Child Psychiatrist

Overall Function: The FSSM Psychiatrist provides psychiatric assessment, medication monitoring, as well as consultation and training for program and agency staff.
This is a contract position requiring approximately 8hrs/month to meet client needs.
Reports to: Agency’s Medical Director for medication and psychiatric-related issues; Program Director for day-to-day/program-related issues.
Pay rate: $200/hr - open to negotiation
Essential Job Duties (other duties may be assigned):
1. When a client is referred for a psychiatric evaluation, the Psychiatrist consults with the Clinician and/or Clinical team to understand the concerns and reason for referral, and interviews the child and family to provide a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation, develop a medication plan as needed, and to participate in the discussion regarding the child’s ongoing treatment planning;
2. Consults with clinicians of clients utilizing medication support during and following mental health related crises or hospitalization. When hospitalization is indicated, assists with necessary arrangements, consults during the course of hospitalization with attending physicians as needed, and will see the client following a hospitalization;
3. All psychiatric assessments must be documented on the Psychiatric Evaluation and on-going sessions on the Psychiatric Progress Note forms in the agency’s electronic health record system (EHRS) TIER in a thorough and timely manner. Relevant information with regard to current level of functioning, concerns, progress and strengths should all be addressed. All assessments and notes must be completed within 48 hours;
4. Contributes to Treatment Planning Reviews (TPRs), Child and Family Team (CFT) meetings, and emergency meetings to discuss the progress of children, efficacy of medication to reduce target symptoms, and ongoing medication monitoring as part of a comprehensive, interdisciplinary treatment approach;
5. Provides individual and group consultation with clinical staff and others as determined by the Program Director;
6. When medication is considered, consults with the clinician and meets with the child and their parent/caretakers to inform them of the medication, targeted symptoms, risks, benefits and possible side effects. For foster care youth, completes the court required JV220 (F_DC_JV220- Application for Psychotropic Medication);
7. Provides medication monitoring to include discussing changes in dosage and/or medication with children, parents, clinician and/or treatment team to keep all parties informed;
8. Participates in training programs for staff as requested;
9. At times, may be called upon to present material to a committee of the agency’s Board of Directors on pertinent subject matter, to participate in institutes and conferences, and assist in the training and staff development for the agency;
10. Participates in the Peer Medication Review Committee twice monthly;
11. Documents contacts in a manner that meets guidelines of purchasers of services, as well as licensing and accrediting agencies;
12. Submits billing reports and invoices to the Program Director and Medical Director by the first week of each month reflecting hours worked during the previous month.
Qualifications Required:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
1. Be Board-eligible (CBP) or a certified Child Psychiatrist;
2. Be currently licensed as a physician in the state of California (MBC);
3. Qualify as a Medi-Cal provider;
4. Maintain current Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registration;
5. Be able to hear and verbally communicate with others;
6. Have the visual, physical, and technical ability to independently use a computer.
Education: MD, Board-certified Child Psychiatrist.
Experience: At least 2 years of experience working in Child Psychiatry.
Certificates, Licenses, Registrations: MD, Board-certified Child Psychiatrist, DEA, Medical Malpractice.
Supervisory Responsibilities: None
Other Skills and Abilities: Must have the visual, physical and technical ability to independently use a computer. Must be empathetic, well-organized, have good administrative skills, be detail-oriented, and must have the ability to balance the clinical and behavioral aspects of treatment. Must have knowledge of computer use, or the willingness to learn.
Age-specific Requirements: Training in and understanding of child development and the psychopathology of children up to the age of 18.
Analytical Skills: Contacts with persons of some importance inside and outside the agency on involved matters of considerable importance.
On the Job Training: Training time for this job is at least 3 weeks.
Decisions and Judgement: Requires excellent judgement and problem-solving skills. Decisions are made regularly regarding a child’s treatment interventions, assessment of risk factors, peer conflict, staff conflicts, etc.
Initiative: Procedures are established but conditions change; initiative must be exercised to overcome obstacles.
Confidentiality: Duties involve knowledge and use of confidential information of major importance.
Personal Contact: 80% of routine time. Contacts with persons on matters of importance that demand exercise of resourcefulness, poise, and diplomacy to accomplish the objectives of the agency.
Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job; reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Physical Activity: Requires occasional running, frequent standing, regular use of hands to finger to handle or feel, reaching with hands and arms, climbing or balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, talking and hearing.
Mental Effort: Requires ability to complete tasks with considerable concentration in the face of frequent interruptions.
Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The workspace is a small office/cottage milieu. Occasionally exposed to outdoor weather conditions. The noise level in this work environment is usually high.