PSYCHIATRIC TECHNICIAN (SAFETY) - WASCO STATE PRISON (WSP)

California Correctional Health Care Services; California; On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

California Correctional Health Care Services in Wasco, California, seeks a Psychiatric Technician (Safety) to provide basic nursing and behavioral health care to patients under supervision, supporting the health care team in a secure correctional setting.

This limited-term position offers opportunities to contribute to mental health services, with potential extension, while ensuring compassionate, compliant care for the incarcerated population.

Qualifications

• Provide basic nursing and psychiatric care under supervision.
• Follow Mental Health Program Guide and health care policies.
• Limited-term assignment with potential extension.

Responsibilities

• Organize and provide basic nursing and behavioral nursing care to patients under valid authorization.
• Support the health care team for daily operations and communicate with patients.
• Ensure appropriate and timely health care delivery in a correctional setting.

Job description

Department Information

Vision

We enhance p ublic 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, rehabilitative, and restorative justice programs, all in a safe and humane environment.

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.

This advertisement is for a Psychiatric Technician (Safety) position(s) located at Wasco State Prison in Wasco, CA, located in Kern County.

Department Website: https://cchcs.ca.gov/careers

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 in response to the status of the State budget. 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. Part-time employees are subject to the same conditions as full-time employees, on a prorated basis equivalent to their time-base. Permanent intermittent employees are subject to the same condition as full-time employees, based on the number of hours worked in the pay period.

This is a limited term position which may be extended or become permanent.

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.

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.