Senior Psychologist, CF (Specialist) - Pleasant Valley State Prison, Coalinga

We enhance public safety and promote successful community reintegration through education, treatment, and active participation in rehabilitative and restorative justice programs. Our mission is to facilitate the successful reintegration of individuals in our care back to their communities, equipped with the tools to be drug-free, healthy, and employable members of society. We provide education, treatment, rehabilitative, and restorative justice programs in a safe and humane environment.

CDCR and CCHCS are committed to transforming the correctional landscape to create safer, more professional, and fulfilling environments for employees, the incarcerated population, and those supervised in our communities. We aim to strengthen rehabilitation, enhance workplace satisfaction, and support successful reentry through systemwide improvements grounded in proven and emerging practices.

This position is located at Pleasant Valley State Prison in Coalinga, CA (Fresno County). Position number: 435-220-9287-002. Main communication for this position will be through email.

About the role

This is a limited-term position which may be extended or become permanent. Under the general direction of the Chief Psychologist, Correctional Facility (CF) or Chief of Mental Health Services, the Senior Psychologist, CF (Specialist), Suicide Prevention, Training and Assessment Coordinator coordinates the institution’s suicide prevention program, including training, suicide risk evaluations, internal reviews of suicide attempts and completed suicides, and institutional audits, reviews, and improvement of suicide prevention practices. The role also coordinates and monitors the Mental Health Program’s training activities and has oversight of the psychological assessment program. The Senior Psychologist maintains order, supervises the conduct of the incarcerated, and protects the safety of persons and property. Some travel is required.

Pay

Salaries do not reflect recent changes due to the Personal Leave Program 2025 (PLP 2025), which reduces base salary by 3% and provides 5 PLP 2025 leave credits monthly for at least 16 months. Part-time and permanent intermittent employees are subject to these conditions on a prorated basis.

Effective May 1, 2022, employees in this class assigned to the Psychiatric Inpatient Program and providing direct patient care more than 50% of the pay period receive a 15% pay differential of their monthly base pay.

Eligible employees may receive a $10,000 one-time recruitment and retention stipend after six months of employment, plus a monthly recruitment and retention differential during their first year (totaling $20,000). CDCR/CCHCS employees may also qualify for a $5,000 referral bonus if the selected candidate remains employed for 90 days.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate the institution’s suicide prevention program, including training, suicide risk evaluations, and internal reviews of suicide attempts and completed suicides.
• Conduct institutional audits, reviews, and improvements of suicide prevention practices.
• Coordinate and monitor the Mental Health Program’s training activities.
• Oversee the psychological assessment program.
• Maintain order and supervise the conduct of incarcerated individuals.
• Protect and maintain the safety of persons and property.