CoCM - Behavioral Health Care Manager

Company Overview: Essen Health Care is a growing community healthcare network provides high quality, compassionate, and accessible medical care to some of the most vulnerable and under-served residents of New York State. Guided by a ‘population health’ model of care, Essen has five integrated clinical divisions offering services in primary & specialty offices, urgent care centers, and nursing homes, as well as house calls for home bound patients; all clinical services are also offered via telehealth. Our Care Management division supports patient-centered care through care coordination, complex care management and helping address health-related social needs. 

Founded in 1999, Essen provides care in all five boroughs of New York City, with a primary focus in the Bronx. Staffed by over 300 primary and specialty care physicians and advanced clinicians, Essen Health Care is one of the largest, most comprehensive private medical groups in New York City. Essen maintains a Clinical Information Services team that maintains our enterprise-wide electronic medical record system, data repository, clinical analytics and population health capabilities. Our Community Services teams creates and sustains relationship with community organizations and agencies and health plans. 

Essen is dedicated to ensuring the quality of care for all patients and has been designated ‘Level 3 Patient Centered Medical Home’ by the National Committee for Quality Assurance. Essen has won awards for its patient care innovations and recently launched Intention Health Ventures to develop and commercialize our technology innovations. 

The Behavioral Health Care Manager is a core member of the Collaborative Care team,
including the patient’s medical provider and Psychiatric Consultant, as well as the larger
primary care team or medical team. The Behavioral Health Care Manager is responsible for
supporting and coordinating the mental and physical health care of patients on an assigned
patient caseload with the patient’s medical provider and, when appropriate, other mental
health providers.

1. Experience with screening for common mental health disorders.
2. Working knowledge of differential diagnosis of common mental health disorder.
3. Support the mental and physical health care of patients on an assigned patient caseload. Closely
coordinate care with the patient’s primary care provider and, when appropriate, mental health
providers.
4. Screen and assess patients for common behavioral health disorders. Facilitate patient engagement
and follow-up care.
5. Provide patient education about common mental health and available treatment options.
6. Systematically track treatment response and monitor patients for changes in clinical symptoms and
treatment side effects or complications.
7. Support psychotropic medication management as prescribed by medical providers, focusing on
treatment adherence monitoring, side effects, and effectiveness of treatment.
8. Provide brief behavioral interventions using evidence-based techniques such as behavioral
activation, CBT, DBT, problem-solving treatment, motivational interviewing, or other treatments as
appropriate.
9. Participate in regularly scheduled caseload consultation with the Psychiatric Consultant and
communicate resulting treatment recommendations to the patient’s medical provider.
10. Track and document patient progress and treatment recommendations on EHR and registry.
11. Facilitate treatment plan changes for patients who are not improving with the medical provider and
the Psychiatric Consultant.
12. Facilitate referrals for clinically indicated services outside of the organization (e.g., social services
such as housing assistance, vocational rehabilitation)

Master’s degree in Social Work from a school accredited by the Council of Social Work Education
is necessary. Other backgrounds may include: Licensed Mental Health Counselor/Professional
Counselor (LMHC) or Master’s in Psychology [Minimum of 1 year of experience
• Behavioral health experience in clinical or care coordination settings
• Familiarity with evidence-based treatment approaches
• Comfort using validated screening tools (e.g., PHQ-9, GAD-7)
• Experience working in team-based, interdisciplinary environments

Other Skills and Requirements:
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate and communicate effectively in a team setting.
• Strong communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Ability to effectively engage patients in a therapeutic relationship.
• Experience with assessment and treatment planning for common mental health disorders.
• Proficiency with electronic health record
• Strong documentation skills to meet billing and compliance requirements
Bilingual (Spanish) Preferred

Essen Health care is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and we seek candidates who desire to work in and serve an ethnically diverse population.