Psychologist (HF-C-S)

Job Description and Duties

We Are Hiring Psychologists!

Unlicensed Psychologists earn up to $10,951/month
Licensed Psychologists earn up to $13,272/month

The Department of State Hospitals – Atascadero (DSH-A) has some excellent job opportunities for psychologists, including early career psychologists coming off internship. DSH-A is a 1200 bed state hospital serving men under a variety of criminal and civil commitments. DSH-A hires pre-licensed and licensed psychologists with an excellent salary and benefits package. Our department offers a myriad of individual and group supervision opportunities ensuring pre-licensed psychologists accrue all of the hours needed for licensure. DSH-A’s patient population provides psychologists with exceptional experience in inpatient treatment and assessment, as well as interdisciplinary teamwork. We provide training in working with Incompetent to Stand Trial, Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity, Offenders with Mental Health Disorders, and Mentally Ill Inmate populations. We offer training on evidence-based assessment tools such as the START, HCR-20v3, PCL-R, and the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale. Our APA-accredited doctoral internship provides opportunities to supervise psychology interns. 

The Psychologist will be directed by the Chief Psychologist and/or Senior Psychologist Supervisor in Psychology Services at the Department of State Hospitals – Atascadero (ASH). The incumbent will be responsible for the following duties, but not limited to:

• Completing an Admission Psychological Assessment (APA) to further delineate and clarify psychiatric and psychological diagnoses
• Conducting intellectual and cognitive assessments of all patients when clinically indicated
• Conducting psychological assessments
• Responsible for creating and monitoring behavioral interventions
• Providing timely feedback to the patient, the results of psychological assessments and evaluations and complete appropriate documentation of this interaction
• Delivering treatment services
• Performing treatment team duties
• If qualified, licensed psychologists provide clinical supervision to pre-doctoral interns and unlicensed professionals as requested by the Chief Psychologist

Eligibility: To be considered for this career opportunity, applicants must have eligibility by way of one of the following: reachable on a certification list, have transfer eligibility, or have reinstatement eligibility.

It is your responsibility to ensure that you meet the minimum qualifications specified in the examination bulletin/classification specifications.

If you do not have eligibility, you must take the exam. The examination is a separate process from applying for this vacancy.

Click here to take the Psychologist (HF-C-S) Examination

Click on the link to complete the Department of State Hospitals Recruitment Survey: DSH Recruitment Survey

You will find additional information about the job in the .

Working Conditions

• This position requires you to work within the Secured Treatment Area (STA).
• Schedule allows one (1) day of telework per week.

Special Requirements

• The position(s) require(s) a Drug Screening be passed prior to being hired.
• The position(s) require(s) a Background Investigation be cleared prior to being hired.
• The position(s) require(s) Medical Clearance prior to being hired.

• The Medical Staff of DSH-Atascadero requires Psychologist (HF-C-S) candidates meet the Medical Staff criteria for allied health professional privileging set forth in the facility bylaws. Candidates applying for both licensed and unlicensed positions must submit the required documents listed under the Required Application Documents Section.

Benefits

There are many benefits to joining our team! The State of California offers a generous benefits package, including but not limited to:

• Medical Benefits (health, dental, and vision)
• Work life balance (some positions qualify for flexible work hours and schedules, and a minimum of 10 days of paid leave annually – specific accrual rates can be found here )
• Paid Holidays and leave (family medical leave, military leave, etc)
• Defined benefit retirement program with CalPERS
• Savings Plus Program (401(k), 457)
• School loan forgiveness under federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness
• Commute Program
• Employee Wellness Program (discounts to health clubs)
• Employee Assistance Program
• Medical/Dependent Care Reimbursement Accounts
• ScholarShare (college savings account)
• On-the-job training and professional development
• Most positions qualify for annual raises until you reach the maximum salary for that position, subject to meeting performance standards

Additional Information

• Please note: Main communication for this position will be through email. Please ensure you have a valid email address on your application. 
• Applications postmarked on the final filing date will be accepted
• Applications will be screened and only the most competitive will be offered an interview. 
• Selected candidates will be required to submit to a criminal history review utilizing Live Scan fingerprinting. 
• This position requires candidates to pass a Medical Evaluation. You will be required to submit to a Medical Evaluation and receive clearance prior to being hired. 
• This position requires candidates to take and pass a Drug Screening Test. You will be required to take and pass the drug screening test prior to being hired.

Psychologists may be entitled to the following additional benefits:

• $500 a month clinical supervision pay differential
• Alternate work schedules available
• Up to 36 hours paid Continuing Education leave per licensing cycle
• Up to 40 hours paid Professional Education and Training Leave annually
• License Renewal Reimbursement

Required Application Package Documents

The following items are required to be submitted with your application. Applicants who do not submit the required items timely may not be considered for this job:

• Current version of the State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 (when not applying electronically), or the Electronic State Employment Application through your Applicant Account at All Experience and Education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification should be included to demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position.
• Resume is optional. It may be included, but is not required.
• Other - You MUST include a copy of your current CV that includes months and years of experience.
• Other - You MUST include a formal letter of interest outlining experience working with the mentally ill for a period of 6 months or more.
• Other - You MUST include transcripts from a doctoral institution.
• Other - You MUST include a copy of your graduate diploma with your application.