Psychiatric Advanced Practice Provider (O-4/O-5 Billet) Non-Supervisory

About the role

The Psychiatric Advanced Practice Provider delivers psychiatric care to ICE detainees, including evaluations, treatment plans, medication management, and crisis intervention. The role involves collaboration with psychiatrists, clinical directors, and consultants, mentoring peers, and supporting policy development. It requires psychiatric certification, clinical expertise, and adaptability to schedule changes.

Responsibilities

• Delivers psychiatric care to detainees via onsite and telepsychiatry services for scheduled appointments, emergency, or urgent care visit.
• Consults with the Psychiatrist and/or Clinical Director for complex psychiatric patients and as required by IHSC policy.
• Provides infirmary care including admission, discharge, and daily rounds for detainees that require higher levels of psychiatric care or monitoring.
• Performs comprehensive psychiatric evaluations and initiates treatment plans for detainees as required by IHSC policy, or as required for detainee psychiatric complaint.
• Works within and performs functions as outlined in the IHSC Psychiatric Advanced Practice Provider Collaborative Practice and Prescriptive Authority Agreement and the IHSC formulary.
• Follows IHSC policies in the management of significant mental illness including prevention of violence, homicide, self-harm and suicide.
• Applies knowledge of drugs and therapeutics when prescribing medication.
• Applies patient-specific knowledge to monitor and control stress levels and provide emotional support and counseling to detainees.
• Captures psychiatric care needs of detainees including referrals to off-site consultants.
• Solicits and reviews pertinent psychiatric records as indicated.
• Interprets diagnostic and laboratory results when required for psychiatric evaluations.
• Adheres to universal precautions.
• Maintains flexibility and adaptability to sudden changes in schedules and work requirements.
• Provides on-call coverage as needed after regular work hours and may need to return to the facility outside of normal work hours for urgent mental health needs.
• Provides relevant patient education to detainees verbally and/or with handouts.
• Documents detainee care visits in the required health record using required format, in compliance with IHSC policy and guidance.
• Maintains patient confidentiality and confidentiality of medical records.
• Completes all training as required/assigned.
• May serve in acting capacity as part of the IHSC Psychiatry Services Program leadership team.
• Mentors Psychiatric APP onboarding and training.
• Attends on-site, regional, and national meetings as required.
• Participates in the Psychiatric APP peer review process.
• Assists in program development, policy review and revisions, and data collection.

Qualifications

• Must be a current USPHS Commissioned Corps Officer or USPHS Call to Active Duty (CAD) candidate.
• Must have a minimum of 6 months of full-time experience as a Psychiatric APP in direct patient care or the express approval of IHSC Chief Psychiatrist.
• Requires unrestricted PMHNP state license and national board certification through the American Nurse Credentialing Center (ANCC).
• Requires unrestricted PA state license and national board certification through the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA).
• Requires Board Certification in Psychiatric Pharmacy (BCPP) by the Board of Pharmaceutical Specialties (BPS).
• Must maintain a current license and meet continuing education requirements for the State(s) licensed in.
• Maintains a current license and meets continuing education requirements for the State(s) licensed in (It is the responsibility of the incumbent to fulfill the obligation(s) of their licensing or certifying body to maintain currency. This position will be required to perform clinical activities within the scope of licensure).
• Maintains unrestricted license with state of licensure
• Maintains Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) to prescribe controlled medications.
• Maintains basic readiness status
• Maintains current CPR/BLS certification
• Maintains clinical professional skills via continuing education opportunities.
• Comprehensive knowledge of managing non-compliant patients, special needs populations, and patients with significant deficits in coping skills, thereby requiring continuing professional clinical support.
• Flexibility and ability to adapt to sudden changes in schedules and work requirements.