LCM Lead Care Manager Behavioral Health SpecialistLPTLVN

Locations: Contra Costa County

Lead Care Manager (LCM) Behavioral Health Specialty/LPT/LVN

• Work Location: Field-Based / Hybrid (facility visits hospital visits community settings)
• Schedule: Monday Friday 9:00 AM 5:30 PM PST
• FTE: Full-Time (40 hours/week)
• Payrate: $28/hr

Position Overview

The Lead Care Manager (LCM) Behavioral Health Specialty is responsible for providing high-level care coordination and case management services to Medi-Cal members with complex behavioral health needs under the CalAIM initiative.

This role focuses on members with serious mental illness (SMI) substance use disorders (SUD) cognitive impairment and co-occurring medical conditions. The LCM ensures members receive appropriate behavioral health services housing support and long-term care placement when clinically indicated.

The position requires strong clinical judgment crisis intervention skills and the ability to navigate complex systems including health plans county behavioral health and community-based organizations.

Key Responsibilities

Behavioral Health Case Management

• Manage a caseload of high-acuity members with behavioral health conditions
• Conduct comprehensive assessments including:
  • Psychosocial status
  • Behavioral health history
  • Substance use
  • Functional and cognitive status
• Develop and implement individualized member-centered care plans
• Coordinate services across:
  • County Behavioral Health Departments
  • Psychiatrists and therapists
  • Substance use treatment providers
  • Primary care and specialists

Enhanced Care Management (ECM) Delivery

• Deliver all core ECM services in compliance with Enhanced Care Management requirements:
  • Outreach and engagement
  • Comprehensive assessment and care management
  • Care coordination
  • Health promotion
  • Transitional care
  • Member and family support
  • Referral to community and social services
• Ensure timely documentation and service delivery per health plan requirements

Crisis Intervention & Risk Management

• Identify members at risk for:
  • Psychiatric decompensation
  • Self-harm or harm to others
  • Homelessness or housing instability
• Provide immediate intervention and coordination with:
  • Crisis teams
  • Hospitals
  • Law enforcement (when necessary)
• Support safe discharge planning from:
  • Acute psychiatric hospitals
  • Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs)

Placement & Level of Care Coordination

• Evaluate appropriate level of care including:
  • Medi-Cal members with serious mental health disorders
  • Board and Care / RCFE
  • Homeless instructional
  • Collaborate with internal teams for:
  • Housing Navigation
  • ALT / Community Supports services
• Facilitate transitions and ensure continuity of care

Interdisciplinary Collaboration

• Work closely with:
  • Health Plans (MCPs)
  • Discharge planners
  • Social workers
  • Facility administrators
• Participate in case conferences and utilization reviews
• Advocate for appropriate services and authorizations

Documentation & Compliance

• Maintain accurate timely documentation in EMR
• Ensure compliance with:
  • DHCS requirements
  • Health Plan contracts
  • CalAIM program standards
• Track outcomes and report barriers to care

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in:
  • Nursing Social Work Psychology or related field
• AND one of the following:
  • LPT/LVN
  • Social Worker
  • Behavioral Health Case Management experience (2 years)

Required Experience

• Minimum 2 3 years in:
  • Behavioral health case management
  • Medi-Cal or managed care environment
• Experience with:
  • Serious Mental Illness (SMI)
  • Substance Use Disorders (SUD)
  • Crisis intervention

Core Competencies

• Strong clinical assessment and critical thinking
• Crisis de-escalation and intervention skills
• High-level care coordination and system navigation
• Ability to manage high-volume fast-paced caseloads
• Excellent communication and documentation skills
• Cultural competency and trauma-informed care approach

Performance Expectations

• Timely member outreach and engagement
• Compliance with ECM timelines and documentation standards
• Effective coordination resulting in:
  • Reduced hospitalizations
  • Stabilized behavioral health conditions
  • Successful housing and placement outcomes
• Strong collaboration with internal and external partners

The Significance of This Role

The LCM Behavioral Health Specialty is the frontline stabilizer for your highest-risk members.

Youre placing someone in this role who can:

• Make real-time clinical decisions
• Push systems when barriers exist
• Preventing unnecessary hospitalizations
• Secure appropriate placement when community support is not enough
• Participating in Complex case rounds