Psychiatric Technician (Safety) - California State Prison - Los Angeles County (LAC)

Effective July 1, 2025, in accordance with the applicable Memorandum of Understanding, the Personal Leave Program 2025 (PLP 2025) was implemented in response to the status of the State budget. PLP 2025 requires each full-time employee in Bargaining Unit 18 and related Excluded, Exempt and Statutory Exempt employees, will have their base salary reduced by 3 percent and will receive 5 PLP 2025 leave credits monthly through June 2027. Salaries listed do not reflect this reduction. Part-time employees are subject to the same conditions as full-time employees, on a prorated basis equivalent to their time-base. Permanent intermittent employees are subject to the same condition as full-time employees, based on the number of hours worked in the pay period.

About the role

Under the supervision of the Supervising Registered Nurse II/III, Correctional Facility, Unit Supervisor (Safety), or Senior Psychiatric Technician (Safety), the Psychiatric Technician (PT) (Safety) organizes and provides a basic level of general nursing and behavioral and psychiatric nursing care to patients in accordance with the Mental Health Program Guide, policies and procedures, and regulations in a variety of correctional health care settings.

The PT (Safety), pursuant to the PT scope of practice and in collaboration with the health care team, ensures the delivery of appropriate and timely health care to patients. The PT (Safety) provides basic general nursing and behavioral and psychiatric nursing care to patients under valid authorization by a provider's order and the delegation and clinical direction of the Registered Nurse (RN), supports the care team for daily health care operations, and communicates effectively with patients and other members of the health care team.

The PT (Safety) is responsible for addressing the ongoing needs of patients, working with the members of the larger health care team, and promoting the efficient, appropriate, and cost-effective use of health care resources.

Responsibilities

• Organize and provide basic general nursing and behavioral and psychiatric nursing care to patients.
• Ensure delivery of appropriate and timely health care to patients in collaboration with the health care team.
• Provide nursing care under valid authorization by a provider's order and the delegation and clinical direction of the Registered Nurse (RN).
• Support the care team for daily health care operations.
• Communicate effectively with patients and other members of the health care team.
• Address the ongoing needs of patients and work with the larger health care team.
• Promote efficient, appropriate, and cost-effective use of health care resources.

Requirements

• Possession of a valid license to practice as a Psychiatric Technician issued by the Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians of the State of California (BVNPTE). Applicants who are within four months of completing the Psychiatric Technician curriculum accredited by the BVNPTE will be admitted to the examination but must secure this license before eligibility for appointment.
• If education was completed outside of the U.S., verification of U.S. course/degree equivalency must be obtained and submitted. Foreign education credential evaluation services can be found at NACES.
• Pass a Drug Screening prior to being hired.
• Clear a Background Investigation prior to being hired.
• New hires must submit to a background investigation process utilizing Live Scan Fingerprinting.
• Tuberculosis (TB) testing is required for new hires prior to appointment, followed by department annual TB testing/evaluation thereafter.

Qualifications

Minimum qualifications can be found in the Class Specification.

Pay

Monthly part-time salary range: $3,067.00 - $3,921.50. New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

Schedule

This is a permanent, part-time position working 20 hours per week.

Location

California State Prison, Los Angeles County (LAC) is located in Lancaster, CA, 45 miles north of Los Angeles.

Benefits

• Travel may be required.

Department Information

Vision: We enhance public safety and promote successful community reintegration through education, treatment and active participation in rehabilitative and restorative justice programs.

Mission: To facilitate the successful reintegration of the individuals in our care back to their communities equipped with the tools to be drug-free, healthy, and employable members of society by providing education, treatment, rehabilitative, and restorative justice programs, all in a safe and humane environment.

CDCR and CCHCS are committed to transforming the correctional landscape to create safer, more professional, and more fulfilling environments for our employees, the incarcerated population, and those supervised in our communities. Through systemwide improvements grounded in proven and emerging practices, we aim to strengthen rehabilitation, enhance workplace satisfaction, and support successful reentry into the community through our institutions, parole, and community partnerships. Our shared mission is to promote safety, wellness, and human dignity while fostering positive change for all those who live and work within our institutions and communities.

CDCR and CCHCS are committed to building an inclusive, respectful workplace. We are determined to attract and hire candidates from all communities and empower employees from a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and personal experiences. We are proud to foster inclusion and drive collaborative efforts at all levels of the Department. Across our organization, our programs work cooperatively to provide the highest level of health care possible to a diverse correctional population. We encourage creativity and ingenuity while treating others fairly, honestly, and with respect, all of which are critical to the success of the CDCR and CCHCS mission.