Remote opportunity at
UnitedHealth GroupBehavioral Intake Counselor
Optum, part of UnitedHealth Group, operates globally to improve health outcomes and connect individuals with essential care resources. The organization is currently hiring a Behavioral Intake…
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About This Role
Optum, part of UnitedHealth Group, operates globally to improve health outcomes and connect individuals with essential care resources. The organization is currently hiring a Behavioral Intake Counselor for the Access and Crisis Line associated with the County of San Diego. This remote position involves supporting community members by managing 988 Lifeline contacts, evaluating behavioral health needs, performing crisis intervention, and connecting callers with appropriate treatment services. The working schedule requires…
Job Description
Optum, part of UnitedHealth Group, operates globally to improve health outcomes and connect individuals with essential care resources. The organization is currently hiring a Behavioral Intake Counselor for the Access and Crisis Line associated with the County of San Diego. This remote position involves supporting community members by managing 988 Lifeline contacts, evaluating behavioral health needs, performing crisis intervention, and connecting callers with appropriate treatment services. The working schedule requires flexibility, including evening and weekend hours, and operates on Pacific Standard Time.
Candidates taking on this challenge will exercise professional clinical judgment, follow strict ethical and legal privacy guidelines, and document interactions within electronic health records. This role suits professionals experienced in mental health and substance use disorder treatment who wish to contribute to community crisis support services while working from a designated home office space anywhere in the United States.
Responsibilities
- Manage incoming communications through the 988 Lifeline and address crisis situations
- Evaluate mental health and substance use disorder symptoms to conduct necessary screenings, including suicide and homicide assessments
- Deliver tailored behavioral health referrals and facilitate safe care linkages
- Maintain precise clinical documentation in designated databases in compliance with Department of Health Clinical Service regulations
- Input accurate clinical details into the Medi-Cal beneficiary electronic health record system
- Comply with relevant ethical and legal protocols such as HIPAA, confidentiality exceptions, and mandatory abuse reporting
Requirements
- Master's degree or Doctorate degree in a behavioral health or human services discipline
- Minimum of two years of post-graduate clinical experience in behavioral health
- Minimum of one year of crisis management experience
- At least one year of experience engaging with diverse socioeconomic and multi-ethnic populations
- At least one year of experience addressing psychological disorders and addiction
- Bilingual fluency in Spanish and English
- Willingness and capability to work Pacific Standard Time hours and maintain a dedicated home workspace
Qualifications
- One or more years of prior experience working inside a call center environment
- Demonstrated ability to access and record accurate clinical information within Medi-Cal electronic health records
Core Skills
Benefits
- Paid time off beginning to accrue during the first pay period along with eight paid holidays
- Medical plan options paired with a Health Spending Account or Health Savings Account
- Dental, vision, life, accidental death and dismemberment, short-term disability, and long-term disability insurance coverage
- 401(k) savings plan and employee stock purchase plan
- Education reimbursement and employee assistance program
- Employee discounts, referral bonus program, and voluntary benefits including pet and legal insurance
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers are based only on the employer’s listing; where it doesn’t say, neither do we.
Is this position remote?
Yes, this role allows you to telecommute from anywhere within the United States, provided you maintain a dedicated home office space and can work Pacific Standard Time hours.
What is the salary range for this job?
The hourly pay rate ranges from $24.00 to $43.00 per hour, determined by factors such as local labor markets, education, and prior work experience.
What educational background is required?
Applicants must hold a Master's degree or Doctorate degree within a behavioral health or human services field.
Sample Interview Questions
AI-generated questions tailored to this specific role — a preview of the full practice set.