Behavioral Health Advocate - Northwest Indiana
About The Position
The Behavioral Health Advocate promotes recovery and resiliency by coordinating and collaborating with consumers and their families or caregivers, medical and behavioral health professionals, clinical network teams, and other internal and external partners. The role serves complex and high-risk members with behavioral health and substance use disorder needs, engaging them in treatment, helping them access appropriate community services, reducing reliance on higher levels of care, and supporting their ability to remain in the community. Up to 25% of the workweek is spent in the community meeting members in hospitals, facilities, provider offices, or homes. The remainder is remote work from home. Typical hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The employee must reside in Indiana and hold an active, unrestricted Indiana license. Remote employees must follow UnitedHealth Group’s Telecommuter Policy.
Requirements
- Hold one of the specified qualifications: an independently licensed mental health clinician with a master’s degree in psychology, social work, counseling, marriage or family counseling, or a related mental health discipline; an RN certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center as a psychiatric nurse or mental health clinical nurse specialist; or an RN with a master’s degree in nursing specializing in psychiatric/mental health, two years of supervised clinical experience, and a psychiatric or mental health nursing license if required by the state.
- Hold an active, unrestricted license in Indiana.
- Have at least 2 years of post-licensure experience in a related mental health setting.
- Demonstrate computer and typing proficiency for entering and retrieving data in electronic clinical records, and experience with email, internet research, online calendars, and other software applications.
- Have access to secure, high-speed internet and a dedicated, distraction-free workspace at home.
- Have reliable transportation and be able to travel as needed within the designated service delivery area, up to 25%.
- Maintain permanent residence in Indiana.
Nice To Haves
- Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA).
- Dual-diagnosis experience with mental health and substance abuse.
- Experience working in community or county mental health.
- Experience working with individuals with autism.
- Experience in an environment requiring coordination of benefits and use of multiple groups and resources for patients.
- Experience working with low-income populations.
- Experience working with Medicaid- or Medicare-funded programs.
- Clinical training experience.
Responsibilities
- Use advanced clinical skills to engage and motivate consumers through a recovery-, health-, and wellness-oriented approach.
- Help consumers and their families or caregivers connect with appropriate psychiatric, medical, and psychosocial referrals and services.
- Identify and remove barriers to obtaining, receiving, participating in, and succeeding with services.
- Provide supportive follow-up, monitoring, and education in person and by telephone as indicated.
- Meet consumers in person at facilities, provider offices, and homes as appropriate.
- Partner with external providers, programs, and entities to address needs, care gaps, 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 opportunities, and oversee improvement efforts.
- Build positive relationships with the medical team and participate in medical-behavioral integration activities and discussions.
- Identify consumers’ high-risk and comorbid needs.
- Accept referrals through designated processes, evaluate available services collaboratively, and coordinate psychiatric and community referrals as needed.
- Contribute to treatment plan discussions and routinely attend clinical rounds and meetings with medical partners or external entities when applicable.
- Coordinate with internal Optum Behavioral Health Services Teams to support seamless transitions from inpatient settings to community-based services.
- Meet contractual requirements and collaborate early and frequently with other teams managing intensive, complex, and high-risk cases.
- Assist in developing relevant, consumer-specific aftercare plans.
- Follow applicable policies, procedures, and documentation standards in systems, tracking mechanisms, and databases.
- Collaborate with providers to determine mental health acuity, barriers, and progress, and coordinate appropriate services.
Benefits
- Comprehensive benefits package, subject to eligibility requirements.
- Incentive and recognition programs.
- Equity stock purchase plan.
- 401(k) contribution.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
