Psychiatrist

About the Role

The Psychiatrist at Essex County Correctional Facility in Newark, NJ, diagnoses and treats patients with mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders. This role involves gathering and evaluating data from patients, families, and other healthcare professionals to develop comprehensive treatment plans. Psychiatrists examine patients, order and interpret laboratory or diagnostic tests, and provide treatment using psychotherapeutic methods and medications. Collaboration with multidisciplinary teams ensures high-quality patient care in clinical or correctional healthcare settings.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement clinical programs in collaboration with psychologists and other mental health professionals.
• Provide a full range of psychiatric services, including assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning, and ongoing management of patients.
• Prescribe and manage psychotropic medications and provide medication management services.
• Analyze patient data and test results to determine the nature and extent of mental disorders.
• Collaborate with physicians, psychologists, social workers, psychiatric nurses, and other professionals to coordinate treatment plans and evaluate patient progress.
• Gather and maintain comprehensive patient information, including social, medical, and psychiatric history.
• Conduct or review laboratory and diagnostic tests to assess patient condition.
• Participate in treatment team meetings, including developing and reviewing patient treatment plans and taking appropriate action when patients refuse treatment.
• Conduct and review forensic evaluations as required.
• Provide crisis intervention training to staff.
• Participate in unit morning reports at applicable sites.
• Ensure 24-hour coverage for assigned facilities, including on-call responsibilities as assigned.
• Promote positive working relationships with Health Services staff, mental health teams, correctional personnel, and administrative staff.
• Comply with employee standards and applicable facility policies, including professional conduct, harmonious working relationships, and timely reporting of absences.
• Supervise subordinate personnel, including hiring, workload delegation, training, performance monitoring, and disciplinary actions.
• Ensure implementation and oversight of Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) processes and programs.
• Chair the treatment team or designate a chairperson as appropriate.
• Comply with time reporting requirements, including swipe system usage.
• Perform all other clinical duties within the scope of practice as mutually agreed between employer and employee.

Requirements

• Must be a licensed Psychiatrist in the state of New Jersey.
• Forensic Evaluator designation preferred.
• Experience providing psychiatric services in inpatient and/or outpatient settings.
• Experience in correctional healthcare or forensic settings preferred.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and leadership skills.
• Ability to interact effectively with institutional staff, medical personnel, and court agencies.
• Must successfully complete a background investigation.

Organizational Expectations

• Provides a positive and professional representation of the organization.
• Promotes a culture of safety for patients and employees through proper identification, reporting, documentation, and prevention.
• Maintains competency and knowledge of current standards of practice, trends, and developments in related scope of job role or practice.
• Adheres to infection control policies and protocols, medication administration and storage procedures, and controlled substance regulations.
• Participates in ongoing quality improvement activities.
• Completes required orientation as directed by the facility.
• Follows facility and OSHA safety rules and procedures while on assignment.
• Follows facility and organizational Occurrence Protocol.
• Upholds HIPAA and PREA regulations.
• Punctual and dependable for assigned/confirmed shifts.
• Maintains security clearance for the assigned facility.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made upon written request to your supervisor for individuals with disabilities to perform the essential responsibilities functions.

• May regularly be required to stand, sit, walk, reach, bend, kneel, crouch, or stretch for prolonged periods of time.
• Ability to communicate and understand written and verbal communication.
• The employee must be able to lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.