Psychologist - Corrections

Psychologist

Live Inside the Triangle... The Community - Tracy, CA

Tracy is the second most populated city in San Joaquin County, California. The population was 82,922 in 2010. Tracy is located inside a geographic triangle formed by Interstate 205 on the north side of the city, Interstate 5 to the east, and Interstate 580 to the southwest; this has given rise to Tracy's motto, now recorded on the city's website: "Live Inside the Triangle". Located in the Greater Bay Area, Tracy sits near both fertile and (due to a region of hills west of Tracy) infertile agricultural lands. Tracy has a Mediterranean climate. Some of this land (in the east and mostly north of Tracy because of the moist Delta river system) has come under increasing development pressure as the San Francisco Bay Area's vigorous population growth has spilled over into the Tracy area as well as other locations such as the new town of Mountain House (because of Tracy's Measure A in 1990) near the Bay Area's edge. In an effort to reduce its impact on the environment, the city launched the Emerald Tracy Project in September 2009. City spokesman Matt Robinson said that if it succeeds, Tracy will be the second city after Riverside to satisfy the state's goal for sustainable communities.

Requirements (Duties Include But Are Not Limited To)

• Must be able to periodically serve as clinician-of-the-day by being available for on-call during scheduled work days for patient emergencies;
• Expected to work effectively and cooperatively with staff from all classifications in order to enhance the quality of professional working relationships;
• 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;
• Conducts clinically sound suicide risk evaluations including clinical review, applying suicide risk assessment protocols, pertinent data/chart reviews, proper documentation and consultations as needed;
• Meets with mentally ill 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;
• Identify the relevant signs and symptoms of psychiatric disorders in order to comprehensively assess, diagnose, and manage the presenting symptomatology;
• Effectively applies psychological assessments in the selection, administration, scoring and interpretation of the continuum of psychological tests;
• Writes clinical reports regarding diagnoses, prognoses and develops treatment plans that reflect the standard of practice;
• Consults on complex cases with supervisor, treatment team members, and with CDCR institutional healthcare personnel, and other divisions within the department;
• Documents all care provided to the inmate, including face-to-face contacts and Interdisciplinary Treatment Team (IOTTs) meetings;
• Monitors inmate progress using Subjective Assessment Plan Evaluation (SOAPE) FORMATTED PROGRESS NOTES;
• Effectively applies community standard of practice for the selection and effective implementation of psychological treatment modalities and maintains ethical standards;
• Performs mental status exam (MSE) in face-to-face interviews;
• 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;
• 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;
• Conducts mental health education and develops additional resources for mentally ill and sex offender inmates/wards;
• Assist patient-inmates/youths in applying for entitlement benefits (SSI), community programs, and services;
• Participates in IDTT meetings;
• Compiles and analyzes data from audits pertaining to the mental health program requirements;
• Provide information (i.e. appointment documentation, no-shows, etc.) to support staff for data entry;
• Provides written reports and consults with the Board of Prison Hearing and other CDCR staff;
• Provides 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;
• Develops 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.
• Represents the department at formal and informal settings regarding mental health matters;
• 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;
• Gives input and helps to implement new programs for the treatment, training or rehabilitation of patient-inmates/youths;
• 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;
• 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.

Qualifications

• Completion of a PsyD or PhD program from an accredited school.
• Must have and maintain a current license to practice as a Psychologist issued by the State of California Board.
• Must have and maintain current 1st Aid and CPR Certification from American Heart Association (AHA) or Red Cross.
• Minimum of twelve (12) continuous months of experience within the last three (3) years performing services similar in scope to those defined herein, in a public or private institution. Internship does not count towards the required experience.

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