RELIEF MENTAL HEALTH PSYCHIATRIST

This examination will remain open until the needs of the service are met and is subject to closure without prior notice. The LA County Board of Supervisors has declared a local state of emergency for homelessness, and the County is expanding its response to address housing, mental health, and substance use issues. This role is part of an emergency hiring initiative to fill Relief Mental Health Psychiatrist vacancies related to the homelessness crisis. Under the emergency order, applicants who meet the requirements may be hired for an initial period of up to 90 days, with an opportunity for permanent County employment based on performance assessment.

About Los Angeles County Department Of Health Services

The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services (DHS) is the second largest municipal health system in the nation. Through its unified system of 23 health centers and four hospitals—and an expanded network of community partner clinics—DHS annually provides direct care for over 500,000 patients, employs over 23,000 staff, and has an annual budget of over $8.4 billion. DHS hospitals serve as training sites for physicians completing their Graduate Medical Education through academic affiliations with UCLA, USC, and Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science. In addition to clinical services, DHS operates the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Agency, the County's 911 emergency response system, Housing for Health, and the Office of Diversion and Re-entry, which connect vulnerable populations to supportive housing.

The mission of DHS is to advance the health of patients and communities by providing extraordinary care.

Responsibilities

• Provides psychosocial and psychiatric assessment, treatment recommendations, linkage, navigation, advocacy, and consultation services for Office of Diversion and Reentry (ODR) clients.
• Consults with physicians and other clinical staff to develop individualized care plans, considering diagnoses and legal stipulations.
• Provides psychiatry services and consultations with community-based providers for clients with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders.
• Reviews records and information from criminal justice and mental health systems to inform treatment recommendations.
• Screens for health-related concerns and performs psychiatric evaluations.
• Develops comprehensive treatment plans.
• Evaluates individuals to determine if probable cause is met to initiate detention under WIC 5150.
• Provides clinical consultation to medical providers and staff, including interns and resident physicians, regarding treatment interventions and diagnostic work, and participates in clinical case conferences.
• Performs medication support services by evaluating the need for psychotropic medications, prescribing and administering medications, and monitoring their effects.
• Orders, obtains, reviews, and monitors pertinent laboratory tests.
• Participates in quality-of-care reviews and provides input into corrective action plans to mitigate clinical risk.
• Testifies in court as an expert witness as needed.

Requirements

• Completion of a residency approved by an American Specialty Board in psychiatry or equivalent training.*
• Possession of a California State Physician and Surgeon's Certificate authorized by the Board of Medical Examiners of the State of California.
• A valid California Class C Driver's License or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation to carry out job-related essential functions.

Physical Class II (Light): This role involves occasional light lifting (up to 10 pounds) and may include bending, stooping, or squatting. Considerable ambulation may be required.

Special Requirement Information

Equivalent training is defined as training formally recognized in writing by the appropriate American Certifying Board as equivalent. To complete this examination process, applicants must have a current, active, and unrestricted California State Physician and Surgeon's license issued by the Board of Medical Examiners of the State of California. A copy of this license must be submitted at the time of filing or emailed within seven (7) calendar days. Applicants who have completed the required residency training must attach a legible copy of their certificate of completion to their application or email it within seven (7) calendar days.

Schedule

Appointees may be required to work any shift, including evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays.

Additional Information

Before the end of the initial 90-day work period, the appointing department will evaluate performance. Those who achieve a passing score on this evaluation will be considered for permanent appointment.