and resources for patients


• Experience working with low-income populations


• Experience working with the aged, blind or disabled


• Clinical training experience


• Managed care and utilization management experience a plus

OptumHealth helps nearly 60 million Americans live their lives to the fullest by educating them about their symptoms, conditions and treatments; helping them to navigate the system, finance their health care needs and stay on track with their health goals. No other business touches so many lives in such a positive way. And we do it all with every action focused on our shared values of Integrity, Compassion, Relationships, Innovation & Performance.

At OptumHealth, you will perform within an innovative culture that's focused on transformational change in the health care system. You will leverage your skills across a diverse and multi-faceted business. And you will make contributions that will have an impact that's greater than you've ever imagined.

Diversity creates a healthier atmosphere: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability status.

UnitedHealth Group is a drug-free workplace. Candidates are required to pass a drug test before beginning employment. In addition, employees in certain positions are subject to random drug testing.

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