Care Advocate-Behavioral Health, Telecommute, Lafayette, LA - Full-time / Part-time

You're looking for something bigger for your career. How about inventing the future of health care? Optum is offering an innovative new standard for care management. We're going beyond counseling services and verified referrals to behavioral health programs integrated across the entire continuum of care. Our growth is fueling the need for highly qualified professionals to join our elite team. Bring your skills and talents to a role where you'll have the opportunity to make an impact on a huge scale. Join us. Take this opportunity to start doing your life's best work. (sm)
The overall purpose of the Field Based Care Advocate is to improve the enrollee's ability to remain stable in the community and out of the hospital. The role is to engage the person in the treatment process and then assist him/her to access the appropriate community services so they can pursue their treatment goals in the community and avoid institutionalization.  This position will be making field visits going into hospitals, clinics and other facilities.    

The Field Based Care Advocate position is also designed to be a direct clinical liaison between health plan staff and the clinical network.  The program fosters a collegial and mutually beneficial relationship between the providers and payers of medical and behavioral health services. 

Primary Responsibilities:   

Assess, plan, facilitate and advocate options and services to meet the enrollees' health needs through communication and available resources to promote quality cost-effective outcomes
Identify needed services and matches with available services in area
Coordinate follow-up to specialty behavioral health providers and follow-up with patients to improve overall health care
Perform independent evaluations for 1915(i) eligibility to assess, plan and facilitate behavioral health services
Assist enrollees with ensuring appropriate transportation to appointments
Provide subsequent member follow-up as determined by individual member need
Work with enrollees to identify gaps in care or obstacles to care and problem solves for successful connection to needed services
Review IP Census daily to determine which enrollees on the census are re-admits within the last 12 months
May go to facility to meet with treatment team to develop a successful aftercare plan
Manage the aftercare follow-up of identified high risk enrollees (manage follow-up calls/outreach and documentation)
Meet with community providers/facilities as company liaison to foster good rapport and relationships and to identify new programs
      
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Required Qualifications:   

State of Louisiana licensure as LCSW, licensed professional counselor, licensed psychologist or behavioral health RN
RN with 2+years behavioral health nursing and 2 years post master's supervised experience in the delivery of mental health services; OR a master's degree in nursing or a master's degree in a mental health-related field and 2 years of supervised post master's experience in the delivery of mental health services
2+ years' experience in a related mental health environment
Louisiana driver's license + reliable transportation
Ability to attend meetings in Lafayette, LA
Proficient computer skills and good working knowledge of Microsoft Word
Experience in state of Louisiana mental health and substance abuse services delivery system
Knowledge of principles and practices of public and commercial mental health service delivery systems
Preferred Qualifications:    

Certified LOCUS screener
Bi-lingual English/Spanish
Experience performing PASRR Level II evaluations to assess the need for nursing facility placement and services, including planning and facilitation of behavioral health services
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 with low-income populations 
Experience working with the aged, blind or disabled
Case management experience
Field based experienceCareers with Optum. Here's the idea. We built an entire organization around one giant objective; make the health system work better for everyone. So when it comes to how we use the world's large accumulation of health-related information, or guide health and lifestyle choices or manage pharmacy benefits for millions, our first goal is to leap beyond the status quo and uncover new ways to serve. Optum, part of the UnitedHealth Group family of businesses, brings together some of the greatest minds and most advanced ideas on where health care has to go in order to reach its fullest potential. For you, that means working on high performance teams against sophisticated challenges that matter. Optum, incredible ideas in one incredible company and a singular opportunity to do your life's best work. (sm)

Diversity creates a healthier atmosphere: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.      
    
UnitedHealth Group is a drug-free workplace. Candidates are required to pass a drug test before beginning employment.
    
Job Keywords: LCSW, RN, licensed counselor, licensed psychologist, behavioral health, Lafayette, LA, Louisiana