DSHS Maple Lane Psychology Associate
State of Washington
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Job summary
DSHS Maple Lane – Psychology Associate (Court Evaluator) seeks a qualified psychologist to conduct court-ordered evaluations and provide psycho-legal opinions for civil commitment matters. You will prepare legal documents, present expert testimony, and help ensure informed judicial decisions while protecting individual rights and public safety.
The role requires a master’s degree in psychology and active or pending WA state licensure, with strong communication skills and experience with clinical
Qualifications
- Master’s degree in psychology, social work, mental health counseling, or related field.
- Active or pending WA State licensure as a counselor or psychologist.
- Strong written/verbal communication for legal settings.
Responsibilities
- Maintain accurate, behaviorally descriptive documentation in the resident’s EHR.
- Prepare and submit petitions, affidavits, letters for civil commitment proceedings.
- Provide expert testimony in court regarding diagnoses, grounds for commitment, and discharge readiness.
- Document evaluations and court-related activities in medical records.
- Participate in required trainings and clinical supervision.
- Collaborate with multidisciplinary team and a co-petitioner to assess functioning and discharge readiness.
Skills
Education
Job description
Join our team as a Psychology Associate (Court Evaluator) at Maple Lane, located near Centralia, Washington, where your clinical expertise plays a critical role at the intersection of behavioral health and the legal system.
Join our team as a Psychology Associate (Court Evaluator) at Maple Lane, located near Centralia, Washington, where your clinical expertise plays a critical role at the intersection of behavioral health and the legal system. In this role, you will conduct court-ordered evaluations related to civil commitment, conditional release, and less restrictive alternative orders, establish diagnoses, and prepare required legal documentation for civil commitment proceedings. You will also provide expert testimony to the court, supporting psycho-legal opinions regarding diagnoses, grounds for commitment, and placement readiness. This position is essential to ensuring informed judicial decision-making, protecting individual rights, and supporting public safety through thorough, objective, and clinically sound evaluations.
Behavioral Health Treatment Center Maple Lane provides innovative treatment for residents who are civilly committed or adjudicated not guilty by reason of insanity (NGRI). Through smaller, community-based residential units, Maple Lane supports Washington State’s vision of behavioral health care delivered closer to home, family, and support systems, helping residents maintain meaningful community connections.
Maple Lane is a key business unit within the Department of Social and Health Services Behavioral Health and Habilitation Administration. Our dedicated staff provide residents with enriching opportunities and therapeutic experiences outside of a hospital setting, supporting a successful transition back into the community. This is an excellent opportunity to join a team committed to modernizing and strengthening behavioral health treatment across Washington State.
- Appropriately contribute current, accurate, relevant, and behaviorally descriptive documentation in the resident’s Electronic Health Record (EHR).
- Prepare and submit petitions, affidavits, letters, and other documentation for civil commitment legal proceedings.
- Provide expert testimony under direct and cross-examination in support of psycho-legal opinions, including diagnoses, grounds for commitment, and placement readiness.
- Document evaluations, reports, and court-related activities in the medical record, as required.
- Participate in clinical supervision, required clinical meetings, and mandatory Department of Social and Health Services and Behavioral Health Administration trainings.
- Serve on committees and perform other duties, as assigned.
- Collaborate with multiple disciplines, including direct consultation with a psychiatric provider as your co-petitioner to assess and determine residents' functioning, treatment progress, and readiness for discharge.
- Effectively communicate relevant clinical observations and recommendations to the resident's treatment team.
- Assist in formulating treatment goals based on resident’s civil commitment grounds and discharge readiness.
- In-depth knowledge of RCW 71.05, relevant court decisions, and applicable state and federal laws related to the civil commitment of individuals with mental illness.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly document, organize, and present information in professional and legal settings.
- Experience conducting clinical interviews, reviewing third-party information, and administering and interpreting standardized assessments in inpatient or outpatient mental health settings.
- Ability to establish therapeutic relationships, apply de-escalation techniques, and interact effectively with individuals with psychiatric disabilities.
- Ability to learn and maintain working knowledge of Department of Social and Health Services, Behavioral Health Administration, and facility-specific policies, procedures, and standards.
- Demonstrated ability to manage workload demands through effective organization, time management, self-motivation, and openness to feedback and supervision.
- Ability to work both independently and collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams, external agencies, and under the supervision of a licensed psychologist, while utilizing intermediate computer skills to complete required documentation and scheduling tasks.
- A master’s degree in psychology, social work, mental health counseling, or marriage and family therapy from an accredited institution And,
- Pending or Active registration as a WA State Agency Affiliated Counselor or professional licensure in the State of Washington.
- Work schedule: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday
- Opportunities performed on-site at this work location at least three days a week may be eligible for an additional 5% premium pay in addition to the advertised salary.
We Partner With People To Access Support, Care, And Resources. DSHS Employees Make a Difference In WA State Every Day By Supporting Sustainable Recovery, Independence, And Wellness. See Why People Like You Choose Careers At DSHS
Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal record history may be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform in the job. This announcement may be used to fill multiple vacancies. Employees driving on state business must have a valid driver's license. Employees driving a privately owned vehicle on state business must have liability insurance on the privately owned vehicle.
Relationship and Reporting Structure Disclosure: If you are selected for hire, you must disclose whether you have a relative, household member, close friend, or romantic partner within your potential supervisory chain of command. DSHS has a Relationships and the Reporting Structure policy that prohibits nepotism and can be reviewed here. Applicants whose appointment would result in a prohibited reporting relationship are not eligible for appointment to that position.
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Employee benefits are not just about the kind of services you get, they are also about how much you may have to pay out of pocket. Washington State offers one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation.
We understand that your life revolves around more than just your career. Like everyone, your first priority is ensuring that you and your family will maintain health and financial security. That's why choice is a key component of our benefits package. We have a selection of health and retirement plans, paid leave, staff training and other compensation benefits that you can mix and match to meet your current and future needs.
The following information describes typical benefits available for full-time employees who are expected to work more than six months. Actual benefits may vary by appointment type or be prorated for other than full-time work (e.g. part-time); view the job posting for benefits details for job types other than full-time.
Note: If the position offers benefits which differ from the following, the job posting should include the specific benefits.
Employees and their families are covered by medical (including vision), dental and basic life insurance. There are multiple medical plans with affordable monthly premiums that offer coverage throughout the state.
Staff are eligible to enroll each year in a medical flexible spending account which enables them to use tax-deferred dollars toward their health care expenses. Employees are also covered by basic life and long-term disability insurance, with the option to purchase additional coverage amounts.
To view premium rates, coverage choice in your area and how to enroll, please visit the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) website. The Washington Wellness program from the Health Care Authority works with PEBB to support our workplace wellness programs.
Dependent care assistance allows the employee to save pre-tax dollars for a child or elder care expenses.
Other insurance coverage for auto, boat, home, and renter insurance is available through payroll deduction.
The Washington State Employee Assistance Program promotes the health and well-being of employees.
State Employees are members of the Washington Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS). New employees have the option of two employer contributed retirement programs. For additional information, check out the Department of Retirement Systems' web site.
Employees also have the ability to participate in the Deferred Compensation Program (DCP). This is a supplemental retirement savings program (similar to an IRA) that allows you control over the amount of pre-tax salary dollars you defer as well as the flexibility to choose between multiple investment options.
All state employees are covered by the federal Social Security and Medicare systems. The state and the employee pay an equal amount into the system.
If you are employed by a government or not-for-profit organization, and meet the qualifying criteria, you may be eligible to receive student loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.
Full-time and part-time employees are entitled to paid holidays and one paid personal holiday per calendar year.
Note: Employees who are members of certain Unions may be entitled to additional personal leave day(s), please refer to position specific Collective Bargaining Agreements for more information.
Full-time employees who work full monthly schedules qualify for holiday compensation if they are employed before the holiday and are in pay status for at least 80 nonovertime hours during the month of the holiday; or for the entire work shift preceding the holiday.
Part-time employees who are in pay status during the month of the holiday qualify for the holiday on a pro-rata basis. Compensation for holidays (including personal holiday) will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status in the month to that required for full-time employment, excluding all holiday hours. Pay status includes hours worked and time on paid leave.
Full-time employees earn eight hours of sick leave per month. Overtime eligible employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month, earn a monthly proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Overtime exempt employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month do not earn a monthly accrual of sick leave.
Sick leave accruals for part-time employees will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday.
Full-time employees accrue vacation leave at the rates specified in WAC 357-31-165(1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA). Full-time employees who are in pay status for less than 80 nonovertime hours in a month do not earn a monthly accrual of vacation leave.
Part-time employees accrue vacation leave hours in accordance with WAC 357-31-165(1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA) on a pro rata basis. Vacation leave accrual will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment.
Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday.
As provided in WAC 357-58-175, an employer may authorize a lump-sum accrual of vacation leave or accelerate the vacation leave accrual rate to support the recruitment and/or retention of a candidate or employee for a Washington Management Service position. Vacation leave accrual rates may only be accelerated using the rates established WAC 357-31-165.
Note: Most agencies follow the civil service rules covering leave and holidays for exempt employees even though there is no requirement for them to do so. However, agencies are required to adhere to the applicable RCWs pertaining holidays and leave.
Washington State supports members of the armed forces with 21 days paid military leave per year.
Most employees whose family member or household member dies, or for loss of pregnancy, are entitled to five (5) days of paid bereavement leave. In addition, the employer may approve other available leave types for the purpose of bereavement leave.
Leave Sharing
Parental Leave
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
Leave Without Pay
Please visit the State HR Website for more detailed information regarding benefits.
Updated 01-07-2026
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