The Advanced Psychiatric Provider will conduct comprehensive psychiatric evaluations, manage psychotropic medications, and provide timely clinical interventions for rapid stabilization of adults and youth in acute behavioral health crisis. This role involves close collaboration with an interdisciplinary team to ensure safe and appropriate transitions to the next level of care.
Description OUR MISSION Wellness Equity Alliance is a national multidisciplinary health organization that designs and delivers integrated, community-based care for populations most impacted by health inequities. We do this through mobile and field-based models, providing medical care, behavioral health services, substance use treatment, harm reduction, and care coordination in nontraditional settings such as encampments, schools, reentry sites, and rural communities as well as with sovereign tribal nations. Grounded in trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and data-driven practices, WEA combines clinical expertise, lived experience, and advanced population health analytics to reduce barriers to care, improve continuity, and strengthen local systems. We have partnered with more than 60 public agencies, managed care plans, and community-based organizations across the U.S. to implement scalable, sustainable programs that are advancing health equity and improving outcomes for historically marginalized populations
We are known as Renegades, Rebels, Disruptors and Dreamers. If that sounds like you we want you on our team.
WEA’s Crisis Walk-In (CWI) Center, located on the behavioral health campus of Riverside University Health System in Indio, CA, offers 24/7 walk-in, voluntary crisis services for adults and children ages 5 and older. Designed to provide immediate, accessible care, the center serves up to 20 patients at a time, including both youth and adults.
The Advanced Psychiatric Provider (APP)—Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) or Physician Assistant (PA-C)—provides psychiatric assessment, diagnosis, medication management, and treatment for youth and adults presenting in acute behavioral health crisis at WEA’s Indio Crisis Walk-In Center (CWIC).
This role focuses on rapid evaluation, stabilization, and clinical decision-making within a walk-in crisis model, supporting safe and timely transitions to appropriate levels of care.
The APP works closely with other psychiatric medical providers, nursing staff, behavioral health clinicians, and peer support specialists as part of an interdisciplinary care team.
The APP works closely with and under the clinical supervision of the Psychiatrist/Medical Director, when appropriate and in accordance with California regulations.
Operating in a fast-paced, high-acuity environment, the APP plays a key role in patient flow, medication management, and real-time care coordination.
This is an ideal opportunity for providers who are confident in crisis settings, value team-based care, and are committed to serving vulnerable populations with high-quality, equitable behavioral health services.
The compensation range for this role is $156,000–$208,000 annually, with final compensation determined based on experience, qualifications, and role scope.
Work
Location &
Expectations: This role requires daily in-person engagement at Indio Crisis Walk-in Center location.
Professional
Development: Opportunity to collaborate with cross-functional leaders across Behavioral Health, Medical, Street Medicine, Public Health, Rural Health, and Tribal Health initiatives. Key Responsibilities
1.
Psychiatric Assessment & Diagnosis Conduct comprehensive psychiatric evaluations, including history, mental status exams, and risk assessments.
Assess for co-occurring mental health, substance use, and medical conditions.
Determine appropriate levels of care and support disposition planning.
Perform safety assessments, including suicide and risk evaluations, and safe discharge planning.
2.
Medication Management & Treatment Prescribe and manage psychotropic medications in accordance with clinical guidelines.
Monitor treatment response, side effects, and medication adherence.
Adjust treatment plans based on clinical presentation and patient needs.
Order, interpret, and evaluate diagnostic tests and labs as appropriate.
3.
Crisis Intervention & Stabilization Provide timely clinical interventions to support rapid stabilization of individuals in crisis, including determining if medical clearance in emergency department or urgent care is necessary before admission.
Collaborate with nursing and behavioral health staff to manage acute psychiatric symptoms.
Support decision-making related to escalation, emergency interventions, or transfer to higher levels of care.
Apply trauma-informed, recovery-oriented approaches in crisis response.
4.
Care Coordination & Interdisciplinary Collaboration Work closely with Psychiatrist/Medical Director, RNs, behavioral health providers, and peer support specialists.
Participate in team huddles, case discussions, and care planning.
Coordinate care with internal and external partners to ensure smooth transitions.
Provide clinical guidance and support to team members as appropriate.
5.
Patient & Family Engagement Communicate diagnoses, treatment plans, and next steps clearly with patients and families.
Provide education on medications, symptom management, and follow-up care.
Support patient-centered care planning that respects individual preferences and needs.
6.
Documentation & Compliance Complete timely, accurate documentation of evaluations, treatment plans, and clinical decisions.
Ensure compliance with regulatory standards, clinical protocols, and organizational policies.
Document risk assessments, clinical rationale, and disposition decisions with a high level of clarity and defensibility.
Key Competencies Psychiatric diagnostic assessment and medication management. Crisis intervention and rapid clinical decision-making. Ability to work effectively in fast-paced, high-acuity settings. Strong interdisciplinary collaboration and communication skills. Trauma-informed and culturally responsive care. Commitment to patient-centered, equitable care delivery. Required Qualifications Master’s or Doctoral degree from an accredited Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant program Current licensure as a PMHNP or PA-C in California Active DEA license with prescriptive authority Current BLS certification Minimum of 1 year of psychiatric work experience, including crisis, emergency, or inpatient settings. Strong clinical skills in psychiatric assessment, diagnosis, and medication management Ability to make timely, sound clinical decisions in high-acuity environments Willingness to work 12-hour shifts within minimum expectations for daytime, overnight, weekend, and holiday availability
2+ years of psychiatric work experience, including crisis, emergency, or inpatient settings strongly preferred Board certification in psychiatric specialty (PMHNP). Experience in crisis, emergency, inpatient, or community behavioral health settings. Experience working with both youth and adult populations. Experience treating individuals with co-occurring mental health and substance use conditions. Familiarity with California behavioral health systems and involuntary treatment processes. Bilingual (Spanish preferred). Proficiency with electronic health records (EHRs).
Maintain accurate and up-to-date patient records within the EHR.
7.
Operational Support & Continuous Improvement Contribute to efficient patient flow within a walk-in crisis model.
Participate in quality improvement initiatives and program development efforts.
Support clinical protocol development and implementation.
Perform other duties as needed to support program operations.
Market context
California continues to show steady demand for psychiatric advanced practice providers, especially in crisis and walk-in settings where rapid assessment and medication management are central. This role is competitive because it requires California PMHNP or PA-C licensure, an active DEA license, and prior crisis or emergency psychiatric experience; review the AI-summarized requirements and benefits here to save time versus reading the full posting. If you are applying, confirm your licensure, DEA status, and one year of relevant experience before submitting.
