CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST I/CORRECTIONAL HEALTH

About the role

• EXAM NUMBER
• Y8695C-DOJ
• TYPE OF RECRUITMENT
• Open Competitive - EMERGENCY
• FIRST DAY OF FILING: May 27, 2025 at 12:00 P.M., (PT)

This opportunity will remain open until the needs of the services are met and is subject to closure without prior notice.

Los Angeles County is under a Department of Justice Consent Decree to improve conditions and mental health care in County jails, as well as supporting justice-involved populations post-release. We are looking for qualified and passionate individuals to help us in the mission of providing a range of services both in the jail and community. If you are looking for a new career that will directly benefit the justice-involved population of LA County, this may be the opportunity for you.

The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services (DHS) is seeking qualified candidates to fill emergency Clinical Psychologist I vacancies related to the DOJ Consent Decree.

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. During your initial work period, you will be assessed on your work performance. This assessment will be weighted 100%.

Those who successfully pass the assessment will be considered for permanent appointment to Clinical Psychologist I.

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 integrated system of 25 health centers and four hospitals - and expanded network of community partner clinics – DHS annually provides direct care for over 600,000 unique patients, employs over 23,000 staff, and has an annual budget of over $6.9 billion.

Through academic affiliations with the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), the University of Southern California (USC), and the Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Sciences (CDU), DHS hospitals are training sites for physicians completing their Graduate Medical Education in nearly every medical specialty and subspecialty.

In addition, to its direct clinical services, DHS also runs the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Agency and the County's 911 emergency response system, as well as Housing for Health and the Office of Diversion and Re-entry, each with a critical role in connecting vulnerable populations, including those released from correctional and institutional settings to supportive housing.

Mission

To advance the health of our patients and our communities by providing extraordinary care.

Definition

Under close supervision, serves as a staff psychologist by applying psychological principles in the following major areas: assessment, treatment, research, training, and clinical consultation.

• Conducts diagnostic evaluations of inmates in lock-up settings to determine clients' post release level of care needs and to determine mental health needs while in custody and make referrals to treatment interventions to serve the criminal justice population.
• Uses forensic psychological training to assess diversion suitability and competency to stand trial.
• Provides updates to the court on a regular basis; presents in court for all necessary hearings; and provides testimony on behalf of clients.
• Assists providers to understand the needs of the court, requirements for treatment and legal standards for the specific penal code section applicable to the clients.
• Acts as consultant about competency evaluations to other clinicians.
• Assists judicial officers and attorneys understand availability of services to facilitate realistic understanding of treatment possibilities.
• Provides liaison services between court officers and treatment providers.
• Be able to answer legal questions about clients with attorneys and mental health providers.
• Assures the court receives timely progress report updates according to the court orders.
• Understands legal stipulations and takes those stipulations into consideration when developing care plans.
• Collaborates with and offer mental health training to probation officers, law enforcement, and other justice partners who will work with the population of clients with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders.
• Evaluates client response to treatment, modifies treatment strategies and includes the client as part of the decision-making process.
• Utilizes a variety of treatment modalities such as psychotherapy, behavior modification, and various evidence-based or promising practices such as cognitive-behavioral therapy.
• Reviews relevant records and information from both the criminal justice system and the mental health system when making treatment recommendations.
• Retrieves the reports for the court as needed.

Selection Requirements

A Doctorate from an accredited university in Psychology, Educational Psychology, education with the field of specialization in Counseling Psychology, or in a discipline deemed equivalent by the State of California Department of Consumer Affairs, Board of Psychology.

You MUST meet the above requirement(s) in order to be appointed to fill any vacancies related to this recruitment.

License(s) Required

A waiver issued by the California Department of Mental Health in accordance with Welfare & Institutions Code Section 5751.1-2. Waivers for newly-trained psychologists shall not exceed five years from the commencement of employment in California, or as currently defined by the State Welfare & Institutions Code. Waivers for out-of-state psychologists shall not exceed one year from date of employment in California, or as currently defined in the State Welfare & Institutions Code.

Special Requirement Information

Applicants must include a legible photocopy of the required degree to the application at the time of filing or within 7 calendar days of filing online.

As a condition of employment, a candidate will be required to complete the Mental Health Professional Licensing Waiver Request at the time of appointment. The Department of Mental Health will submit the completed Waiver Request to the California Department of Mental Health.

Applications will be rejected if waivers for newly-trained psychologists exceeded 5 years from the commencement of employment in California or waivers for out-of-state psychologists exceeded one year from date of employment in California.

Desirable Qualifications

• Post Doctorate Degree experience as a Psychologist.

Physical Class Ii

• Light: Light physical effort which may include occasional light lifting to a 10 pound limit, and some bending, stooping or squatting. Considerable walking may be involved.
• All required licenses and certifications must be active and unrestricted or your application will not be accepted.
• VACANCY INFORMATION: The current vacancies are to be filled within Correctional Health.

Our Assessment Process

During your initial work period, the appointing department will evaluate your performance. Those who achieve a passing score on this evaluation will be considered for permanent appointment.

Eligibility Information

Please note that ALL information included in the application materials is subject to VERIFICATION at any point during the examination and hiring process, including after an appointment has been made. FALSIFICATION of any information may result in DISQUALIFICATION.APPLICATION AND FILING INFORMATION:

• Applications must be filed online only and will be reviewed for interview consideration on an ongoing basis.
• If you have not been contacted within 60 days and the recruitment remains open or reopens for filing, we encourage you to submit a new application.
• This will allow you to reaffirm your interest and update any relevant information.

Many important notifications will be sent electronically to the email address provided on the application, so it is important that you provide a valid email address. Please add, as well as, and to your email address and list of approved senders to prevent email notifications from being filtered as spam/junk/clutter mail.

You have the ability to opt out of emails from LA County. If you unsubscribe, you will not receive any email notification for any examination for which you apply with Los Angeles County. Regardless of whether you choose to unsubscribe, you can always check for notifications by logging into governmentjobs.com and viewing your profile inbox, which saves a copy of all emailed notices.

• Plan to submit your online application in a timely manner, as you may be required to verify your email address.
• This only needs to be done once per email address, and if you already have a job seeker account on you can verify at any time by logging in and following the prompts.
• This is to enhance the security of your online application and to ensure you do not enter an incorrect email address.

Social Security Number

Please include your Social Security Number for record control purposes. Federal law requires that all employed persons have a Social Security Number.

Computer and Internet Access at Public Libraries

For candidates who may not have regular access to a computer or the internet, applications can be completed on computers at public libraries throughout Los Angeles County.

No Sharing of User Id, E-mail, and Password

All applicants must file their application using their own user ID and password. Using a family member's or friend's user ID and password may erase a candidate's original application record.

Anti-Racism, Diversity, and Inclusion (ARDI)

• The County of Los Angeles recognizes and affirms that all people are created equal and are entitled to all rights afforded by the Constitution of the United States.
• The Department of Human Resources is committed to promoting Anti-racism, Diversity, and Inclusion efforts to address the inequalities and disparities amongst race.
• We support the ARDI Strategic Plan and its goals by improving equality, diversity, and inclusion in recruitment, selection, and employment practices.

DEPARTMENT CONTACT: Jenny Rodriguez, Exam Analyst