Psychiatrist

Title: Psychiatrist

State Role Title: Physician II

Hiring Range: Starting Salary $315,000 (Salary commensurate with experience)

Pay Band: 8

Agency: Dept Behavioral Health/Develop

Location: Western State Hospital

Agency Website:

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Highlights

Incentives Available

• Generous moving and relocation reimbursement
• Sign-on bonus up to $15,000 for employees new to the state service or who have not worked for DBHDS in the past 12 months, with a one-year commitment
• Retention bonus up to $10,000 on one-year work anniversary with an additional one-year commitment
• Competitive Pay starting at $315,000 (salary commensurate with experience)

Location: Western State Hospital

103 Valley Center Drive, Staunton, VA 24401.

Who We Are

Western State Hospital, part of the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS), has been a leader in psychiatric treatment since 1828. WSH is a 302-bed Joint Commission/CMS-accredited psychiatric facility located in the scenic Shenandoah Valley. Just 30 minutes from vibrant university towns, our hospital serves adults with serious mental health needs and is nationally recognized for our Psychosocial Rehabilitation “Learning” programs.

WSH provides a modern clinical setting and a therapeutic environment for patients, supported by highly qualified staff. Employees also enjoy the beauty and tranquility of the Shenandoah Valley, with nearby cities such as Charlottesville and Harrisonburg offering dining, entertainment, and outdoor activities, making Staunton an attractive place to live and work.

Position Overview

Western State Hospital is seeking a psychiatrist to serve as a Head of Treatment Team (HOTT). The Psychiatrist serves as a clinical leader, providing comprehensive psychiatric care to patients in an inpatient forensic and civil commitment setting. This position directs and supervises a multidisciplinary treatment team to ensure the development and implementation of effective, recovery-oriented treatment plans. In addition to delivering direct patient care, the role provides clinical oversight, administrative leadership, teaching and supervision of trainees, and active participation in medical staff and quality improvement activities to promote high standards of patient safety, clinical excellence, and continuity of care.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive psychiatric care to patients, including assessments, diagnostic reassessments, psychopharmacologic management, and individual, group, and family psychotherapy.
• Conduct patient and family interviews, provide education, obtain informed consents, and ensure accurate and timely clinical documentation.
• Serve as Head of the Treatment Team, providing leadership and clinical oversight to the multidisciplinary team in the development and implementation of individualized treatment plans.
• Supervise and guide interdisciplinary staff, including oversight of milieu therapy and clinical supervision of staff working with families.
• Review and approve treatment plans, physician orders, and emergency clinical decisions; provide clinical oversight and consultation to PMHNPs.
• Coordinate discharge planning and serve as liaison with community mental health centers and external agencies to ensure continuity of care.
• Provide cross-coverage for other units and Staff On-Duty Provider coverage as scheduled.
• Participate actively in Medical Staff meetings, hospital committees, quality improvement initiatives, and mandatory training to support organizational performance and patient safety.
• Supervise psychiatric residents and medical students and contribute to hospital-wide performance improvement and service delivery initiatives.

Benefits Include

• Relocation reimbursement
• Sign-on bonus
• Retention bonus
• Health, vision, and dental insurance
• Retirement with cash match
• 13 paid holidays
• Paid time off (annual, sick, family/personal, and community service)
• Life insurance
• Malpractice coverage
• Potential eligibility for the Virginia Behavioral Health Loan Repayment Program (BH-LRP), subject to program criteria and restrictions.

Minimum Qualifications

• Medical degree and completion of an ACGME-approved residency training in Psychiatry before the start of employment.
• Must possess an unrestricted license to practice medicine in the Commonwealth of Virginia or obtain one before the start of employment.
• Current DEA registration or obtain one before the start of employment.
• Extensive psychiatric knowledge with strong clinical skills in assessment and treatment for acute forensic, civilly committed inpatient units, or extended care psychosocial rehabilitation services.
• Proven ability to lead and supervise a multidisciplinary treatment team.
• Strong administrative skills to collaborate effectively with hospital units and external agencies.
• Able to satisfactorily complete all required documentation on time with Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) documentation requirements.

Additional Considerations

• EHR experience with Cerner
• Experience in teaching and clinical supervision of medical trainees.
• Previous experience working in state hospitals
• Forensic or Addiction fellowships
• Bilingual
• Board certification
• Veteran or veteran spouse

Special Instructions

You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position.

Application Requirements

Applications and résumés for this position are accepted electronically through the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Electronic Recruitment System only. Interview decisions will be based solely on the information provided in your electronic application and/or résumé. Please ensure you clearly and specifically detail all relevant work experience; we will not make assumptions about your qualifications.

Applications/résumés will begin to be reviewed within five (5) days of the posting date.

Background Investigation

All applicants are subject to an extensive background investigation and a pre-employment drug screening. This investigation may include fingerprint checks (State Police, FBI), local agency checks, Department of Social Services/Child Protective Services checks, employment verification, and verification of education relevant to the position.

Under Virginia Code

• 37.2-314 and 37.2-408.1, the Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Services (DBHDS) cannot employ or utilize as volunteers, individuals convicted of specific ("barrier") crimes or those with pending "barrier" charges.

Reasonable Accommodations

Reasonable accommodations are available to individuals with disabilities during the application and/or interview process in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you require assistance or accommodation, please notify Human Resources at View phone number on click.appcast.io during business hours (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.).

Equal Opportunity

The Commonwealth of Virginia is committed to conducting all aspects of human resource management without regard to race (or traits historically associated with race, including hair texture, hair type, and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists), sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, veteran status, political affiliation, disability, genetic information, and pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions.* There shall be no retaliation against anyone making allegations of violations of this policy.

Veteran Preference

DBHDS is a Virginia Values Veterans (V3) certified employer and provides hiring preference to qualified veterans and service members. We strongly encourage veterans, active members of the Virginia National Guard, and U.S. Military Reserve members to apply to the state application and respond accordingly.

Contact Information

Name: Samantha Leep

Phone: View phone number on click.appcast.io

Email: View email address on click.appcast.io

Alternative Hiring Process

In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at View phone number on click.appcast.io.

Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.