Director of Psychology/Forensic Coordinator

Commonwealth of VA Careers; Danville (VA); On-site; USD 133,000 - 183,000; Full time

Job summary

Commonwealth of VA Careers seeks a Director of Psychology/Forensic Coordinator at the Southern Virginia Mental Health Institute. The role directs psychology services, ensuring clinical quality and compliance with Joint Commission standards, including forensic priorities and liaison responsibilities with the state forensic office and courts.

Ideal candidates hold a doctoral degree in psychology, Virginia licensure, and demonstrated leadership in complex behavioral health programs and forensic

Qualifications

• This position requires a APA-accredited doctoral degree in psychology and Virginia licensure eligibility.
• Progressive supervisory or managerial experience in clinical psychology.
• Experience developing and evaluating behavioral intervention programs for complex needs.
• Completion of required forensic evaluation training or ability to complete upon hire.

Responsibilities

• Serve as chief psychologist directing the psychology department and clinical services.
• Oversee forensic aspects and liaison with DBHDS Office of Forensic Services and courts.
• Provide clinical services to adults and participate on treatment teams with hospitals.

Skills

Clinical psychology

Forensic psychology

Supervision

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Crisis management

Education

Doctoral degree in psychology

Tools

Forensic evaluation training

Job description

Title: Director of Psychology/Forensic Coordinator

State Role Title:49214

Hiring Range: $132,534 - $182,897

Pay Band: 6

Agency: Dept Behavioral Health/Develop

Location:Southern Va Mental Health Inst

Agency Website: https://dbhds.virginia.gov/facilities/svmhi/

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

This position serves as chief psychologist for the hospital ensuring that all personnel under his/her supervision provide quality psychological services in compliance with the Joint Commission standards; responsible for long-range activities associated with administering and directing the design and delivery of comprehensive psychological services and programs.

This position provides quality psychological services to hospitalized patients by directing the functions of the Psychology Department, applying clinical, programmatic and administrative knowledge, knowledge of management practices and principles, and applies knowledge of facility and community services. Provides clinical services to adult patients and serves on the treatment team as indicated.

This position oversees the forensic aspects of services provided to hospitalized individuals with forensic status and to serve as the primary liaison between the hospital and DBHDS Office of Forensic Services, the Forensic Review Panel, courts, law enforcement agencies, and CSB forensic treatment providers regarding individuals being served with forensic status.

Minimum Qualifications

• Doctoral degree in psychology (e.g. Ph.D., Psy.D.) from a program accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) or an equivalent accrediting body recognized by the Virginia licensing board, as required for licensure eligibility.
• Licensure as a Clinical Psychologist in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
• Progressive supervisory and/or managerial experience in the practice of clinical psychology.
• Demonstrated experience developing, implementing, and evaluating behavioral intervention programs for individuals with complex behavioral health needs.
• ILPPP Basic Forensic Evaluation Training (or able to complete upon hire).

This position also requires:

• Ability to apply complex legal, regulatory, clinical, and programmatic considerations to the development of clinical programming and to the day-to-day operations of inpatient treatment and evaluation services to individuals with serious mental illness and criminal justice involvement.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to effectively facilitate and manage cross-sector collaboration and service delivery to individuals with high risks, criminal justice involvement, and intensive evaluation and treatment needs.
• Knowledge and skills to effectively treat individuals with serious mental disorders, co-occurring substance abuse/addiction disorders and personality disorders, utilizing evidence-based treatment modalities; including individual, group, family, and couples interventions.
• Effective crisis management skills.
• Knowledge and skills related to practice and principles of psychosocial rehabilitation and recovery models of intervention.
• Excellent skills for verbal and written communication.
• Thorough knowledge of the Commonwealth of Virginia statutes, policies, and procedures related to the management of individuals adjudicated as Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity, of individuals referred for evaluation of sanity at the time of the offense or competency to stand trial, of those requiring restoration of competency to stand trial, and of those individuals transferred from jail for treatment.
• Proficiency to conduct forensic evaluations, organize and write reports to courts of jurisdiction and to the Commonwealth’s Forensic Review Panel.
• Proficiency in administering, scoring, and interpreting a variety of psychological tests.
• Strong leadership skills and abilities to work with and through others to accomplish tasks and goals.
• Skills to provide clinical supervision to psychologists, and psychology associates.
• Skills to provide supervision to administrative assistant.
• Abilities to organize work according to priorities and to adhere to timelines for completion of tasks.
• Possess essential skills to utilize computer applications.
• Good understanding of principles of Applied Behavior Analysis.
• Working knowledge of inpatient psychiatric hospitals and the functioning of interdisciplinary teams in such settings.
• Working knowledge of principles of continuous quality improvement and their application to clinical psychology and facility practices.
• Knowledge of the Joint Commission and other accrediting body standards.

Additional Considerations

• Completion of a predoctoral internship accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) or an equivalent accrediting body, as required for licensure eligibility as outlined in Code of Virginia Regulation 18VAC125-20-54E.
• Extensive experience providing psychological assessment, treatment, and consultation services to forensic patient populations.
• Strong knowledge of Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) regulations, documentation requirements, and accreditation standards applicable to inpatient behavioral health settings.
• Significant experience in systems management, including developing, implementing, and evaluating operational processes that improve service delivery, quality, and organizational effectiveness.
• Veterans and people with National Service.

Contact Information

Name: Human Resources

Phone: [phone]

Email: [e-mail]

In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide your AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.

A successful fingerprint-based criminal history check, drug screen, and reference checks are required for the selected candidate for this position. Under Virginia Code §37.2-314 and 37.2-408.1, the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services is prohibited from employing or using as volunteers, persons who have been convicted of specific “barrier” crimes or persons who may be the subject of pending “barrier” charges.

Employees may be required to disclose immunization status for purposes of infection prevention and/or management of outbreaks. Upon acceptance of a job offer, new recruits will be asked to disclose their vaccination status (and for those fully vaccinated, proof of vaccination) during the pre-employment process. If you have any questions, contact the Office of Human Resources.

Commonwealth’s Alternate Hiring Process: In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their Certificate of Disability (COD) provided by a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor with the Department of Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS). Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS, to get their Certificate of Disability. To obtain a Certificate of Disability go to: https://www.vadars.org/drs/cpid/PWContact.aspx, or call DARS at 800-552-5019. Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during the application and/or interview process per the Americans with Disabilities Act. Contact Human Resources at [phone] for assistance.

DBHDS is an equal Opportunity Employer. Employment opportunities are open to all regardless of race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, political affiliation, genetics, or disability. Minorities, Individuals with Disabilities, Veterans, and people with National Service experience are encouraged to apply. EEO/AA/TTY.

SVMHI uses Form I-9 and E-Verify in the verification of eligibility for employment.

SVMHI is a smoke and vape-free facility in all buildings and outside facility grounds.

Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.