LCM Lead Care Manager Behavioral Health Specialist/LPT/LVN

Lead Care Manager (LCM) – Behavioral Health Specialty

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

• Bachelor’s 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.

You’re 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