Psychologist

Austin State Hospital; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 95,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

Austin State Hospital is seeking a Psychologist III (Forensic Evaluator) to lead advanced forensic psychology work and supervise trainees. The role focuses on competency evaluations (46B/46C/Chapter 55), violence risk assessments, and coordinating forensic programs across disciplines.

The position requires a doctoral-level psychologist licensed in Texas or reciprocity, with experience in forensic settings and strong consultation and teaching skills.

Qualifications

• Doctoral degree in psychology required; Texas license or reciprocity.
• Experience conducting forensic evaluations and standard psychological assessments in inpatient settings.
• Ability to provide expert testimony and to communicate findings clearly to courts.

Responsibilities

• Conduct 46B/46C/Chapter 55 competency evaluations and violence risk assessments.
• Coordinate forensic activities and programs with multidisciplinary teams.
• Provide consultation, training, and guidance on forensic evaluations and court communications.
• Supervise staff and trainees; contribute to program development and quality improvement.
• Advise on and participate in disaster response, COOP activation, and continuity planning.
• Provide direct forensic services and psychotherapy in various formats and document thoroughly.

Skills

Forensic assessment

Psychological testing

Court testimony

Leadership supervision

Training others

Program development

Disaster response

Education

Doctoral degree in psychology

Tools

MMPI

HCR-20

VRAG

TOMM

MFAST

SIRS

Job description

The Psychologist III (Forensic Evaluator) performs advanced and/or managerial (senior-level) psychological work under the direction of the State Hospital Medical Director. The Forensic Evaluator is responsible for conducting the 46B and Chapter 55 competency evaluations, as well as violence risk assessments under 46C. Responsibilities include developing, supporting, coordinating forensic psychological activities and programs, and conducting forensic psychological assessments and psycho-legal evaluations of patients’ competency to stand trial. Oversees forensic programs in collaboration with other relevant disciplines including but not limited to competency restoration, trial competency evaluation, and evaluation and treatment of individuals acquitted as not guilty by reason of insanity. Supervises the work of others and graduate psychology trainees as requested. Works under limited supervision, with considerable latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.

Performs other duties as assigned. Other duties as assigned include but are not limited to actively participating and/or serving in a supporting role to meet the agency’s obligations for disaster response and/or recovery or Continuity of Operations (COOP) activation. Such participation may require an alternate shift pattern assignment and/or location.

Essential Job Functions (EJFs):

Attends work on a regular basis and may be asked to work a specific shift schedule or, at times, even a rotating schedule, extended shift and/or overtime in accordance with agency leave policy and performs other duties as assigned.

Provides hospital administration and recovery teams with consultation, training, and guidance on the appropriate application of forensic evaluations on competency restoration commitments and safe community discharge planning. Provides additional training on the implementations and communicating with courts in a manner that facilitates discharge to the community.

Designs, conducts, and coordinates forensic activities and programs. Conducts evaluations of psychological patients on 46B/46C/Chapter 55 commitments in accordance with the HHSC State Hospital Forensic Operatic Procedure and utilizes evidence-based and standardized instruments to ensure accurate assessments. Coordinates with interdisciplinary teams, including medical, legal, and administrative staff, to develop comprehensive treatment and rehabilitation plans. Provides expert consultation and testimony as needed in legal proceedings. Maintains thorough documentation and compliance with regulatory standards while contributing to ongoing program development, training, and quality improvement initiatives to enhance forensic services.

Oversees forensic programs in collaboration with other relevant disciplines competency restoration, trial competency evaluation, and evaluation and treatment of individuals acquitted as not guilty by reason of insanity. Develops and implements procedures to ensure that forensic evaluations are completed, documented, and communicated to the relevant courts or other entities in accordance with applicable statutes, standards, and policies. Evaluates and ensures the professional competency of forensic evaluators through coaching and training as needed. Collaborates with other disciplines to develop forensic policies and procedures.

Provides specialized forensic psychological services tailored to legal and clinical settings, which encompass a range of assessments and interventions designed to assess and manage mental health and behavioral concerns. Conducts psychological evaluations to determine the presence of mental disorders, performing suicide risk assessments to identify individuals at risk of self-harm, and administers COPSD (Co-occurring Psychiatric and Substance Use Disorders) assessments to evaluate the interplay of mental health and substance use disorders. Responsible for conducting forensic trial competency evaluations to assess an individual’s mental fitness for court proceedings, performing violence risk assessments to gauge the potential for harm to others, and providing psychotherapy in various formats, such as individual, group, or family therapy. Offers debriefing services following incidents involving restraint or seclusion, aimed at addressing the psychological impacts and promoting healing and recovery in affected individuals.

Provides patients with recovery-focused care, including an emphasis on reducing use of restraints when possible. Assists with and participates in performance improvement efforts toward implementation of a recovery/trauma-informed care (TIC) treatment/recovery planning environment. Applies recovery/TIC principles to all interactions with other staff and treatment team members and supports the team in the ongoing implementation of best practices related to recovery. Specifically supports peer support team and peer support concepts.

Provides consultation and guidance on the appropriate application of forensic-educational activities based on existing best practices and current peer-reviewed research. Provides effective expert testimony to courts regarding forensic psychological evaluations and actively supports hospital and agency safety (including patient safety), risk management, and infection control programs.

Provides case outreach, training, education, and expert consultation to multidisciplinary teams, relevant courts, and community stakeholders on forensic services. This is achieved through comprehensive continuing education programs, tailored outreach initiatives, and collaborative efforts designed to enhance awareness, improve inter-agency coordination, and promote best practices in forensic care and intervention.

Performs other duties as assigned. Other duties as assigned including actively participating and/or serving in a supporting role to meet the agency’s obligations for disaster response and/or recovery or Continuity of Operations (COOP) activation. Such participation may require an alternate shift pattern, assignment, and/or location.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs):

Knowledge of forensic psychological assessment and treatment of the seriously mentally ill forensic populations.

Knowledge of psychotherapy and CBT, DBT, behavior therapy, and other empirically-supported psychotherapeutic modalities.

Skills in the use of psychological instruments to evaluate personality, neurocognition, adaptive functioning, suicide risk, and malingering (i.e. MMPI, HCR-20, VRAG, TOMM, MFAST, and SIRS).

Ability to conduct forensic and psychological assessments and write clear, concise reports.

Ability to provide expert testimony to courts regarding forensic and psychological assessments.

Ability to provide direct services in accordance with accepted professional standards.

Ability to function as a member of the psychology management team.

Ability to provide individual and family education regarding serious mental illness.

Ability to complete treatment documentation in electronic medical record using computer.

Ability to communicate assessment data and treatment/discharge implications to team members, courts, and patients where appropriate.

Ability to educate staff in correct implementation of individual and group therapy programs as well as Individualized Intervention programs as needed.

Ability to operate a computer and applicable software.

Ability to train and supervise the work of others.

Registrations, Licensure Requirements or Certifications:

Must be licensed as a Psychologist by the State of Texas or a reciprocity state.

Initial Screening Criteria:

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a doctoral degree in psychology.

One year of supervised experience by a licensed psychologist in the field of psychological services; the year of supervised experience may be interpreted as an academic year of full-time supervised internship in an approved clinical program.

One year of experience conducting both forensic evaluations and standard psychological assessments and writing reports with forensic populations in an inpatient psychiatric setting.

One year of experience conducting individual and group psychotherapy with forensic populations in an inpatient psychiatric setting.