Location: Washington, DC – DC Jail
Organization: Unity Health Care
Employment Type: Full-Time | Exempt
Unity Health Care is the largest network of community health centers in Washington, D.C., dedicated to delivering compassionate, culturally competent, and high-quality healthcare services to underserved communities throughout the District. Through integrated medical, behavioral health, and supportive services, Unity Health Care advances health equity while improving access to comprehensive patient-centered care.
Unity’s Department of Corrections (DOC) Behavioral Health team provides trauma-informed, recovery-focused mental health services to justice-involved individuals within a collaborative correctional healthcare environment. Our multidisciplinary teams are committed to improving mental health outcomes while supporting dignity, safety, and continuity of care for vulnerable populations.
Position SummaryThe Lead Psychiatry BH position at Unity Health Care’s DC Jail location is a key leadership role responsible for delivering high-quality psychiatric care within a correctional healthcare setting. This position oversees the development and implementation of individualized treatment plans while supervising and supporting a multidisciplinary behavioral health team.
The Lead Psychiatry BH will provide clinical leadership, ensure compliance with healthcare regulations and standards, and foster a safe, therapeutic environment for both patients and staff. This role is focused on improving mental health outcomes through evidence-based psychiatric treatment, interdisciplinary collaboration, and trauma-informed care practices.
Key Responsibilities- Lead and supervise psychiatrists, psychologists, counselors, and behavioral health staff in providing comprehensive psychiatric care
- Conduct psychiatric assessments, evaluations, and diagnoses for incarcerated individuals
- Develop and implement individualized treatment plans using evidence-based psychiatric practices
- Monitor patient progress and modify treatment strategies to support optimal clinical outcomes
- Collaborate with correctional staff, medical providers, and interdisciplinary teams to coordinate patient care and address emerging behavioral health concerns
- Provide leadership, mentorship, and professional development support to behavioral health team members
- Promote trauma-informed, recovery-focused, and patient-centered care practices
- Ensure compliance with federal, state, and organizational healthcare regulations and standards
- Participate in quality improvement initiatives, case reviews, and behavioral health program development
- Support crisis intervention efforts and assist with management of high-acuity psychiatric cases
- Maintain timely and accurate clinical documentation within the Electronic Health Record (EHR) system
- Foster a culture of teamwork, accountability, safety, and continuous improvement
- Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree with specialization in Psychiatry required
- Current and unrestricted license to practice Psychiatry in the District of Columbia required
- Experience leading or supervising behavioral health or psychiatric teams preferred
- Strong clinical assessment, diagnostic, and treatment planning skills
- Excellent leadership, communication, and interdisciplinary collaboration abilities
- Ability to work effectively within a correctional or high-acuity behavioral health environment
- Commitment to serving underserved and justice-involved populations
- Board Certification in Psychiatry preferred
- Experience working within correctional healthcare, forensic psychiatry, or underserved populations preferred
- Familiarity with trauma-informed care practices preferred
- Experience utilizing Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems preferred
- Make a meaningful impact providing psychiatric care to vulnerable and underserved populations
- Work for a mission-driven organization committed to health equity and integrated care
- Lead a multidisciplinary behavioral health team within a collaborative correctional healthcare environment
- Participate in innovative behavioral health initiatives focused on recovery and patient-centered care
- Opportunity to shape behavioral health services and improve mental health outcomes within the justice system
- Competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits package
- Professional growth and leadership development opportunities
- Be part of an organization dedicated to compassion, clinical excellence, and community impact
Skills Required
- Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree with specialization in Psychiatry
- Current and unrestricted license to practice Psychiatry in the District of Columbia
- Experience leading or supervising behavioral health or psychiatric teams
- Strong clinical assessment, diagnostic, and treatment planning skills
- Excellent leadership, communication, and interdisciplinary collaboration abilities
- Ability to work effectively within a correctional or high-acuity behavioral health environment
- Commitment to serving underserved and justice-involved populations
- Board Certification in Psychiatry
- Experience working within correctional healthcare, forensic psychiatry, or underserved populations
- Familiarity with trauma-informed care practices
- Experience utilizing Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems
What We Do
Unity Health Care reaches people wherever they are to provide compassionate, comprehensive, high-quality health care that is accessible to all and advances health equity in Washington, DC. As the largest network of community health centers in the District, our team of compassionate and multicultural health professionals place Unity values into action every day to bring whole-person care and wellness to nearly 85,000 patients through 405,000 visits annually through our network of over 20 traditional and non-traditional health sites and a mobile medical outreach vehicle.
