Forensic Mental Health Specialist

Dept Behavioral Health/Develop; Falls Church (VA); On-site; USD 47,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Dept Behavioral Health/Develop is hiring for a Forensic Mental Health Specialist to provide high-quality psychological evaluation, assessment, and treatment services within a forensic inpatient setting in Northern Virginia. The role emphasizes person-centered care and collaborative work with interdisciplinary teams.

The successful candidate will conduct therapeutic interventions, facilitate competency restoration sessions, and participate in community reintegration activities while maintaining

Qualifications

• Knowledge of best practices in mental health treatment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Direct care experience required.

Responsibilities

• Provide therapeutic interventions demonstrating use of best practices in mental health treatment and adherence to a person-centered, strengths-based philosophy of care.
• Facilitate individual and group competency restoration sessions, community meetings, escorted grounds walks, reintegration outings, and other forensic or direct care tasks.
• Demonstrate good written and oral communication skills in team meetings and progress notes.
• Understand legal codes, departmental instructions, and policies for individuals with forensic status; adhere to ethical and professional standards in an inpatient setting.
• Participate in training and educational opportunities as assigned.

Skills

Direct care experience

Mental health knowledge

MS Word

MS Excel

Job description

Title: Forensic Mental Health Specialist

State Role Title:Direct Service Associate III

Hiring Range: $47,099- $65,488

Pay Band: 3

Agency: Dept Behavioral Health/Develop

Location:Northern VA Mental Health Inst

Agency Website:https://dbhds.virginia.gov/facilities/nvmhi/careers/

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

To promote the organizational objective of the psychology department via the provision of quality psychological evaluation, assessment, and treatment services, in collaboration with other disciplines, thereby fostering adaptive functioning and improving the welfare of individuals served.

• Provide therapeutic interventions demonstrating use of best practices in mental health treatment and adherence to a person-centered, strengths-based philosophy of care
• Facilitate individual and group Competency Restoration sessions, Community Meetings, Escorted Grounds Walks, Escorted Community Reintegration Outings, individual behavioral supports, and other forensic or direct care tasks as assigned.
• Demonstrate good written and oral communication skills in team/unit meetings and progress notes.
• Demonstrate understanding of the legal code, departmental instructions, and department policies and procedures for individuals with forensic legal status , Abide by ethical and professional standards of practice in an inpatient setting
• Participate in training and educational opportunities as assigned.
• Therapeutic milieu engagement & 1:1 Individualized interventions Community reintegration outings Crisis De-escalation Behavioral Supports Appropriate documentation in medical record Training and educational opportunities Demonstrated comprehension of and adherence to a person-centered, strengths-based philosophy of care
• Ability to conduct personal interviews and group discussions
• Basic knowledge of behavioral intervention techniques
• Good written and oral communication skills
• Understanding of the legal code, departmental instructions, and department policies and procedures for individuals with forensic legal status
• Familiarity with relevant ethical and professional standards of practice in an inpatient setting.
• Good written and oral communication skills.
• Other forensic or direct care tasks as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Knowledge of best practices in mental health treatment
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel
• Direct care experience required

Additional Considerations

• Inpatient psychiatric experience
• Experience working with forensic populations preferred

Contact Information

Name: Sue Upadhyay

Phone: [phone]

Email: [e-mail]

DBHDS is a healthcare organization and must comply with the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (federal CMS) guidance on Omnibus COVID-19 Health Care staff Vaccination Regulation which requires vaccination of all employees or an exemption.A job offer of employment is contingent upon the candidate meeting these guidelines as a condition of employment.

Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute 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.

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.