STATE OF CONNECTICUT EXECUTIVE BRANCH JOBS

Principal Psychiatrist

Recruitment #210622-6186RW-001

Introduction



Are you interested in a career where you can make a difference and use your knowledge of psychiatric medicine, psychiatric illnesses, and substance abuse disorders? Do you have knowledge of current principles and methods of assessment and treatment of youths with psychiatric illnesses and substance abuse disorders?
If so, we have an excellent opportunity to be a part of our team!

The State of Connecticut, Department of Children and Families (DCF) is seeking a qualified Principal Psychiatrist for a position at the Albert J. Solnit Children's Center. This position is full-time, 40 hours per week on first shift. The schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 5 pm, including on-call duties as assigned (compensated additionally). 

The individual in this position will be responsible for the psychiatric care of adolescents, will lead an interdisciplinary treatment team, and coordinate the execution of comprehensive treatment plans. The candidate may also have the opportunity to train and supervise post graduate trainees in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry from the Yale Child Study Center or UCONN training programs.

MISSION AND BELIEFS:
At DCF, our mission is caring, healing, and teaching-partnering with children, families and communities, to build hope, and create equitable opportunities for all. We believe:
  • Children and adolescents with serious emotional disorders can lead productive and satisfying lives.
  • Youth and their families have the right and responsibility to participate in their treatment.
  • No child will be refused treatment based on their ability to pay for services.
At the Albert J. Solnit Children's Center, we treat our youth and each other with dignity and respect. It is in this relational, cultural, and gender-sensitive surrounding that our therapeutic milieu is based. Interdisciplinary teams develop, implement, and continually assess individualized treatment plans. 

The Solnit-South Campus is a state-administered Psychiatric facility for Connecticut's children who are under the age of eighteen, located on a 67-acre campus overlooking the Connecticut River in Middletown, CT. The center provides comprehensive care to children and adolescents with severe mental illness and related behavior and emotional problems who cannot be safely assessed or treated in a less restrictive setting.

The campus includes four coed hospital units, three female adolescent Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility cottages (PRTF), two schools, an indoor pool, along with playgrounds, a ball field, two gyms, recreation rooms, and an outdoor picnic area!

Our services work best when coordinated with community care.

We offer competitive benefits, which include health and dental insurance, a retirement plan, and other supplemental benefits. Paid time off is also offered, including 12 paid holidays per calendar year, in addition to vacation, sick, and personal leave accruals. We support a healthy work-life balance for all employees!

Selection Plan

Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the job opening and specify their qualifications on their application. Please ensure that your application is complete as you will be unable to make revisions once you officially submit your application into the JobAps system.

This posting may require completion of additional referral questions (RQ’s) which will be sent to you via email after the closing date.  The email notification will include an expiration date by which you must submit (Finish) your responses.  Please regularly check your email for notifications.  Please check your SPAM and or Junk folders, as emails could end up there in error.  

The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.

The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.

Should you have questions pertaining to this recruitment, please contact Michelle Gara, at Michelle.Gara@ct.gov.

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In the Departments of Children and Families and Correction, this class is accountable for providing clinical administrative/supervisory functions and/or direct care psychiatric services as a board certified advanced clinician.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

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.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

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.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

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.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

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.

Conclusion

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.