Senior Psychologist, CF (Specialist) - Salinas Valley State Prison-PIP (SVSP)

California Correctional Health Care Services; Monterey (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Recruitment bonus

Retention differential

Referral bonus

Job summary

California Correctional Health Care Services is seeking a Senior Psychologist, CF (Specialist), Suicide Prevention, Training and Assessment Coordinator at SVSP-PIP in Soledad, CA. You will coordinate suicide prevention initiatives, supervise psychological assessments, and analyze program performance data to improve care for inmates.

The role requires some travel and involves collaboration with medical and mental health staff to ensure safe, effective treatment within a correctional setting.

Qualifications

• Coordinate the institution's suicide prevention program, including training and risk evaluations.
• Oversee the psychological assessment program within Mental Health Services delivery.
• Assist in gathering and analyzing performance measures for program areas.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate inmates in mental health services and developmental disability programs.
• Support the development and improvement of suicide prevention practices.
• Coordinate and monitor training activities across the Mental Health Program.

Skills

Suicide prevention

Psychological assessment

Training coordination

Data analysis

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.

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 Senior Psychologist, CF (Specialist) position(s) located at Salinas Valley State Prison - Psychiatric Inpatient Program (SVSP-PIP), in Soledad, CA, located in Monterey County.

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

Job Description And Duties

This Job Control is listed Until Filled. Applications will be reviewed on the following dates. 11/30/26, 12/14/26, 12/28/26, 1/11/27, 1/25/27, 2/08/27, 2/22/27, 3/08/27

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

• Recruitment and Retention Bonus may be available for clinicians newly hired with California Correctional Health Care Services.
• Effective May 01, 2022, employees in this class, employed within the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, and who are physically located at and assigned to the Psychiatric Inpatient Program, shall receive a pay differential equivalent to 15% of their monthly base pay.
• Only employees who provide direct patient care, treating patients’ in-person, on grounds or at a facility more than 50% of the pay period, are eligible for this pay differential.

Please note: 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 Chief Psychologist, Correctional Facility (CF) or Chief of Mental Health Services, the Senior Psychologist, CF (Specialist), Suicide Prevention, Training and Assessment Coordinator coordinates the institution’s suicide prevention program, including training, suicide risk evaluations, internal reviews of suicide attempts and completed suicides, and institutional audits, reviews, and improvement of suicide prevention practices. The Senior Psychologist, CF, (Specialist) also coordinates and monitors the Mental Health Program’s training activities and has oversight of the psychological assessment program. The Senior Psychologist, CF (Specialist), maintains order and supervises the conduct of the incarcerated and protects and maintains the safety of persons and property. Some travel is required.

Under the general direction of the Chief of Mental Health or Chief Psychologist, the Senior Psychologist, CF (Specialist), is responsible for the evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of inmates in the Mental Health Services Delivery System (MHSDS) and Developmental Disabilities Program (DDP). The Senior Psychologist Specialist will assist in gathering and analyzing data regarding performance measures for the DDP Program and MHSDS as assigned. The Senior Psychologist Specialist position requires moderate travel to other institutions, assisting with evaluation and review of the Mental Health programs at these other institutions.

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.