PSYCHIATRIC TECHNICIAN (SAFETY) - HIGH DESERT STATE PRISON

California Correctional Health Care Services; California (MO); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

The Psychiatric Technician (Safety) at High Desert State Prison in Susanville, CA operates under RN direction to provide basic nursing and behavioral health care to patients within a correctional health care setting.

This position requires passing the Psychiatric Technician (Safety) examination and works as part of a health care team to deliver timely, cost‑effective care while supporting daily health care operations.

Responsibilities

• Provides basic level of general nursing and behavioral and psychiatric nursing care to patients under supervision in a correctional health care setting.
• Delivers care under authorization by a provider’s order and delegation of the Registered Nurse, supports daily health care operations, and communicates with patients and health care team.

Job description

Job Title and Location

PSYCHIATRIC TECHNICIAN (SAFETY) positions at HIGH DESERT STATE PRISON (HDSP) in SUSANVILLE, CA located in LASSEN COUNTY.

Location and Facility Description

High Desert State Prison (HDSP) is located approximately 96 miles west of Reno, NV among the historical Sierra Nevada mountains, and just miles from pristine lakes, rivers, hiking trails, and Lassen National Volcanic Park. HDSP's mission is to provide constitutional medical, dental, and mental health care, in a timely, safe, and efficient manner, while addressing preventative health services, chronic disease management, and public health issues, to reduce unnecessary morbidity and mortality, and protect public health by providing patients timely access to safe, efficient, medical care, and coordinate the delivery of medical care with mental health, dental, and disability programs.

Vision

We enhance public safety and promote successful community reintegration through education, treatment and active participation in rehabilitative and restorative justice programs.

Mission

To facilitate the successful reintegration of the individuals in our care back to their communities equipped with the tools to be drug-free, healthy, and employable members of society by providing education, treatment and rehabilitative, and restorative justice programs, all in a safe and humane environment.

Core Values and Commitments

CDCR and CCHCS are committed to transforming the correctional landscape to create safer, more professional, and more fulfilling environments for our employees, the incarcerated population, and those supervised in our communities. Through systemwide improvements grounded in proven and emerging practices, we aim to strengthen rehabilitation, enhance workplace satisfaction, and support successful reentry into the community through our institutions, parole, and community partnerships. Our shared mission is to promote safety, wellness, and human dignity while fostering positive change for all those who live and work within our institutions and communities.

CDCR and CCHCS are committed to building an inclusive respectful workplace. We are determined to attract and hire candidates from all communities and empower employees from a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and personal experiences. We are proud to foster inclusion and drive collaborative efforts at all levels of the Department.

Across our organization, our programs work cooperatively to provide the highest level of health care possible to a diverse correctional population. We encourage creativity and ingenuity while treating others fairly, honestly, and with respect, all of which are critical to the success of the CDCR and CCHCS mission.

Job Description And Duties

Effective July 1, 2025, in accordance with the applicable Memorandum of Understanding, the Personal Leave Program 2025 (PLP 2025) was implemented. PLP 2025 requires each full-time employee in Bargaining Unit 18, and related Excluded, Exempt and Statutory Exempt employees, will have their base salary reduced by 3 percent and will receive 5 PLP 2025 leave credits monthly through June 2027. Salaries do not reflect the recent changes. Under the supervision of the Supervising Registered Nurse II/III, Correctional Facility, Unit Supervisor (Safety), or Senior Psychiatric Technician (Safety), the Psychiatric Technician (PT) (Safety) organizes and provides a basic level of general nursing and behavioral and psychiatric nursing care to patients in accordance with the Mental Health Program Guide, policies and procedures, and regulations in a variety of correctional health care settings. The PT (Safety), pursuant to the PT scope of practice and in collaboration with the health care team, ensures the delivery of appropriate and timely health care to patients. The PT (Safety) provides basic level of general nursing and behavioral and psychiatric nursing care to patients under valid authorization by a provider’s order and the delegation and clinical direction of the Registered Nurse (RN), provides support to the care team for daily health care operations, and communicates effectively with patients and other members of the health care team. The PT (Safety) is responsible for addressing the ongoing needs of patients, working with the members of the larger health care team, and promoting the efficient, appropriate, and cost-effective use of health care resources.

Examination Requirement

To obtain list eligibility for the Psychiatric Technician (Safety), before applying for the position, you must first take and pass the examination:

Exam Bulletin - Psychiatric Technician (Safety)

You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free work place. Any applicant for state employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing Civil Service, and the special trust placed in public servants.