Behavioral Care Advocate - Remote

Lensa; San Diego (CA); Remote; USD 59,000 - 117,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading career site is seeking a Master's level behavioral health professional for a crisis intervention role in San Diego. The position requires a California license and involves providing support via phone, text, and chat, ensuring safety and effective care for diverse populations. Candidates will benefit from a supportive environment with clear pathways for professional development.

Benefits

Comprehensive benefits

Career development opportunities

Qualifications

• At least 2 years of post-graduate clinical experience.
• Experience with diverse populations and various psychological disorders.
• Proficiency with PCs and minimum typing speed of 45 WPM.

Responsibilities

• Conduct behavioral health screenings and assessments.
• Perform crisis work and ensure safety at all times.
• Document interactions accurately in the designated database.

Skills

Clinical judgment

Crisis intervention

Behavioral health screenings

Bilingual in Spanish/English

Education

Master’s Degree or Doctorate in human services

Active California License (LMFT, LCSW, Psychologist, LPC)

Job description

Be among the first 25 applicants.

Lensa is the leading career site for job seekers at every stage of their career. Our client, UnitedHealth Group, is seeking professionals. Apply via Lensa today!

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 diversity and inclusion, talented peers, comprehensive benefits, and career development opportunities. Come make an impact on the communities we serve as you help us advance health equity on a global scale. Join us to start Caring. Connecting. Growing together.

The position is for a Master’s level cleared behavioral health professional with a California License: Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), or Licensed Psychologist, for the County of San Diego’s 24/7 Access and Crisis Line (ACL). The ACL provides free, confidential access to behavioral health services and crisis intervention for 3.3 million San Diegans.

The ACL also provides after-hours pre-authorization for behavioral health inpatient, crisis residential, and residential substance use disorder treatment. As the clinical work is done strictly by telephone, text, and chat, this position requires unique clinical skills more astute than those required for face-to-face interactions, due to the absence of visual cues. Clinicians must rely on their graduate education, formal clinical training, and experience to exercise discretion and clinical judgment when providing access to appropriate behavioral health services and crisis work. The role involves quick triage of calls/chats/texts to ensure safety and meet performance standards, requiring independence and collaboration in a fast-paced, high-stakes environment.

Responsibilities include establishing emotional connections, conducting behavioral health screenings (including ASAM, CalAIM), risk assessments (suicide, homicide, MCRT), providing linkage to care, and performing crisis interventions using solution-focused therapy, motivational interviewing, and ASIST. Safety is paramount, including de-escalation and, if necessary, initiating active rescue services. The role supports the 988 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline standards for risk assessment and engagement.

The position also involves reviewing behavioral health pre-authorization documentation for inpatient and residential treatment requests via an online process within the County’s Electronic Health Record (EHR). Flexibility to switch between answering calls and processing pre-authorizations is essential.

Hours of operation are Saturday to Tuesday, 9:30 PM - 8:00 AM, with overnight shift pay differentials. Remote work is permitted from anywhere within the U.S.

Primary Responsibilities

• Uphold and model our cultural values
• Adhere to all applicable laws and ethics (HIPAA, reporting abuse, duty to warn, etc.)
• Answer calls/texts/chats within service standards
• Apply clinical judgment and consult with colleagues when needed
• Triage calls based on presenting symptoms
• Conduct behavioral health screenings and assessments
• Provide behavioral health referrals using a client-centered approach
• Perform crisis work and ensure safety at all times
• Document interactions accurately and succinctly in the designated database
• Utilize the Central Contact Tracking Database and manage Medi-Cal client waitlists
• Access and input clinical information into the EHR
• Meet performance goals and complete ongoing training
• Troubleshoot technical issues and escalate operational concerns
• Maintain flexibility as policies and processes evolve

Successful candidates will be rewarded and recognized for their performance in a challenging environment that offers clear pathways for development.

Required Qualifications

• Master’s Degree or Doctorate in human services (psychology, sociology, or equivalent)
• Active California License (LMFT, LCSW, Psychologist, LPC) with no probation or pending corrective actions
• At least 2 years of post-graduate clinical experience (assessments, therapy, case management, treatment planning)
• Experience with diverse populations and various psychological disorders and addictions
• Proficiency with PCs and a minimum typing speed of 45 WPM
• Bilingual in Spanish/English

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in community mental health and substance use treatment
• Knowledge of managed care principles
• Trilingual in Vietnamese, Tagalog, Arabic, or Farsi
• Remote work adherence to UnitedHealth Group’s Telecommuter Policy

The salary range is $59,500 to $116,600 annually, based on full-time employment, with benefits, incentives, and other perks. The application deadline is at least 2 business days from posting, subject to early removal due to volume.

UnitedHealth Group is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and is an Equal Employment Opportunity and drug-free workplace.