Psychology

Job Description

Job title

Clinical Psychologist

Reports to

BH Director

Department:

Clinical

Status:

Full time Exempt

Operation Samahan Mission

Building Healthier and Happier Communities Together

Operation Samahan is a federally qualified health center committed to providing accessible, high-quality, and culturally responsive health care to individuals and families throughout San Diego County.

JOB PURPOSE

The Psychologist provides specialty behavioral health services to patients experiencing mental health, emotional, behavioral, and psychosocial concerns. The position conducts psychological assessments, establishes diagnoses, develops treatment plans, and psychotherapy within the psychologist's scope of practice and clinical competency.

The Psychologist works as part of an interdisciplinary care team and collaborates with medical providers, behavioral health clinicians, care coordinators, and community partners to support coordinated and patient-centered care.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Clinical Services

• Conduct comprehensive psychological and behavioral health assessments.
• Evaluate patients for mental health, emotional, behavioral, and psychosocial conditions.
• Establish diagnoses in accordance with current diagnostic standards and professional guidelines.
• Develop individualized treatment plans based on the patient's needs, strengths, goals, culture, and available support systems.
• Provide evidence-based individual, family, and group psychotherapy.
• Provide services using trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and patient-centered approaches.
• Monitor patient progress and update treatment plans as clinically appropriate.
• Provide crisis assessment, safety planning, stabilization, and appropriate referrals for patients experiencing urgent behavioral health concerns.
• Assess for suicidal ideation, homicidal ideation, abuse, neglect, grave disability, and other immediate safety concerns.
• Coordinate emergency intervention or a higher level of care when clinically necessary.
• Provide psychoeducation to patients and families regarding diagnoses, treatment options, coping skills, and available resources.
• Support patients experiencing complex mental health conditions, trauma, grief, anxiety, depression, adjustment concerns, and other behavioral health needs within the psychologist's scope and competency.
• Make appropriate referrals to psychiatry, substance use treatment, specialty mental health programs, community resources, and other support services.
• Provide telehealth services when assigned and clinically appropriate.

Integrated and Collaborative Care

• Collaborate with primary care providers, behavioral health clinicians, care coordinators, and other members of the interdisciplinary care team.
• Participate in case consultations, care coordination meetings, and treatment planning discussions.
• Communicate relevant clinical information to members of the care team while maintaining patient confidentiality.
• Provide behavioral health consultation regarding patient needs, treatment recommendations, and appropriate levels of care.
• Support continuity of care when patients transition between providers, programs, or levels of treatment.
• Maintain professional relationships with outside treatment providers, hospitals, schools, social service agencies, and community organizations when appropriate.

Documentation and Compliance

• Complete clinical documentation accurately and within established organizational timeframes.
• Document assessments, diagnoses, treatment plans, progress notes, risk assessments, consultations, referrals, and discharge summaries.
• Maintain documentation that supports the medical necessity and clinical appropriateness of services provided.
• Follow organizational requirements related to documentation, coding, billing, productivity, access, and quality of care.
• Maintain patient records in accordance with applicable professional standards, organizational policies, payer requirements, and federal and California confidentiality laws.
• Comply with HIPAA, 42 CFR Part 2 when applicable, mandated reporting laws, and organizational privacy and security requirements.
• Complete required reports involving suspected abuse, neglect, exploitation, or threats of harm.
• Participate in quality improvement activities, chart reviews, audits, and corrective action plans when requested.
• Maintain all required licenses, certifications, training, and continuing education.

Patient Relations

• Provide respectful, compassionate, and culturally responsive care.
• Explain diagnoses, treatment recommendations, patient rights, and available services in a manner the patient can understand.
• Maintain appropriate professional boundaries.
• Respond professionally to patient concerns and service-related issues.
• Consider cultural background, language, health literacy, identity, family structure, and social conditions when developing treatment recommendations.
• Use qualified interpreter services when needed.

Professional Responsibilities

• Maintain professional conduct consistent with ethical standards for psychologists.
• Remain current on evidence-based behavioral health practices and applicable standards of care.
• Attend department meetings, trainings, case conferences, and organizational meetings as assigned.
• Work cooperatively with clinical and administrative staff.
• Meet established scheduling, attendance, documentation, quality, and productivity expectations.
• Provide clinical consultation to behavioral health and medical staff when requested.
• May provide clinical supervision to psychology trainees or other behavioral health professionals when assigned, appropriately qualified, and permitted under California law.
• Travel between Operation Samahan locations when required.
• Perform other related duties consistent with the position's scope and level of responsibility.

Other duties and tasks as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Licensure

• Doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology, Counseling Psychology, or a related psychology discipline from an accredited educational institution.
• Current and unrestricted license to practice as a Psychologist in the State of California.
• Current Basic Life Support or CPR certification, or the ability to obtain certification within the required organizational timeframe.
• Current National Provider Identifier, or the ability to obtain one.
• Ability to complete credentialing and enrollment requirements for applicable health plans and government programs.
• Must maintain all required professional licenses, registrations, and certifications throughout employment.

Experience

• Clinical experience providing psychological assessment, diagnosis, and psychotherapy.
• Experience treating patients with mental health, emotional, behavioral, or trauma-related conditions.
• Experience working in a community health center, FQHC, outpatient clinic, public behavioral health program, or other underserved setting is preferred.
• Experience providing culturally responsive services to diverse patient populations is preferred.
• Experience with integrated behavioral health and interdisciplinary care is preferred.
• Experience documenting services in an electronic health record is preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of psychological assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning, psychotherapy, crisis intervention, and risk assessment.
• Knowledge of trauma-informed and evidence-based treatment approaches.
• Knowledge of professional ethics and standards applicable to psychologists.
• Knowledge of patient confidentiality, mandated reporting, informed consent, and professional boundaries.
• Understanding of the social, cultural, economic, and environmental factors that may affect behavioral health.
• Ability to assess and respond appropriately to urgent behavioral health and patient safety concerns.
• Ability to establish therapeutic relationships with patients from diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to communicate clearly and professionally with patients, families, staff, and outside providers.
• Ability to work independently while participating effectively in an interdisciplinary team.
• Ability to manage a clinical caseload and complete documentation within required timeframes.
• Ability to maintain sound clinical judgment during stressful, complex, or urgent situations.
• Ability to protect confidential and sensitive information.
• Ability to use electronic health records, computers, telehealth platforms, and standard office equipment.
• Ability to organize work, prioritize responsibilities, and meet established deadlines.
• Bilingual or multilingual skills are preferred based on the needs of the patient population.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS & Attendance

Attendance and Reliability

Regular and reliable attendance is an essential function of this position. The employee is expected to report to work as scheduled, remain available during assigned work hours, and communicate attendance concerns in accordance with organizational policies.

Physical Requirements

The physical requirements described below represent those that may be required to perform the essential functions of the position. Reasonable accommodations may be provided to qualified individuals with disabilities.

The employee may be required to:

• Sit, stand, and walk for extended periods.
• Use a computer, telephone, electronic health record, and other standard office equipment.
• Communicate verbally and in writing.
• Reach, bend, stoop, or move throughout the clinic.
• Occasionally lift or move items weighing up to 25 pounds.
• Travel between clinic locations or community sites when assigned.
• Maintain the ability to respond appropriately during urgent clinical situations.