Mental Health Clinician

Responsibilities

• Facilitate and provide linkage to behavioral health services for justice-involved clients in the San Diego area.
• Conduct comprehensive behavioral health screenings in dynamic environments, including jails and other community settings.
• Provide short-term clinical case management to ensure continuity of behavioral health and medical services.
• Coordinate appropriate levels of care for post-release offenders to community behavioral health and ancillary services.
• Utilize motivational interviewing techniques to help clients identify intrinsic goals and engage in behavior change.
• Collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams, including San Diego Probation, Sheriff's department, and community treatment providers.
• Maintain timely and accurate clinical documentation within Electronic Health Records (EHR) and Probation Case Management Systems.
• Assess for safety risks and provide crisis intervention as needed.

Requirements

• Master's Degree in Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, Psychology, Counseling, or a related field from an accredited university.
• Licensed eligible or registered associate with the California Board of Behavioral Science (BBS).
• Completed all 3,000 required hours and ready for the licensing exam.
• Experience in direct clinical care within a behavioral health setting, specifically in assessment, case management, and crisis intervention.
• Ability to provide licensure within six months of employment.
• Must be able to work an on-site schedule in San Diego, primarily Friday through Tuesday (9:30am - 6:00pm).

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with individuals involved in the justice system.
• Experience with dual diagnosis (mental health and substance abuse).
• Knowledge of the San Diego behavioral health system of care.
• Experience in inpatient settings or environments requiring coordination of benefits.

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, and vision plans.
• Financial security through 401k contributions and equity stock purchase programs.
• Emotional and physical wellness resources to support resilience and stress management.
• Incentive and recognition programs.

About the Company

Optum is part of UnitedHealth Group, dedicated to making healthcare better for everyone. As a member of the Optum Behavioral Care team, you will help provide high-end medical service and compassionate care to vulnerable patient populations, connecting care to create a seamless health journey across various settings.