Behavioral Health Advocate - South Bend, IN

Optum is a global organization that delivers care, aided by technology to help millions of people live healthier lives. The work you do with our team will directly improve health outcomes by connecting people with the care, pharmacy benefits, data and resources they need to feel their best. Here, you will find a culture guided by inclusion, talented peers, comprehensive benefits and career development opportunities. Come make an impact on the communities we serve as you help us advance health optimization on a global scale. Join us to start Caring. Connecting. Growing together.

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.

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Up to 25%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.

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If you are located in or near South Bend, IN, you will have the flexibility to work remotely* as you take on some tough challenges.

Primary 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

You’ll be rewarded and recognized for your performance in an environment that will challenge you and give you clear direction on what it takes to succeed in your role as well as provide development for other roles you may be interested in.

Required Qualifications

Have 1 of the following licenses:

Independently Licensed Mental Health Clinician with a Master’s degree in psychology, social work, counseling or marriage, or family counseling, or related mental health discipline

A registered nurse (RN) who is certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (a subsidiary of the American Nurses Association) as a psychiatric nurse or mental health clinical nurse specialist

A registered nurse (RN) who has a master's degree in nursing with a specialization in psychiatric/mental health and 2 years of supervised clinical experience and is licensed to practice as a psychiatric or mental health nurse if required by the state of practice

• License must be active and unrestricted 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%25)

Live in or near South Bend, IN

Preferred Qualifications

• BCBA
• Dual diagnosis experience with mental health and substance abuse
• Experience working in community/county mental health
• Experience working with individuals with Autism

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

*All employees working remotely will be required to adhere to UnitedHealth Group’s Telecommuter Policy

Pay is based on several factors including but not limited to local labor markets, education, work experience, certifications, etc. In addition to your salary, we offer benefits such as, a comprehensive benefits package, incentive and recognition programs, equity stock purchase and 401k contribution (all benefits are subject to eligibility requirements). No matter where or when you begin a career with us, you’ll find a far-reaching choice of benefits and incentives. The salary for this role will range from $60,200 to $107,400 annually based on full-time employment. We comply with all minimum wage laws as applicable.

At UnitedHealth Group, our mission is to help people live healthier lives and make the health system work better for everyone. We believe everyone–of every race, gender, sexuality, age, location and income–deserves the opportunity to live their healthiest life. Today, however, there are still far too many barriers to good health which are disproportionately experienced by people of color, historically marginalized groups and those with lower incomes. We are committed to mitigating our impact on the environment and enabling and delivering equitable care that addresses health disparities and improves health outcomes — an enterprise priority reflected in our mission.

UnitedHealth Group is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer under applicable law and qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, religion, age, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by local, state, or federal laws, rules, or regulations.

UnitedHealth Group is a drug-free workplace. Candidates are required to pass a drug test before beginning employment.