Behavioral Health Advocate - South Bend, IN

UnitedHealth Group•South Bend, IN

4h•Hybrid

About The Position

The goal of the Behavioral Health Advocate is to help individuals live their lives to the fullest by promoting recovery and resiliency via coordination and collaboration with multiple internal and external partners including consumers and their families/caregivers, medical, behavioral health and clinical network teams. Behavioral Health Advocates work with complex and high-risk members with diagnosis of Behavioral Health and Substance Use Disorder (SUD) needs with a goal of engaging the consumer in the treatment process, decreasing their reliance on higher levels of care, helping them to access appropriate community services, and assisting them in improving community tenure. Up to 25% of the week is spent in the community, meeting with members in hospitals, facilities, or homes. The remainder of the week is spent working remotely at home. Typical hours are Monday – Friday, 8:00am - 5:00pm. Licensure and residency in the State of Indiana is required.

Requirements

Licensed Mental Health Clinician with a Master’s degree in psychology, social work, counseling or marriage, or family counseling, or related mental health discipline, OR a Registered Nurse (RN/BSN or MSN) with 4+ years of dedicated Behavioral Health experience
Active, unrestricted licensed to practice independently in the State of Indiana
2+ years of post-licensure experience in a related mental health setting
Computer and typing proficiency to enter and retrieve data in electronic clinical records. Experience with email, internet research, use of online calendars, and other software applications
Access to install secure, high-speed internet and a dedicated, distraction-free workspace at home
Access to reliable transportation and ability to travel as needed within the designated service delivery area (up to 25%)
Live in or near South Bend, IN

Nice To Haves

Experience working in community/county mental health
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 either Medicaid or Medicare funded programs
Clinical training experience

Responsibilities

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, in-person and telephonically
Meet with consumers in-person at facilities, provider offices, and in homes as appropriate
Partner with designated external providers, programs, entities to address the needs, gaps in care, and recovery goals of complex and high-risk consumers
Identify and address the needs of members who are consistently high utilizers of services through case conferences and informal communications
Participate in standing meetings to review performance, identify areas of opportunity, and oversee course for improvements
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
Meet all contractual requirements; collaborate early and frequently with other teams in the management of cases stratified as having intensive, complex, and high-risk needs
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
Collaborate with providers to determine acuity of mental health concerns, barriers and progress; coordinate appropriate services