Staff Psychiatrist

Position Information

The Sonoma County Department of Health Services seeks dedicated and compassionate Staff Psychiatrists to join their team. Whether you are seeking a full-time or a part-time role, we are committed to supporting your professional development while ensuring a manageable workload that promotes work-life balance. We offer the possibility of providing care through telehealth, allowing for flexibility and remote work options.

Staff Psychiatrists are members of the Behavioral Health Division of the Department of Health Services. The Behavioral Health Division includes Adult Services, Older Adult Services, Youth and Family Services, Acute and Forensics, and the Crisis Stabilization Unit. The Behavioral Health Services Division provides, in these settings, assessment and evaluation, case management, outpatient psychotherapy, Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) and Full Service Partnership (FSP), medication support and monitoring, consumer and family support, substance use disorder treatment services, and housing and navigation services. As a Staff Psychiatrist, your responsibilities include:

Conducting psychiatric evaluations and assessments to diagnose mental health and substance use disorders
Developing and implementing individualized treatment plans for patients utilizing evidence-based practices
Providing medication management and monitoring for patients with psychiatric conditions
Collaborating with a multidisciplinary team, including therapists, social workers, nurses, and other healthcare professionals to ensure holistic care
Maintaining accurate and timely documentation of patient encounters and treatment plans in electronic health records (EHR)
Providing crisis evaluation and intervention
The ideal candidates will possess:

An understanding of and experience working in a community behavioral health setting
Experience and training working with evidence-based practices and practicing recovery-oriented, trauma-informed care
A high degree of cultural humility
Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Experience using Electronic Health Records (EHR)
Skills for and comfort working with clients with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders, including using motivational interviewing techniques and a harm reduction approach
The ability to effectively collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and associated community-based organizations
Controlled Substance Utilization Review and Evaluation System (CURES) registration and enrollment as a Medicare provider, are highly desirable, but not required.
NOTE: Possession of a valid license to practice medicine in the State of California, a current Drug Enforcement Association (DEA) license, and certification of completion of a residency training program in psychiatry which is approved by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and which resulted in board eligibility are requirements of this role.

The Department of Health Services (DHS)

DHS is one of the County's largest and most complex departments. DHS consists of the Administration, Behavioral Health, Public Health, and Homelessness Services Divisions and is driven by its mission to promote, protect, and ensure access to services that support the health, recovery, and well-being of all in Sonoma County. These ideas are the basis for how DHS operates and delivers services:

Excellence - Strive to create a culture of learning, innovation, and data-driven practices to guide internal operations, improve performance, and build staff expertise
Collaboration - Engage and work collaboratively with partners, communities, and staff to maximize its impact across the County
Equity - Work to reduce disparities and ensure fairness, compassion, and social justice
For more information regarding the department, its programs, services, and partnerships, visit the DHS website.

The Benefits of County Employment

Working at the County of Sonoma offers expansive opportunities for growth and development, the ability to be a part of a challenging and rewarding work environment, and the satisfaction of knowing you're working to better our communities. You can also look forward to excellent benefits including:

Hybrid Telework - A schedule that meets the needs of our staff, department operations, and the communities we serve may be available depending on the assignment
Salary Advancement - A salary increase after 1,040 hours (6 months when working full-time) for good work performance; eligibility for a salary increase for good performance every year thereafter, until reaching the top of the salary range
Paid Time Off - Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals, 12 paid holidays
County Paid Health Premium Contributions - 100% premium contribution for the majority of employee-only and employee + family health plan options
Staff Development/Wellness Pay - Annual benefit allowances of up to $850 and ongoing education/training opportunities
Post-Retirement Health Reimbursement Arrangement - County contributions to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits
Retirement - A pension fully integrated with Social Security
Paid Parental Leave - May be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) after 12 months of County employment
Student Loan Debt Relief - County employees may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the U.S. Department of Education

Hiring Incentives

The Department of Health Services is currently offering a $25,000 signing bonus paid over three installments during the first two years of service.

EXTRA-HELP EMPLOYMENT

Extra-help employees relieve or augment permanent staff. Temporary, extra-help employees are not in the classified civil service and do not have property rights to permanently allocated positions. In addition, they do not receive most employee benefits such as long-term disability insurance coverage; accrual of vacation; participation in the County retirement program; or eligibility to take promotional examinations. Temporary, extra-help employees are limited in their employment to a maximum of one calendar year. These employees must be off of work for three months before they can be re-employed on an extra help basis. Extra-help employees who meet the eligibility requirements may qualify for a County contribution toward medical coverage.

Salary is negotiable within the established range. Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice. Additional information can be found in the Labor Agreements for Engineers and Scientists of California (ESC) (Download PDF reader) and our Employee Benefits Directory.

This recruitment is being conducted to fill multiple full-time, part-time and extra-help (temporary) positions in the Department of Health Services. This employment list may be used to fill future full-time, part-time, or extra-help (temporary) positions as they occur during the active status of the list.

APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS REQUIRE THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE BE COMPLETED.

Minimum Qualifications

Possession of a valid license to practice medicine in the State of California, a current Drug Enforcement Association (DEA) license, and certification of completion of a residency training program in psychiatry which is approved by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and which resulted in board eligibility. Experience in community mental health services systems, forensic psychiatry, and child psychiatry is highly desirable.

License: Possession of a valid driver's license at the appropriate level including necessary special endorsements, as required by the State of California to perform the essential job functions of the position.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Considerable knowledge of: the principles and methods of psychiatry and general medicine; individual and group psychotherapy and the use of medications in psychiatric and related conditions.

Knowledge of: current developments in the field of psychiatry especially as it relates to the practice in a public mental health model with a team approach and an emphasis on the philosophy of recovery, child psychiatry and forensic psychiatry; criminal justice organizations, clinic organizations, management, and procedures including legal testimony involving care, clinical record keeping, consultation, liaison with hospitals and private practitioners; the principles and applications of psychiatric social work, clinical psychology, and various rehabilitation therapies; psychiatric research methods and techniques.

Ability to: perform psychiatric diagnosis, treatment interpretations and recommendations; analyze clinical problems and take effective course of action; direct and coordinate the work of subordinate personnel; establish and maintain effective working relationships with administrative, medical and non-medical staff, Correctional and Court staff, patients and the general public; speak and write effectively; prepare records and reports, and reports especially related to evaluation for the Court.

Selection Procedure & Some Helpful Tips When Applying

Your application information and your responses to the supplemental questions are evaluated and taken into consideration throughout the entire selection process.
You should list all employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of your application. Be as thorough as possible when responding to the supplemental questions.
You may include history beyond ten years if related to the position for which you are applying. If you held multiple positions with one employer, list out each position separately click apply for full job details