Behavioral Care Advocate - Orange County, CA

The Behavioral Health Care Advocate is a core member of the collaborative care team, including the patient’s medical provider and psychiatric consultant, as well as the larger primary care team or medical team. The behavioral health care manager is responsible for supporting and coordinating the mental and physical health care of patients on an assigned patient caseload with the patient’s medical provider and, when appropriate, other mental health providers and Monarch’s clinical care team.
 
This position is a combination of Field Care Advocate and Telephonic Care Advocate work.  The territory for this position is Orange County, California and candidates must be willing to be in the field at least 50% of the time. 
 
Primary Responsibilities:

Support the mental and physical health care of patients on an assigned patient caseload. Closely coordinate care with the patient’s medical provider and, when appropriate, other mental health providers
Screen and assess patients for common mental health and substance abuse disorders. Facilitate patient engagement and follow - up care
Provide patient education about common mental health and substance abuse disorders and the available treatment options , provide brief behavioral interventions using evidence - based techniques such as behavioral activation, problem-solving treatment, motivational interviewing, or other treatments as appropriate
Provide or facilitate in - clinic or outside referrals to evidence - based psychosocial treatments (e.g. problem - solving treatment or behavioral activation) as clinically indicated
Facilitate referrals for clinically indicated services under the behavioral health benefit (e.g., social services such as housing assistance, vocational rehabilitation, mental health specialty care, substance abuse treatment)
Ability to effectively work on an interdisciplinary team

Required Qualifications:

Licensed Master's degree in Psychology, Social Work, Counseling 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 independent, active, and unrestricted
2+ years of Behavioral Health experience
Proficient computer skills - Word, Excel, Outlook
Ability travel within Orange County, CA
Must reside in the greater Orange County area
Preferred Qualifications:

BSN
CCM - Certified Case Manager
Experience working in a behavioral health clinic
Experience working with senior population
Experience with screening for common mental health and / or substance abuse disorders.
Working knowledge of evidence-based psychosocial treatments and brief behavioral interventions for common mental health disorders, when appropriate (e.g., motivational interviewing, problem - solving treatment, behavioral activation)
Careers 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: UnitedHealth Group is an Equal Employment Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer and 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: behavioral health, social work, LCSW, care advocate, field, telephonic, senior, substance abuse, Orange County, CA, Irvine