Forensic Psychologist

Massachusetts Department of Mental Health (DMH); Brockton (MA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

The Massachusetts Department of Mental Health (DMH) seeks an experienced Forensic Psychologist to provide forensic services and evaluations for individuals involved with courts and the criminal justice system. The role includes court-ordered evaluations, risk assessments, and consultation to inpatient and community staff.

Primary duties include testimony as an expert witness, collaboration with multiple agencies, and ongoing education to maintain clinical competencies and licensure.

Qualifications

• Extensive knowledge of mental, emotional and substance use disorders.
• Ability to analyze psychological data and make recommendations.
• Skilled in testifying as an expert witness in court.
• Proficiency in writing high-quality forensic reports.

Responsibilities

• Provides timely court, community and hospital based evaluations for competency to stand trial and related disorders.
• Conducts forensic risk assessments for inpatient or community settings.
• Gives testimony as an expert witness in judicial proceedings.
• Provides consultation to court, probation and community providers on forensic cases.
• Maintains relationships with agencies and training to support forensic services.
• Conducts psychological evaluations and testing when clinically indicated.
• Completes data collection forms and maintains documentation.
• Maintains knowledge of developments in mental health and substance use for justice-involved individuals.

Skills

Forensic evaluations

Court testimony

Written reports

Interagency collaboration

Education

Doctorate in Psychology

Licensed Psychologist

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

The Department of Mental Health (DMH) is seeking an experienced Forensic Psychologist who will provide forensic services and evaluation to individuals with mental illness and substance abuse who become involved with the courts and the criminal justice system; or who present with need for a risk assessment.

The incumbent will conduct court ordered evaluations and risk assessments for individuals at court or in community settings, court ordered forensic evaluations on pre-trial and post-adjudication defendants such as competence to stand trial, criminal responsibility and aid in sentencing. The incumbent will conduct statutory evaluations pertaining to involuntary commitment to the mental health or substance use disorder inpatient systems; assessing mental status and answering dispositional questions; providing the court with other non-statutory evaluations and with clinical consultation.

The Psychologist also provides consultation to inpatient and community-based staff on forensic issues, participates in forensic education and training activities; and performs related work as required.

Please note

This position is assigned through Central Office working primarily at Brockton District and Superior Court and Stoughton District Court in the Southeast Area. The Forensic Psychologist may need to cover cases in other courts within the Southeast Area or outside of the Area as assigned and will also participate in covering cases on the statewide remote service.

Duties and Responsibilities (these duties are a general summary and not all inclusive)

• Provides timely court, community and hospital based evaluations for competency to stand trial and criminal responsibility, pursuant to MGL c.123, Sec. 15(a), (b) and Sec. 15(f); aid in sentencing under Sec. 15(e); persons detained on Warrants of Apprehension for commitment of a mentally ill person under Sec. 12(e); commitment for observation and evaluation under Sec. 16(a); Commitment under 16(b/c); hospitalizations of mentally ill prisoners under Sec. 18; determination of mental condition of parties or witnesses under Sec. 19; and evaluations of the commitment of an alcoholic under Sec. 35.
• Conducts Forensic Risk Assessments as requested by the DMH Forensic Mental Health Services at DMH inpatient facilities or in community settings. This may involve meeting with patients and their treatment teams, reviewing patient’s records and making recommendations concerning inpatient privileges and/or community or inpatient treatment planning to the treatment providers.
• Provides testimony as requested by the court, in role of expert witness and in conjunction with evaluations conducted as mentioned in #2, for the purpose of providing assessment and evaluation concerning a client facing judicial proceedings.
• Provides consultation to the court and probation staff as well as to community providers who are involved with forensic clients (mental health agencies, DCF, DYS, DDS, schools, residential programs, etc.) through either referral from the court or probation staff or as a result of a request from a community provider or resulting from an evaluation on a client now being serviced by the community provider with the purpose of providing assessment and evaluation regarding mental status and/or dispositional questions.
• Establishes and maintains good working relationships with these sources and must be very knowledgeable about DMH priority populations and available services by maintaining regular contact with these agencies through regular meetings and training for the purpose of maintaining an effective job performance.
• Conducts psychological evaluations and psychological testing of individuals when clinically indicated, using assessment instruments that are generally accepted as reliable and valid in the field of psychology.
• Completes data collection forms as required by the Department of Mental Health.
• Maintains a current working knowledge of developments, trends, policies, and procedures in the general mental health treatment system and in the provision of substance abuse services to persons involved in the civil and criminal justice system through training offered by Forensic Services and through regular and required continuing education as necessary to maintain a current license.
• Responsible for maintaining current level of expertise through obtaining of CEUs and other training.
• Provides clinical consultation on problematic cases being followed by other team staff, when requested, as an expectation of a collegial team relationship.
• Provides review and feedback on other team members’ evaluations, when requested, as an expectation of a collegial team relationship.
• Participates on committees, training and supervision as requested.

Required Qualifications

• Considerable knowledge of types and symptoms of mental, emotional and substance abuse disorders.
• Ability (a) to recognize symptoms of mental, emotional and substance abuse disorders; (b) to interact with people who are experiencing varying levels of distress and dysfunction; and (c) to analyze psychological data, draw conclusions, and make appropriate recommendations.
• Knowledge of behavioral techniques; familiarity with theories of psychotherapy and counseling, and an understanding of current treatment approaches available for individuals with serious mental illnesses, including sever personality disorders.
• Ability to complete high quality written forensic reports and evaluations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Ability to work under considerable time pressure, to work on multiple tasks at one time, and to produce high quality reports according to applicable standards and guidelines.
• Appointment as a designated forensic psychologist or eligibility to become a designated forensic psychologist within one year of date of hire.
• Knowledge of human services and criminal justice systems.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively with a wide variety of constituents.
• Proficient usage of Microsoft Office products including Word, Excel and Outlook.
• Given the population served, bilingual or multilingual fluency.

Pre-Offer Process

A criminal background check will be completed on the recommended candidate as required by the regulations set forth by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services prior to the candidate being hired. For more information, please visit http://www.mass.gov/hhs/cori

Education, licensure and certifications will be verified in accordance with the Human Resources Division’s Hiring Guidelines.

Education and license/certification information provided by the selected candidate(s) is subject to the Massachusetts Public Records Law and may be published on the Commonwealth’s website.

ADA Reasonable Accommodation

If you require a reasonable accommodation with the application/interview process, please contact us at: EOHHS Candidate ADA Requests

For questions regarding this requisition, please contact the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, Human Resources at 1-800- 510-4122 Ext. #4

Qualifications

First consideration will be given to those applicants that apply within the first 14 days.

Minimum Entrance Requirements

Applicants must have a Doctorate in Psychology from school accredited by the American Psychological Association.

Applicants must also have at least three years of years of full-time, or equivalent part-time, professional experience as a Licensed Psychologist in the application of psychological principles and techniques in a recognized agency providing psychological services or treatment, of which (B) at least one year must have included supervision over Post-doctoral Psychologists-in-training and/or Psychological Assistants.

Special Requirements

Current and valid registration as a Psychologist by the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Psychology.

Based on assignment, must meet the eligibility requirements for Designated Forensic Psychologist in 104 CMR 33.04(3)(b).

Based on assignment, travel may be required. Those employees who elect to use a motor vehicle for travel must have a current and valid Massachusetts Motor Vehicle Operator's license or the equivalent from another state.

Salary placement is determined by a combination of factors, including the candidate’s years of directly related experience and education, and alignment with our internal compensation structure as set forth by the Human Resources Division’s Hiring Guidelines. For all bargaining unit positions (non-management), compensation is subject to the salary provisions outlined in the applicable collective bargaining agreement and will apply to placement within the appropriate salary range.

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An Equal Opportunity / ... Employer. Females, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

The Commonwealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role.