Psychologist Needed: Full-Time in San Quentin, CA

AvaMed Inc is a Healthcare Staffing Agency that staffs all of California State Correctional Facilities/CDCR. At the moment we are in URGENT need of a Psychologist to take on a Full-Time assignment at the correctional facility located in San Quentin, CA. 

• Provider must have a minimum 1 year of experience
• Provider must be licensed in California

Position Details:
Full - Time
San Quentin, CA
Shift Available: Mon-Fri 8am-4pm
$80/Hr as 1099

Job Description:

Under the direction of the Senior Psychologist, Supervisor and/or the chief of Mental Health, the Psychologist provides psychological services to mentally ill inmates/wards. Psychologists maintain order and supervise the conduct of patient-inmates/youths, protect and maintain the safety of persons and property, and do other related work. The Psychologist must be able to work in conditions that require all of the following essential functions: 

a. Must be able to periodically serve as clinician-of-the-day by being available for on-call during scheduled work days for patient emergencies; 

b. Expected to work effectively and cooperatively with staff from all classifications in order to enhance the quality of professional working relationships; 

c. Conducts initial mental health evaluations including criminal, psychological, and substance abuse case history to assess inmate’s current needs and make treatment recommendations in the initial evaluation; 

d. Conducts clinically sound suicide risk evaluations including clinical review, applying suicide risk assessment protocols, pertinent data/chart reviews, proper documentation and consultations as needed; 

e. Meets with mentally ill inmates/wards for crisis intervention, group psychotherapy, face-to-face interviews, etc. May be required to provide clinical, face-to-face interviews at cell fronts in inmate housing units. In some institutions, multi-tiered housing units may require the ability to climb stairs and walk long distances; 

f. Identify the relevant signs and symptoms of psychiatric disorders in order to comprehensively assess, diagnose, and manage the presenting symptomatology; g. Effectively applies psychological assessments in the selection, administration, scoring and interpretation of the continuum of psychological tests; 

h. Writes clinical reports regarding diagnoses, prognoses and develops treatment plans that reflect the standard of practice; 

i. Consults on complex cases with supervisor, treatment team members, and with CDCR institutional healthcare personnel, and other divisions within the department;

 j. Documents all care provided to the inmate, including face-to-face contacts and Interdisciplinary Treatment Team (IOTTs) meetings; 

k. Monitors inmate progress using Subjective Assessment Plan Evaluation (SOAPE) FORMATTED PROGRESS NOTES;

L. Effectively applies community standard of practice for the selection and effective implementation of psychological treatment modalities and maintains ethical standards; 

m. Performs mental status exam (MSE) in face-to-face interviews; 

n. Examines prior mental health records, institutional chromos, probation reports, court records and other available documents to assist in the formulation of patient’s diagnosis and aid in the development of the inmate’s treatment plans; 

o. Establishes collaborative ties with community programs, groups, agencies, board and care homes, etc. to develop supportive community relationships as assigned and approved by the supervisor; 

p. Conducts mental health education and develops additional resources for mentally ill and sex offender inmates/wards; 

q. Assist patient-inmates/youths in applying for entitlement benefits (SSI), community programs, and services; r. Participates in IDTT meetings; 

s. Compiles and analyzes data from audits pertaining to the mental health program requirements; 

t. Provide information (i.e. appointment documentation, no-shows, etc.) to support staff for data entry; 

u. Provides written reports and consults with the Board of Prison Hearing and other CDCR staff; v. Provide relatives/caregivers with information concerning patients in person, by phone, or by correspondence only after receiving the inmate’s signed release of information for that specific individual; 

w. Develop a therapeutic relationship with the patient-inmates/youths, families and caretakers, as assigned and approved by the supervisor, in order to enhance effective treatment delivery. 

x. Represents the department at formal and informal settings regarding mental health matters;

 y. Maintains order and supervises the conduct of persons committed to the correctional facility in order to prevent escapes or injury by these persons to themselves or others; 

z. Gives input and helps to implement new programs for the treatment, training or rehabilitation of patient inmates/youths; 

aa. Comprehends and adheres to CA and CDCR la, regulations, policies, and procedures regarding the patient’s confidentiality, written and electronic medical record documentation and the release of patient records; 

bb. When conditions are suspected, adheres to mandated reporting requirements regard CA Psychologists such as reported child abuse, elder abuse, danger to self or other; Tarasoff reporting and other confidentiality mandates.