Acute Care Case Manager - 141909

UC San Diego Health; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 123,000 - 179,000; Full time

Job summary

UC San Diego Health's Counseling & Psychological Services is seeking a clinical case manager with expertise in acute mental health care to support CAPS clients. The role focuses on trauma-informed care, crisis intervention, and coordination of care for diverse student populations.

Under supervision, you will assess needs, develop treatment plans, and provide back-up shift coverage. A master’s degree in a related field and CA license or license in process are required.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in area related mental health is required.
• Licensed in a Behavioral Health Counseling discipline or CA license in process at time of offer.
• Five or more years of licensed relevant experience.
• BLS Certification by start date.
• Advanced knowledge of clinical counseling principles and trauma-informed care.

Responsibilities

• Provide trauma-informed mental health care and case management services to support students with high acuity symptoms.
• Co-facilitate or fill-in for group therapy sessions as needed.
• Conduct needs assessments, determine treatment plans, and coordinate levels of care.
• Provide crisis intervention and safety planning, discharge planning, and resource navigation.

Skills

Trauma-informed care

Crisis intervention

Group facilitation

Behavioral health counseling

Education

Master's degree in area related mental health

Job description

Payroll Title

BEH HEALTH COUNSELOR 4 HX

Department

COUNSELING & PSYCH SERV

Hiring Pay Scale

$123,038.37-$179,235.27 / Year

Worksite

La Jolla

Appointment Type

Career

Appointment Percent

100%

Union

HX Contract

Total Openings

2

Work Schedule

Days, 8-Hour Shifts, Monday-Friday

#141909 Acute Care Case Manager

Filing Deadline

Tue 11/3/2026

UC San Diego values and welcomes people from all backgrounds. If you are interested in being part of our team, possess the needed licensure and certifications, and feel that you have most of the qualifications and/or transferable skills for a job opening, we strongly encourage you to apply.

UCSD Layoff from Career Appointment: Apply by 10/23/2026 for consideration with preference for rehire. All layoff applicants should contact their Employment Advisor.

Reassignment Applicants: Eligible Reassignment clients should contact their Disability Counselor for assistance.

Description

The mission of the Student Health & Well-Being (SHW) cluster is to promote a culture of health and well-being for the student community, deliver equitable high quality innovative services, incorporate inclusive approaches, and celebrate diversity, with the goal of adoption and maintenance of healthy behaviors contributing to the academic success and personal development of all students.

The UC San Diego SHW cluster, which reports through UC San Diego Health System, plays a leadership role in creating a strong and active wellness culture that enables all students to flourish in body, mind and spirit. This includes promotion and the transformation of existing departments, under the oversight of the Executive Director, into a cohesive, trans-disciplinary source of integrated wellness services. The SHW cluster includes the departments of Student Health Services (SHS); Health Promotion Services (HPS); Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS); Assessment and Analytics (SHAA), Strategic Planning, Innovation and Research (SPIR); and SHW Administration (ADM).

CAPS delivers campus-based mental health services to registered UC San Diego undergraduate, graduate, and professional school students. CAPS' multicultural, multidisciplinary, and student-centered staff strives to deliver trauma informed, culturally proficient counseling and psychiatric services, psycho-educational preventive outreach and early intervention programming, consultation, research, and training opportunities. CAPS is accredited by the International Accreditation of Counseling Services (IACS) and the Post-doctoral Resident Training Program is affiliated with the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Center (APPIC). CAPS is fully committed to self-examination, peer review, and quality improvement through the utilization of metrics, data, clinical outcomes, client experience measurements and feedback. UC San Diego Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) is seeking a clinical case manager, skilled in acute mental health care and experienced in reducing barriers to student mental health access in a multicultural university environment, to provide mental health services for a diverse student population.

Under the general supervision of CAPS Clinical Director, the Acute Care Case Manager incorporates trauma-informed mental health care and case management services to support students who may be vulnerable to a mental health crisis, are experiencing trauma or other significant symptoms, and/or are experiencing academic decline. Serves to support students with higher acuity symptom presentations who are enrolled in specialty programs and/or do not meet the CAPS scope of service, necessitating more complex case management services. The incumbent will co-facilitate or fill-in for group facilitator for Triton Lighthouse skills-based therapy groups, as needed.

Independently or in collaboration as part of a treatment team, conducts needs assessments, determines appropriate treatment plans, programs, and resources for students, offers crisis intervention, safety assessment and planning, assists students with discharge plans, resource navigation, and coordination of appropriate levels of care, including internal and external referrals. Provides urgent care triage and back‑up shift coverage as needed, and bridge care support for students requiring a higher level of service in the continuum of care. Consults and collaborates with stakeholders in the campus community and with resources in CAPS mental health referral system in the San Diego community. Assists students with establishing coverage and/or understanding their benefits to access outside care.

Uses skills as a seasoned, experienced professional with a full understanding of industry practices and campus policies and procedures; resolves a wide range of issues. Demonstrates good judgment in selecting methods and techniques for obtaining solutions.

Applicants must provide a cover letter in order for your application to be considered complete.

Minimum Qualifications

• A Master's degree in area related mental health area with equivalent experience is required.


• Licensed in a Behavioral Health Counseling discipline. Candidates licensed out of state must have CA license application in process at the time of offer.


• Five (5) or more years of licensed relevant experience.


• Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification by the start date.


• Advanced knowledge and understanding of clinical counseling principles, methods, procedures, and standards. Advanced knowledge of a specific counseling domain. Expertise or advanced training in high acuity treatment methods, such as Intensive Outpatient programs or Partial Hospitalization programs. Advanced training and expertise in trauma-informed care, managing mental health crises, completing risks assessment and disposition planning.


• Skills associated with program development and implementation.


• Advanced ability to develop and present educational programs and / or workshops. Proven ability to develop and implement culturally proficient, responsive, and effective outreach programs and provide consultation, mental health promotion, and preventative psycho-educational outreach services. Group facilitation skills to lead meetings and therapy groups.


• Advanced ability to evaluate the progress of therapeutic approach and modify as necessary.


• Advanced problem-solving and critical-thinking skills. Proven ability to conduct culturally responsive and focused clinical interventions for the wide range of presenting issues with varying degrees of acuity, severity, and complexity.


• Ability to work in a highly collaborative manner with diverse client group. Demonstrated commitment to inclusion, to foster the best possible working and learning environment. Demonstrated ability to actively foster a positive, welcoming climate, and value, include and support all in the UC San Diego community.


• Advanced knowledge of legal and ethical issues related to patients' rights. Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of state and federal health care privacy laws, 5150 holds, Title IX, VAWA, ADA, Title II, HIPAA and FERPA, as well as professional ethics or regulations that govern the work. Demonstrated advanced knowledge of and responsibility for upholding laws governing the practice of mental health and behavioral health care in the State of California


• Advanced verbal and written communication with the ability to influence and persuade. Proven ability to work effectively in teams and interact easily, collaboratively, and productively with colleagues, supervisors, and member's of the campus community, maintaining a positive and cooperative work environment and relationships.


• Knowledge of business software and specialized applications / systems used in behavioral health settings. Experienced with medical/mental health records systems (EMR or EHR)


• Ability to at all times adhere to UCSD Health Medical Center (C.A.R.I.N.G.) Standards of Performance, and demonstrate the characteristics of professionalism in attire, attitude, conversation, behavior and attentiveness to others. All staff members are required to uphold the UCSD Principles of Community and to promote a positive and collaborative team environment.


• As appropriate, submit incident reports into the UCSD SHW Incident Report System, RL Datix or current system in use, to report near-misses, process problems or patient or employee injury events. Attend required trainings and refreshers for use and proper steps to follow.


• Must complete all required training assigned by UCOP, UCSD, CAPS and SHW on a timely basis.

Preferred Qualifications

• Specific training and/or experience working with problems particularly prevalent in college‑age population, and in interdisciplinary setting focusing on student wellness.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS

• This position is funded for three years and may be extended contingent upon available funding.


• Employment is subject to a criminal background check and pre-employment physical.


• Pre-employment credential verification, and reappointment every three years thereafter.Pre-employment physical, TB, and health clearance is required, plus annual vaccinations per COEM requirements.


• Must work on campus with ability to telecommute for work, if/when needed and operationally feasible, as determined by department.


• Must work some evenings, weekends, holidays for emergency coverage rotation. Various work locations, if needed and deemed necessary by the department.

Annual Full Pay Range: $123,038 - $179,235 (will be prorated if the appointment percentage is less than 100%)

Hourly Equivalent: $58.93 - $85.84

Factors in determining the appropriate compensation for a role include experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. The Hiring Pay Scale referenced in the job posting is the budgeted salary or hourly range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position. The Annual Full Pay Range may be broader than what the University anticipates to pay for this position, based on internal equity, budget, and collective bargaining agreements (when applicable).

If employed by the University of California, you will be required to comply with our Policy on Vaccination Programs, which may be amended or revised from time to time. Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements.

If applicable, life-support certifications (BLS, NRP, ACLS, etc.) must include hands‑on practice and in‑person skills assessment; online-only certification is not acceptable.

UC San Diego Health is the only academic health system in the San Diego region, providing leading-edge care in patient care, biomedical research, education, and community service. Our facilities include two university hospitals, a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, Shiley Eye Institute, Sulpizio Cardiovascular Center, the only Burn Center in the county, and dozens of outpatient clinics. We invite you to join our team!

Applications/Resumes are accepted for current job openings only. For full consideration on any job, applications must be received prior to the initial closing date. If a job has an extended deadline, applications/resumes will be considered during the extension period; however, a job may be filled before the extended date is reached.

To foster the best possible working and learning environment, UC San Diego strives to cultivate a rich and diverse environment, inclusive and supportive of all students, faculty, staff and visitors. For more information, please visit UC San Diego Principles of Community.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.

For the University of California’s Anti-Discrimination Policy, please visit: https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/1001004/Anti-Discrimination

UC San Diego is a smoke and tobacco free environment. Please visit smokefree.ucsd.edu for more information.

UC San Diego Health maintains a marijuana and drug free environment. Employees may be subject to drug screening.

Misconduct Disclosure Requirement

• \"Misconduct\" means any violation of the policies governing employee conduct at the applicant’s previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, or discrimination, as defined by the employer. For reference, below are UC’s policies addressing some forms of misconduct:


• UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy


• UC Anti-Discrimination Policy


• Abusive Conduct in the Workplace