Psychiatric Advanced Practice Provider (O-4/O-5 Billet) Non-Supervisory

The Psychiatric Advanced Practice Provider delivers psychiatric care to ICE detainees, including evaluations, treatment plans, medication management, and crisis intervention. The role involves collaboration with psychiatrists, clinical directors, and consultants, mentoring peers, and supporting policy development. It requires psychiatric certification, clinical expertise, and adaptability to schedule changes.

This position is only open to USPHS officers and Call to Active Duty (CAD) candidates.

Qualifications:

COMPETENCIES:

1. Cultural Competency
2. Demonstrates strong interpersonal skills.
3. Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills.
4. Integrity/Honesty
5. Adult learner teaching skills
6. Experience in correctional health care preferred

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

1. Required to walk unaided at a normal pace for up to 5 minutes and maintain balance.
2. Required to jog/fast walk up to ¼ mile.
3. Required to perform CPR/emergency care standing or kneeling.
4. Must have the ability to assist sick, injured or aging detainees or staff exiting the building.
5. Must be able to see, hear and smell with aids if necessary.
6. Must easily alternate between kneeling and standing.
7. Must be able to lift, push, or carry 30 pounds.
8. Must perform the duties of job in a stressful and often austere environment without physical limitations.

Responsibilities:

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Provides direct psychiatric care to detainees via onsite and telepsychiatry services for scheduled appointments, emergency, or urgent care visit.
2. Consults with the Psychiatrist and/or Clinical Director for complex psychiatric patients and as required by IHSC policy.
3. Provides infirmary care including admission, discharge, and daily rounds for detainees that require higher levels of psychiatric care or monitoring.
4. Performs comprehensive psychiatric evaluations and initiates treatment plans for detainees as required by IHSC policy, or as required for detainee psychiatric complaint.
5. Works within and performs functions as outlined in the IHSC Psychiatric Advanced Practice Provider Collaborative Practice and Prescriptive Authority Agreement and the IHSC formulary.
6. Follows IHSC policies in the management of significant mental illness including prevention of violence, homicide, self-harm and suicide.
7. Applies knowledge of drugs and therapeutics when prescribing medication.
8. Applies patient-specific knowledge to monitor and control stress levels and provide emotional support and counseling to detainees.
9. Coordinates psychiatric care needs of detainees including referrals to off-site consultants.
10. Solicits and reviews pertinent psychiatric records as indicated
11. Interprets diagnostic and laboratory results when required for psychiatric evaluations.
12. Adheres to universal precautions.
13. May serve as medical escort of detainees as needed, for domestic/overseas travel.
14. Utilizes and documents interpretation and/or translation and/or assisted communication services as needed to ensure ability to communicate with detainees or others who are Limited English Proficient (LEP) or have a communication disability or impediment.
15. Maintains flexibility and adaptability to sudden changes in schedules and work requirements.
16. The incumbent will be required to provide on-call coverage as needed after regular work hours and may need to return to the facility outside of normal work hours for urgent mental health needs.
17. Provides relevant patient education to detainees verbally and/or with handouts.
18. Documents detainee care visits in the required health record using required format, in compliance with IHSC policy and guidance.
19. Maintains patient confidentiality and confidentiality of medical records.
20. Completes all training as required/assigned.
21. May serve in acting capacity as part of the IHSC Psychiatry Services Program leadership team.
22. Mentors Psychiatric APP onboarding and training.
23. Attends on-site, regional, and national meetings as required.
24. Participates in the Psychiatric APP peer review process.
25. Assists in program development, policy review and revisions, and data collection.
26. Travel may be required up to as much as 20% annually.
27. Performs other duties and responsibilities as assigned.