Psychiatric Technician

The California Department of Developmental Services (the Department) is excited to announce our upcoming Hiring Fair on September 15, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in Vacaville. We would greatly appreciate your assistance in sharing this opportunity with your students and alumni. Click here or copy and paste in your browser to claim your spot at this hiring fair! https://forms.cloud.microsoft/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=h1T8fOjqWUW0CNTmdDLT0pRdXJzwqDtPu33pjkX35QRURVhSV0lJMkhHRVgxNExCQjNMNDFVTTUyMS4u&route=shorturl

Benefits

As a state employee working for the Department of Developmental Services, you and your family will have access to excellent medical, dental and vision insurance benefits in addition to retirement benefits.

CalPERS is California’s main retirement program for public employees, and it’s also the largest pension system in the state. When you work for a CalPERS‑covered employer, you earn “service credit,” and once you’ve worked for five years, you become vested. Being vested means you’ve earned the right to receive a lifetime pension from CalPERS when you reach retirement age, even if you leave your job before then.

Benefit eligibility may be based on job classification, bargaining unit, time base and length of appointment. Additional benefits may also be outlined for specific bargaining units in employee collective bargaining contracts.

Job Description and Duties

At the Department of Developmental Services (Department) State-Operated Facilities Division (SOFD), we are always looking for innovating approaches to meet evolving needs of our staff and consumers. The Stabilization Training Assistance Re-Integration (STAR) homes are staffed 24/7 and provide individuals with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities experiencing an acute crisis, to live and learn in an environment that will enable them to successfully return home or transition to less restrictive living settings in the community. The staff within the home strive to empower individuals through person centered approaches to lead self-determined lives. STAR currently provides assistance to adolescents (11-17 years old) and adults (18 years of age and older) who are receiving regional center services. The STAR homes are four to five bed homes in community settings (Vacaville, Springville, and Costa Mesa).

If you are looking for a job that allows you to make positive impact on individuals, the STAR homes will be a great place to work. We are seeking individuals that will engage individuals with a wide range of interests, while modeling safe and healthy living behaviors in a home environment. The Psychiatric Technician (PT) provides general behavioral training and psychiatric nursing care to STAR consumers. The PT will perform on-site direct care, training, and participate in recreational activities with consumers. The PT will provide cross-training to the consumer’s community home staff or family to maintain a continuity of care. PT will be responsible for maintaining credentials in required or a Psychiatric Technician license and attend required trainings.

Desirable Qualifications

In addition to evaluating each candidate's relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate:

Cultural sensitivity for the population being served, positive behavioral supports, trauma informed care, coaching skills training, person centered practices, and how to utilize less restrictive techniques to address behavioral issue. Must have at least six months’ prior experience providing direct care to individuals with developmental disabilities who have challenging behavior service needs. Must possess and maintain sufficient strength, agility, endurance, and sensory ability to perform the duties contained in this duty statement.

Work with consumers with developmental disabilities (e.g. autistic spectrum disorder, intellectual disability) and severe behavioral (e.g. aggression, self-injurious behavior, property destruction, and elopement) and psychiatric conditions and symptoms (e.g. psychosis, mood disorders, PTSD, and suicidal ideation). Must be able to lift 50 pounds without assistance, perform and be competent in self-defense and hands-on intervention training, including two-person wall containment with resistive consumers, and complete all required trainings.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $70,116.00 - $89,592.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person