Principal Psychiatrist (DMHAS)

The Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, Southwest Connecticut Mental Health System, seeks qualified individuals for the position of Principal Psychiatrist (PCN 027727), Medical Administration, Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit 2 (PICU 2), Inpatient. Location: Greater Bridgeport Community Mental Health Center, 1635 Central Ave, Bridgeport CT, 06610. 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, 40 hours, full time. The unit, with beds for residents of Connecticut, is a locked unit that treats severely and acutely ill psychiatric clients, who require a safe, supportive, highly structured hospital level of care. The goal is to return them back to their community and seek treatment in a less restrictive environment.                    

This position will work as a member of the clinical leadership team providing extended care that focuses on rehabilitation, with an emphasis on intense skills building needed for community reintegration. The psychiatrist will prescribe appropriate medications and psychosocial treatments and will design individual treatment goals, in order to stabilize, evaluate, and treat clients. The treatment staff works closely with community providers to ensure that upon discharge a smooth transition to the community exists.

The Principal psychiatrist will also offer second opinions on cases from other units and may assist with other clients/teams as needed, work collaboratively with other clinical units, participate in clinical case conferences, chair rounds and provide direct care and clinical oversight to the team, providing education as necessary, perform all necessary documentation in the medical record, and serve on center-wide committees at the request of the medical director. The incumbent will coordinate and review treatment plans, clinical records, diagnoses, and patient discharge plans for adherence to policies and Joint Commission Standards. Voluntary on-call coverage and weekend coverage is available at additional reimbursement.                                                                                                                                            

Applicants invited to interview will be requested to supply the following: a copy of their Motor Vehicle Operator's License and applicable clinical licenses and/or certifications. 

Please ensure that your application is complete and you have uploaded a copy of your CV with your application. You will be unable to make revisions once you submit your application into the JobAps system.  NOTE: In order to upload documents you must ensure that your internet browser's 'pop-up' blocker is off.  Failure to do so may prevent you from being able to upload documentation into JobAps.  Questions about these required documents should be directed to Arnetia Douglas, DMHAS HR, 860-262-6779 or MHA-DMHAS-Recruitment@ct.gov.

In a state agency this class is accountable for providing clinical administrative/supervisory functions and/or direct care psychiatric services as a board certified advanced clinician.

Provides 24 hour supervision to specified groups of patients and facility coverage as scheduled including on-call coverage and weekend coverage; makes rounds and provides direct care and clinical oversight of multi-disciplinary treatment teams; coordinates work of medical staff with related programs; reviews treatment plans, clinical records, diagnoses, and patient discharge plans for adherence to policies and/or The Joint Commission (TJC) and Health Care Financing Authority (HCFA) standards; provides education and training as indicated, e.g. grand rounds and case conferences; assigns, oversees and evaluates work of staff and on-site night duty physicians and/or psychiatrists; conducts and/or participates in meetings on clinical and administrative policy, research programs, clinical program development and treatment techniques; assesses, examines and evaluates patients for admission or discharge; assesses, examines, diagnoses and prescribes appropriate medications and other biologic and psychosocial treatments for patients with psychiatric illnesses and substance abuse disorders; performs advanced level risk assessments; consults on difficult and/or complex cases; develops and implements QA and/or QI process improvement initiatives; prepares and/or reviews reports, medical records and correspondence; performs utilization review and management functions; attends court hearings as a state witness; performs related duties as required.

Considerable knowledge of methods and principles of behavioral health medicine; considerable knowledge of current principles and methods of assessment and treatment of patients with psychiatric illnesses and substance abuse disorders; considerable knowledge of recent developments in field of psychiatry and substance abuse including treatment models and best practices; considerable interpersonal skills; considerable oral and written communication skills; considerable ability to examine for, diagnose, assess and treat patients with psychiatric illnesses and substance abuse disorders; considerable ability to prescribe and conduct psychotherapy, medications and other treatments specific to psychiatric and substance abuse disorders; ability to develop a collaborative group practice environment with other psychiatrists, physicians and members of interdisciplinary teams; ability to analyze and interpret laboratory reports, x-rays and other medical and/or psychological reports and findings; administrative/supervisory ability.

Incumbents in this class must possess and retain certification as a specialist in psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology or board certification in Adult or Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

1. Incumbents in this class must possess and retain a license to practice medicine and surgery in Connecticut. A temporary license may be granted for a period not to exceed one (1) year.
2. Incumbents in this class must possess and maintain eligibility for participation in federal health care programs as defined in 42 U.S. 1320a-7b(f).
3. Incumbents in this class may be required to possess and retain certification as a specialist in an area such as geriatrics, ABI/TBI, forensics, substance abuse, etc.
4. Incumbents in this class may be required to possess appropriate current licenses, certifications or permits.
5. Incumbents in this class may be required to be bilingual.

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.