Psychiatrist, Correctional Health Services

State of Utah; Utah; On-site; USD 200,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player in public safety is seeking a Correctional Health Psychiatrist to provide comprehensive psychiatric care within the correctional system. This role emphasizes compassionate care and evidence-based treatment while collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to tackle the unique mental health challenges faced by incarcerated individuals. The psychiatrist will have the opportunity to develop individualized treatment plans, lead psychiatric services, and contribute to quality improvement initiatives. If you are passionate about making a difference in the lives of underserved populations and thrive in a dynamic environment, this position offers a fulfilling career path with significant impact.

Qualifications

• MD or DO degree from an accredited medical school required.
• Minimum 5 years of clinical practice with underserved populations.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate and treat mental health and substance use disorders in incarcerated individuals.
• Lead psychiatric services and ensure compliance with healthcare standards.

Skills

Leadership Skills

Organizational Skills

Communication Skills

Collaborative Skills

Commitment to Public Health Principles

Education

MD or DO degree

Board certification in Psychiatry and Neurology

Licensed or eligible for medical licensure in Utah

Tools

Electronic Health Record (EHR)

Job description

The Correctional Health Psychiatrist provides comprehensive psychiatric care to individuals within the correctional system. This role ensures that patients receive high-quality mental health services aligned with public health principles and correctional health standards. The psychiatrist will work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams to address the unique mental health challenges of incarcerated populations, emphasizing compassionate care, evidence-based treatment, and population health management.

The Agency:

The Utah Department of Corrections is a dedicated team of professionals who ensures public safety by effectively managing offenders while maintaining close collaboration with partner agencies and the community. Our team is devoted to providing maximum opportunities for offenders to make lasting changes through accountability, treatment, education, and positive reinforcement within a safe environment.

For more information on the Utah Department of Corrections' philosophy, mission, and treatment programs, we invite you to browse our website here.

• Clinical Care
  • Evaluate, diagnose, and treat mental health and substance use disorders in incarcerated individuals.
  • Develop and implement individualized treatment plans, including psychopharmacology and psychotherapy.
  • Provide emergency and crisis psychiatric care as needed.
  • Monitor and adjust treatment regimens for effectiveness and safety.
  • May be required to work on-call.
  • Position may require some travel to a secondary facility.
• Leadership and Collaboration
  • Lead psychiatric services within the facility, ensuring compliance with policies and standards.
  • Collaborate with medical staff, behavioral health teams, and correctional officers to ensure continuity of care.
  • Serve as a consultant on mental health cases for other healthcare providers.
• Policy and Program Development
  • Support the development and implementation of mental health and substance use disorder programs tailored to the correctional population.
  • Participate in quality improvement initiatives to enhance service delivery and patient outcomes.
  • Ensure compliance with correctional healthcare accreditation standards (e.g., NCCHC, ACA).
• Education and Training
  • Provide education and training to staff on mental health topics, including trauma-informed care and managing co-occurring disorders.
  • Mentor and support staff in delivering mental health services.
• Documentation and Reporting
  • Maintain accurate and timely documentation in the electronic health record (EHR).
  • Ensure adherence to confidentiality and ethical standards in all aspects of care.

Minimum Qualifications
Education and Certification

• MD or DO degree from an accredited medical school.
• Licensed or eligible for medical licensure in Utah.
• Board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.

Experience

• Minimum 5 years of clinical practice.
• Experience with underserved and marginalized populations, including those with mental health and substance use disorders.

Skills

• Strong leadership, organizational, and communication skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively across multidisciplinary teams.
• Commitment to public health principles.

Preferred Qualifications
Education and Certification

• Experience in Addiction Medicine.

Experience

• Leadership experience in correctional health, public health, or community health.
• Familiarity with correctional healthcare systems, policies, and accreditation standards (e.g., NCCHC, ACA).

Skills

• Proficiency in implementing quality improvement and population health initiatives.

Requires certification in psychiatry or neurology by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.

Current unlimited license to practice medicine in the State of Utah (MD).

Typically, the employee may sit comfortably to perform the work; however, there may be some walking, standing, bending, carrying light items; driving an automobile, etc. Special physical demands are not required to perform the work.

Risks found in potentially dangerous or unusual environmental stress situations, e.g., working at great heights, working in extreme outdoor weather conditions, being subject to possible physical attack, etc.

Position may require some travel to a secondary facility.

Only applicants that meet minimum qualifications will be contacted.

NOTE: Department of Human Resource Management rules regarding promotions and transfers apply to current state employees.