Licensed Psychologist

Position Title

Licensed Psychologist – Skilled Nursing Facilities (Multi-Facility Coverage)

Reports To

• Regional Vice President of Operations (RVPO)
• Vice President of Clinical Operations (VPCO)
• Medical Director (clinical collaboration)

Position Type

• Full-Time (Multi-Facility Coverage)
• Travel required within assigned Northern California region

Position Summary

The Licensed Psychologist provides behavioral health evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, and consultation services to residents across multiple Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs). The role supports regulatory compliance (CMS, CDPH), QAPI initiatives, and interdisciplinary care planning, with a focus on:

• Substance Use Disorders (SUD)
• Serious Mental Illness (SMI)
• Dementia-related behaviors
• Adjustment disorders and psychosocial stressors

The Psychologist plays a key role in ensuring timely behavioral health interventions, reducing rehospitalizations, improving quality measures, and supporting survey readiness and compliance monitoring.

Key Responsibilities

1. Clinical Assessment & Diagnosis

• Conduct initial and ongoing psychological evaluations for:
  • New admissions (especially TAPS-triggered residents)
  • Behavioral changes or acute events
• Utilize standardized tools:
  • TAPS (Tobacco, Alcohol, Prescription Substance)
  • PHQ-9, BIMS, MoCA (as applicable)
• Provide DSM-5-based diagnoses and clinical impressions
• Determine risk level (Low / Moderate / High behavioral risk)

2. Treatment Planning & Intervention

• Develop individualized behavioral health care plans in collaboration with IDT:
  • MatrixCare-ready documentation
• Provide:
  • Psychotherapy (brief, solution-focused, supportive)
  • Behavioral interventions
  • Coping strategies
• Address:
  • Aggression, agitation, wandering, refusal of care
  • Substance-seeking behaviors
  • Depression, anxiety, trauma

3. Interdisciplinary Team (IDT) Collaboration

• Participate in:
  • Care plan meetings
  • Behavioral health rounds
  • Post-incident reviews (falls, altercations, substance events)
• Provide recommendations to:
  • DON, Social Services, Nursing, Activities
• Support root cause analysis (RCA) and intervention planning

4. Behavioral Health Program Support

• Assist facilities with:
  • TAPS compliance workflows
  • Behavioral Health Rapid Response protocols
  • SUD monitoring programs
• Develop and refine:
  • Behavioral care pathways
  • De-escalation strategies
  • Non-pharmacological interventions

5. Regulatory & Compliance Support

• Ensure documentation meets:
  • CMS F-Tags (e.g., F740–F745 Behavioral Health)
  • Title 22 (California SNF regulations)
  • CDPH survey expectations
• Provide documentation that is:
  • Survey-ready
  • Legally defensible
• Assist during:
  • Surveys
  • IDR processes
  • Compliance monitor reviews

6. Staff Education & Training

• Provide training to:
  • Nursing staff (RN/LVN/CNA)
  • Social Services
  • Leadership team
• Topics include:
  • Managing difficult behaviors
  • Substance use disorder awareness
  • Suicide risk identification
  • Trauma-informed care
• Support DSD with competency validation

7. Crisis Intervention

• Respond to:
  • Suicidal ideation or attempts
  • Aggressive or violent behavior
  • Acute psychosis
• Provide:
  • Immediate assessment
  • Recommendations for transfer (if needed)
  • Clearance documentation for return from acute care

8. Documentation Requirements

• Complete timely documentation including:
  • Initial evaluations (within facility-defined timeframe)
  • Progress notes
  • IDT recommendations
  • Risk assessments
• Ensure:
  • Clarity, accuracy, and regulatory compliance
  • Integration into EMR (e.g., MatrixCare)

9. Quality Improvement (QAPI) Participation

• Participate in QAPI initiatives related to:
  • Behavioral health outcomes
  • Reduction in antipsychotic use
  • Rehospitalization rates
• Provide data insights and recommendations
• Assist with behavioral health dashboards and trending

Qualifications

Education

• Doctoral degree (PhD or PsyD) in Psychology from an accredited institution

Licensure

• Active, unrestricted license as a Psychologist in the State of California

Experience

• Minimum 1 year of experience in:
  • SNF, subacute, or geriatric settings (preferred)
  • Behavioral health or substance use treatment
• Experience with:
  • Dementia care
  • Post-acute / long-term care populations

Core Competencies

• Strong knowledge of:
  • Geriatric psychology
  • Substance Use Disorders (SUD)
  • Behavioral interventions in SNF settings

• Familiarity with:
  • CMS regulations and survey process
  • QAPI frameworks
• Ability to:
  • Work independently across multiple facilities
  • Communicate effectively with interdisciplinary teams
  • Provide clear, defensible clinical documentation

Work Environment

• Multi-site SNF coverage across Northern California
• Combination of:
  • n-site facility visits
  • Potential telehealth services (if applicable)
• Travel required between facilities

Additional Expectations

• Maintain confidentiality (HIPAA compliance)
• Adhere to facility and corporate policies
• Support organizational mission, vision, and core values
• Participate in regional clinical meetings as assigned

Salary Range: $140,000.00 to $160,000.00 per year depending on experience

Mariner Healthcare reserves the right to discontinue any bonus program at anytime.