Street Psychiatric Provider (Psychiatrist or PMHNP)

Title: Psychiatrist, or Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, Street-based Services

Department: Housing, Outreach

Location: C3 Skid Row, Downtown Los Angeles,
Address: 627 S. San Julian Street, Los Angeles, CA 90014

Schedule: 32 Hours/week (4 days)

Summary

In partnership with The People Concern's Multidisciplinary Outreach Teams the Psychiatrist will be responsible for evaluating, diagnosing mental disorders, prescribing treatments, documenting encounters, and conducting regular follow-up appointments to monitor clients' progress. The psychiatric provider will work as a member of the treatment team providing no-barrier, high quality, intensive care to some of the highest-need individuals in LA County in a street-based setting.

The People Concerns' Multidisciplinary Outreach programs are a part of the LA County strategy to combat homelessness through building relationships with the most vulnerable, chronically homeless individuals who live on the streets of LA. These outreach teams work to connect tri-morbid, street-homeless clients (those with Severe Mental Illnesses, complex medical diagnoses, and chaotic SUDs) to life-saving care using a harm-reduction, "whatever it takes" approach.

Essential duties and Responsibilities

• Develop treatment plans by determining the nature and extent of psychiatric disorders and establish treatment goals and methodologies, including low-barrier prescription of psychotropic medications.
• Monitor and evaluate treatment results and side effects using collateral information from Case Managers.
• Evaluate clients through field-based in-person assessment.
• Maintain interdisciplinary treatment by reviewing treatment plans and progress, and consulting and collaborating with street medical teams, case managers, and other health care providers.
• Assure quality and safe service for clients by remaining available for emergency consultations and hospitalizations.
• Improve staff confidence by providing consult regarding the interrelationship between psychosocial and physiological problems, psychotropic medications, crisis intervention, and related issues.
• Maintain historical records by documenting symptoms, medications, and treatment events and writing summaries.
• Complete communications and forms for social services and other pertinent agencies.
• Remain current by participating in continuing medical education, reading professional publications, maintaining personal networks, and participating in professional organizations.

Qualifications

• For MDs- Current BC/BE in Psychiatry (American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in psychiatry)
• Valid state medical licensure, or PMHNP
• Valid DEA certificate
• Two years' experience working full-time as a psychiatric provider
• Must be comfortable visiting clients at tents/encampments and throughout Skid Row.
• Significant experience with patients with severe psychotic disorders, and interest in treating patients actively using substances.
• Flexibility and creativity in treating and prescribing from a harm reduction approach. Comfortability prescribing with sparce historical information, and limited client engagement.
• Strong understanding of advocacy and the role it plays in mental health treatment.
• Detail-oriented with excellent time management, organizational, written, verbal, interpersonal and computer skills.
• Able to learn quickly and work effectively with a wide range of constituencies and with minimal supervision.
• California Driver with an acceptable driving record.
• Strong client engagement and rapport building skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with unhoused patients with active substance use disorders.
• Knowledge of Medication Assisted Treatment, contingency management, and safer consumption of substances.
• Experience in rapid anti-psychotic titration, and dual antipsychotic treatments.
• Bilingual in Spanish

Work Environment

• Combination of street and office environment
• Walk and drive to different local sites.
• Will need to work in busy, loud, and chaotic field environments.
• Willing to be exposed to elements like cold, hot, dust, noise, and odor.
• May need to bend, stoop, twist and sit throughout the day.