Minimum Requirements:
* Valid and active California Psychology license
* Minimum of twelve (12) continuous months of experience within the last three (3) years performing services similar in scope to those defined herein
Responsibilities:
* Under the guidance of the Senior Psychologist, Supervisor, and/or the Chief of Mental Health, the Psychologist provides psychological services to mentally ill inmates/wards. They are responsible for maintaining order, supervising patient-inmates/youths' conduct, ensuring the safety of individuals and property, and performing related duties.
* Serving periodically as the clinician-of-the-day and being available for on-call duties during scheduled work days for patient emergencies.
* Working effectively and cooperatively with staff of all classifications to enhance the quality of professional working relationships.
* Conducting initial mental health evaluations, including criminal, psychological, and substance abuse case history, to assess inmates' current needs and make treatment recommendations in the initial evaluation.
* Performing clinically sound suicide risk evaluations, including clinical review, applying suicide risk assessment protocols, pertinent data/chart reviews, proper documentation, and consultations as needed.
* Meeting with mentally ill inmates/wards for crisis intervention, group psychotherapy, face-to-face interviews, etc., which may require conducting clinical interviews at cell fronts in inmate housing units, some of which may involve climbing stairs and walking long distances.
* Identifying relevant signs and symptoms of psychiatric disorders to comprehensively assess, diagnose, and manage the presenting symptomatology.
* Effectively applying psychological assessments in the selection, administration, scoring, and interpretation of various psychological tests.
* Writing clinical reports regarding diagnoses, prognoses, and developing treatment plans that reflect the standard of practice.
* Consulting on complex cases with supervisors, treatment team members, institutional healthcare personnel, and other divisions within the department.
* Documenting all care provided to inmates, including face-to-face contacts and Interdisciplinary Treatment Team (IOTTs) meetings.
* Monitoring inmate progress using Subjective Assessment Plan Evaluation (SOAPE) FORMATTED PROGRESS NOTES.
* Effectively applying community standards of practice for the selection and effective implementation of psychological treatment modalities while maintaining ethical standards.
* Performing mental status exams (MSE) in face-to-face interviews.
* Examining prior mental health records, institutional chronos, probation reports, court records, and other available documents to assist in the formulation of patients' diagnoses and aid in the development of their treatment plans.
* Establishing collaborative ties with community programs, groups, agencies, board and care homes, etc., as assigned and approved by the supervisor, to develop supportive community relationships.
* Conducting mental health education and developing additional resources for mentally ill and sex offender inmates/wards.
* Assisting patient-inmates/youths in applying for entitlement benefits (SSI), community programs, and services.
* Participating in IDTT meetings.
* Compiling and analyzing data from audits related to mental health program requirements.
* Providing information (i.e., appointment documentation, no-shows, etc.) to support staff for data entry.
* Providing written reports and consulting with the Board of Prison Hearing and other staff.
* Providing 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.
* Developing a therapeutic relationship with patient-inmates/youths, families, and caretakers, as assigned and approved by the supervisor, to enhance effective treatment delivery.
* Representing the department at formal and informal settings regarding mental health matters.
* Maintaining order and supervising the conduct of persons committed to the correctional facility to prevent escapes or injury by these individuals to themselves or others.
* Providing input and assisting in implementing new programs for the treatment, training, or rehabilitation of patient-inmates/youths.
* Comprehending and adhering to applicable laws, regulations, policies, and procedures regarding patient confidentiality, written and electronic medical record documentation, and the release of patient records.
* Adhering to mandated reporting requirements regarding California Psychologists, such as reporting child abuse, elder abuse, danger to self or others, Tarasoff reporting, and other confidentiality mandates.
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