Behavioral Intake Counselor

UnitedHealth Group; United States; Remote; USD 62,000 - 82,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off & holidays

Health plan options

Dental & vision insurance

401(k) plan with employer match

Education reimbursement

Employee assistance program

Job summary

UnitedHealth Group is hiring a Behavioral Intake Counselor for the San Diego area, now offered as remote within the U.S. This role requires PST hours and 5 eight-hour shifts (Friday-Tuesday).

You will screen, triage, and refer callers to appropriate behavioral health services, while maintaining strict confidentiality and precise documentation. The position emphasizes crisis management, clinical judgment, and collaboration with a multidisciplinary team to support individuals in crisis across the

Qualifications

• Master's or Doctorate in human services or behavioral health.
• 2+ years post graduate behavioral clinical experience.
• 1+ year crisis management experience.
• Bilingual Spanish/English.

Responsibilities

• Manage calls from 988 Lifeline and provide crisis intervention.
• Adhere to HIPAA and confidentiality requirements.
• Conduct behavioral health screenings and triage.
• Provide referrals and crisis safety planning.
• Document interactions per DHCS requirements.

Skills

Crisis management

Clinical judgment

Bilingual Spanish/English

HIPAA compliance

Education

Master's or Doctorate in behavioral health

Tools

Medi-Cal EHR

DHCS documentation system

Job description

Headquarters: San Diego, California, United States

URL: https://www.unitedhealthgroup.com

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 Behavioral Intake Counselor (BIC) is a position for the County of San Diego's 24/7 Access and Crisis Line (ACL) which provides free, confidential access to behavioral health services and crisis intervention for the 3.3 million San Diegans.

Behavioral Health Access: Mental Health & Substance Use Disorder Treatment Services within the system of care. ACL clinicians need to quickly establish an emotional connection with the individual seeking help, identify their needs, conduct a behavioral health screening which includes an adapted ASAM screening, recognize and properly follow up on any risk factors, and help provide linkage to the most appropriate type and level of care based on the collective screenings and preferences of the caller/chatter.

Working Schedule

5 8-hour shifts (Friday-Tuesday, 7am-3:30pm PST). Schedule to be determined upon hire, will require evenings and weekends, and is subject to change depending on business need

Location

Remote. You will enjoy the flexibility to telecommute* from anywhere within the U.S. as you take on some tough challenges. Must be willing and able to work PST hours. Dedicated work from home space is required.

Primary Responsibilities

• Manage calls coming from 988 Lifeline
• Adhere to all applicable laws and ethics (HIPAA, Exceptions to confidentiality, Reporting Abuse, Duty to Warn etc.)
• Answer calls/chats within standard service levels
• Apply sound clinical judgement and consult with fellow clinical professionals when indicated
• Triage calls/chats based on presenting mental health and/or substance use disorder symptoms
• Conduct appropriate behavioral health screenings, including suicide, homicide (when indicated) and adapted ASAM
• Provide customized, behavioral health referrals
• Conduct crisis work and ensure safety
• Document all interaction in a succinct, clinical manner in the designated database; documentation must adhere to Dept. of Health Clinical Service (DHCS) requirements
• Access and enter accurate relevant clinical information into Medi-Cal beneficiary electronic health record (EHR)
• Meeting individual performance goal
• Problem solves technical issues
• Elevate operational issues/ concerns to supervisor or manager
• Gain experience training crisis line staff to support adherence to established protocols, quality benchmarks, and compliance requirements, while strengthening personal competency on the crisis line
• Other duties as assigned

What are the reasons to consider working for UnitedHealth Group? Put it all together - competitive base pay, a full and comprehensive benefit program, performance rewards, and a management team who demonstrates their commitment to your success.

• Paid Time Off which you start to accrue with your first pay period plus 8 Paid Holidays
• Medical Plan options along with participation in a Health Spending Account or a Health Saving account
• Dental, Vision, Life& AD&D Insurance along with Short-term disability and Long-Term Disability coverage
• 401(k) Savings Plan, Employee Stock Purchase Plan
• Education Reimbursement
• Employee Discounts
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employee Referral Bonus Program
• Voluntary Benefits (pet insurance, legal insurance, LTC Insurance, etc.)

Required Qualifications

• Master's Degree or Doctorate degree within human services or behavioral health field
• 2+ years of post graduate behavioral clinical experience (i.e. but not limited to: psychosocial assessments, individual therapy, substance use disorder drug/alcohol treatment, case consultation with multidisciplinary team, case management)
• 1+ years of crisis management experience
• 1+ years of experience working with diverse multi-ethnic/socioeconomic populations
• 1+ years of experience working with psychological disorders and addictions
• Bilingual: Spanish/English

Preferred Qualifications

• 1 or more years of prior experience in a call center
• Willing and able to access and enter accurate relevant clinical information into Medi-Cal beneficiary electronic health record (E