Principal Psychiatrist (40 Hour)

The State of Connecticut Department of Correction (DOC) seeks Principal Psychiatrists to provide comprehensive mental health services to our inmate population. This is a full‑time, hazardous duty position with a 40‑hour work week (Monday‑Friday, 7:00 am‑3:00 pm). Psychiatrists may be assigned to any of DOC’s units, including Bridgeport, Cheshire, East Lyme, Hartford, Newtown, or Suffield.

Benefits

• Hazardous Duty Position – eligible for early retirement after 25 years of service in the State Employees Retirement System Tier IV.
• Competitive base salary with a potential recruitment incentive of up to $30,000.
• Annual bonuses: $3,000 for board certification in the primary area of practice; $5,000 for an additional board certification (e.g., Forensic, Addiction).
• Flexible on‑call schedule and manageable patient workload.
• Comprehensive medical and dental coverage, sick and vacation leave, state holidays, tuition reimbursement, and other state employee benefits.

Responsibilities

• Provide 24‑hour supervision to specified patient groups and cover facility needs, including on‑call and weekend duties.
• Conduct rounds, deliver direct care, and oversee multidisciplinary treatment teams.
• Coordinate care with medical staff and related programs.
• Review treatment plans, clinical records, diagnoses, and discharge plans for compliance with policies and quality standards.
• Deliver education and training through grand rounds, case conferences, and other settings.
• Assign, supervise, and evaluate the work of staff, including on‑site night duty physicians.
• Participate in meetings on policy, research, program development, and treatment innovations.
• Assess, examine, diagnose, and prescribe appropriate treatments for patients with psychiatric and substance abuse disorders.
• Conduct advanced risk assessments and consult on complex cases.
• Lead quality assurance and quality improvement initiatives.
• Prepare and review reports, medical records, and correspondence.
• Perform utilization review and management tasks.
• Serve as state witness at court hearings.
• Perform other duties as required.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Extensive knowledge of behavioral health medicine, assessment, and treatment of psychiatric and substance abuse disorders.
• Up‑to‑date understanding of treatment models, best practices, and recent developments in psychiatry and substance abuse.
• Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills.
• Clinical acumen: diagnose, assess, treat, and prescribe medications and psychotherapy.
• Ability to foster collaborative practice with multidisciplinary teams.
• Proficiency in interpreting laboratory reports, imaging, and other diagnostic data.
• Administrative and supervisory capabilities.

Minimum Qualifications

• Board certification as a specialist in psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN), or equivalent certification in Adult or Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
• Medical license to practice medicine and surgery in Connecticut (temporary licenses may be issued for up to one year).
• Eligibility for participation in federal health‑care programs as defined in 42 U.S. C. § 1320a‑7b(f).
• Preferred: Additional board certification in a specialty area such as geriatrics, forensics, or addiction psychiatry.
• Preferred: Current licenses, certifications, or permits as applicable.
• Preferred: Bilingual proficiency.

Equal Opportunity Statement

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages applications from women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.

Legal Notice

As defined by Sec. 5‑196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes. A job class is not meant to be all‑inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.