Position Overview
We are seeking a Lead Street Psychiatrist & Senior Behavioral Health Advisor to provide direct clinical psychiatric care to unhoused and underserved populations across Southern California through hands-on street medicine outreach, while also providing clinical supervision and mentorship to Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) at our Crisis Walk-In Center in Indio.
This is a hybrid clinical leadership role, ideal for a psychiatrist passionate about community-based, low-barrier psychiatric care, who also brings the clinical judgment and leadership presence to guide and support a growing behavioral health team. The role blends direct patient care (majority of time) with strategic clinical oversight and advisory responsibilities.
Key Responsibilities
Direct Clinical Care (Street Medicine) — ~60% In-Person (approximate)
- Provide psychiatric evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment (including medication management) to unhoused individuals in field-based settings (encampments, shelters, mobile units, outreach vans, etc.)
- Conduct psychiatric assessments in non-traditional, low-resource environments, adapting care delivery to meet patients where they are
- Manage patients with serious mental illness (SMI), co-occurring substance use disorders, and complex psychosocial needs
- Coordinate care with multidisciplinary street medicine teams (case managers, social workers, peer support specialists, medical providers)
- Document care in compliance with regulatory, licensing, and organizational standards
- Respond to psychiatric crises in the field as needed, including risk assessment and de-escalation
Clinical Supervision & Advisory (Crisis Walk-In Center, Indio) — ~40% Remote/Onsite Mix (approximate)
- Provide clinical supervision and case consultation to Psychiatric APPs (NPs/PAs) at the Indio Crisis Walk-In Center
- Review and co-sign charts as required by California scope-of-practice regulations and collaborative practice agreements
- Offer real-time or scheduled clinical consultation for complex or high-risk cases
- Support onboarding, training, and ongoing clinical development of APP staff
- Participate in case reviews, quality assurance activities, and clinical protocol development
- Serve as a clinical escalation point for the crisis center as needed
Strategic & Advisory Functions
- Advise CMO/CBHO on clinical program design, quality metrics, and operational improvements for street medicine and crisis services
- Contribute to the development of KPIs and outcome measures tied to bonus structure
- Support organizational efforts related to psychiatric care standards, risk mitigation, and regulatory compliance
- Participate in select leadership or clinical governance meetings as requested
Qualifications
Required
- MD or DO with completed residency in Psychiatry
- Active, unrestricted California medical license
- Board Certified or Board Eligible in Psychiatry (ABPN or equivalent)
- DEA license in good standing (California)
- Minimum 2–3 years of clinical psychiatric experience; experience in community psychiatry, homeless health, or crisis settings strongly preferred
- Demonstrated experience providing or supervising care in collaborative practice models with APPs
- Comfort and willingness to deliver care in non-traditional field settings (outdoor, mobile, shelter-based)
- Strong clinical judgment, especially in resource-limited or high-acuity crisis environments
Preferred
- Prior experience in street medicine, homeless outreach, or mobile crisis programs
- Experience with co-occurring SUD/psychiatric populations
- Familiarity with California psychiatric hold procedures (5150/5250), LPS Act, and county behavioral health systems
- Bilingual (Spanish/English) a plus
- Experience mentoring or supervising NPs/PAs in psychiatric practice
Work Environment & Physical Requirements
- Fieldwork will include exposure to outdoor environments, encampments, and variable weather conditions
- Must be able to travel locally throughout Southern California service areas (reliable transportation required)
Credentialing Requirement
This position is contingent upon successful completion of organizational credentialing, hospital/clinic privileging (if applicable), and background/license verification prior to start date.