PSYCHOLOGIST, CF - Pelican Bay State Prison (PBSP)

California Correctional Health Care Services; California (MO); On-site; USD 128,295 - 155,536; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Recruitment and retention bonus

Referral bonus for current employees

Job summary

A healthcare service provider seeks a Psychologist for their facility at Pelican Bay State Prison in California. The role involves conducting evaluations, providing individual therapy, and participating in interdisciplinary treatment planning. Candidates must hold a doctoral degree in psychology and possess strong skills in crisis intervention and collaboration. This position offers a competitive salary along with potential recruitment bonuses and a commitment to a drug-free workplace.

Qualifications

• Licensed psychologist with experience in crisis intervention and individual therapy.
• Ability to collaborate with multidisciplinary teams for inmate evaluations.
• Experience in research design and data analysis is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Conduct preadmission screenings and evaluations for inmates.
• Provide treatment planning and crisis intervention services.
• Supervise and train students and interns in clinical settings.

Skills

Crisis intervention

Individual therapy

Interdisciplinary team collaboration

Consultation on research design

Education

Doctoral degree in Psychology

Job description

Department Information

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, rehabilitative, and restorative justice programs, all in a safe and humane environment.

Commitment

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) and the California Correctional Health Care Services (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 system‑wide 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.

CDCR/CCHCS strives to collaborate with the community to enhance public safety and promote successful community reintegration through education, treatment, and active participation in rehabilitative and restorative justice programs. Incumbents establish and maintain cooperative working relationships within the department, other governmental agencies, health care partners, and communities.

CDCR/CCHCS values all team members. We work cooperatively to provide the highest level of health care possible to a diverse correctional population, which includes medical, dental, nursing, mental health, and pharmacy. We encourage creativity and ingenuity while treating others fairly, honestly, and with respect, all of which are critical to the success of the CDCR/CCHCS mission.

Position Announcement

This advertisement is for a Psychologist, CF position(s) located at Pelican Bay State Prison (PBSP) in Crescent City, Del Norte County. Please write the position number on your application: 394‑220‑9283‑XXX.

Note: Main communication for this position will be through email. Please ensure you have a valid email address on your application.

CDCR/CCHCS employees are encouraged to use their existing CDCR email address on your application.

Department Website: 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. PLP 2025 requires each full‑time employee in Bargaining Unit 19, 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 Job Control is listed Until Filled. Applications will be reviewed on the following dates: 2/13/26, 2/27/26, 3/13/26, 3/27/26, 4/10/26, 4/24/26, 05/08/26, 5/29/26, 6/12/26, 6/26/26, 7/10/26, 7/24/26, 8/7/26, 8/21/26, 9/4/26, 9/18/26, 10/2/26, 10/16/26, 10/30/26, 11/13/26, 11/27/26, 12/11/26.

This classification is subject to Section 5, Hiring‑Above‑Minimum (HAM) Authorization of the California State Civil Service Pay Scales. The authorized HAM rate for this classification is: P $11,496, Q $13,937.

Recruitment and Retention Bonus may be available for clinicians newly hired with California Correctional Health Care Services. Individuals may be eligible to receive a $10,000 one‑time recruitment and retention stipend should they meet the eligibility criteria, including but not limited to remaining employed with CCHCS for six months. Additionally, individuals may be eligible to receive a monthly recruitment and retention differential during their first year with CCHCS (totaling $20,000), should they meet the eligibility criteria.

IMPORTANT: California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) and California Correctional Health Care Services (CCHCS) employees may be eligible for a $5,000 referral bonus should you be selected for hire and remain employed with CCHCS for 90 days. For a CDCR/CCHCS employee to be considered, a questionnaire must be completed to the best of your knowledge, including the referring employee’s name, classification, PERNR, and work location. The questionnaire will be provided to the selected candidate during the pre‑employment process.

Under the general direction of the Senior Psychologist, Correctional Facility (Supervisor), the Psychologist‑Clinical, Correctional Facility, is responsible for preadmission screenings, psychologist evaluation of inmates admitted to the program, crisis intervention, individual therapy, treatment and discharge planning, participating in interdisciplinary team evaluations, and consulting with the psychiatrist, nursing and other staff. The psychologist may be assigned other clinical duties throughout the institution, including participation in staff meeting, institutional committees, and consults with custody staff as well as supervision and training to students, interns, unlicensed psychologists and other staff. The psychologist may also participate in program evaluation and research, and may provide consultation on research design and analysis of data.

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.