Psychologist I - Evaluator Court Services Statewide

State of Colorado; Colorado; Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PERA retirement plan options

Medical and dental health plans

Remote work arrangements for eligible

Job summary

CDHS Court Services is seeking a licensed psychologist to perform statewide forensic evaluations for competency, restoration, and sanity. You will prepare written reports and may be subpoenaed to testify in court, with evaluations in hospitals, jails, or community settings as ordered.

The role requires licensure in Colorado, at least one year of licensed experience, and travel across Colorado. A hybrid work arrangement is available, with in-office requirements a minimum of 2x per week.

Qualifications

• Current, valid licensure as a Psychologist from the Colorado State Board of Psychologist Examiners.
• One year of experience as a licensed psychologist or permitted psychologist candidate.

Responsibilities

• Complete the equivalent of 12 court ordered evaluations for competency, restoration, or sanity per month with written reports.
• Provide testimony and collateral information as needed to inform opinions for court orders.
• Develop and deliver expert opinions on competency, restoration, and mental condition to courts.
• Attend annual and ongoing competency trainings per required standards.
• Present findings to peers in case presentations and participate in QA processes.
• Perform other duties or special projects as assigned by OCFMH.

Skills

Assessments

Court testimony

Written reports

Independent work

Education

Colorado Psychologist license

1 year licensed experience

Job description

Open to Colorado Residents Only

CDHS Court Services

Located within the Colorado Department of Human Services, the Office of Civil and Forensic Mental Health (OCFMH) is responsible for policy development, service provision and coordination, program monitoring and evaluation, and administrative oversight for the public behavioral health system. OCFMH funds, supports and monitors numerous mental health and substance abuse community programs and providers. OCFMH also operates the Colorado Mental Health Hospitals at Fort Logan and Pueblo and the Forensic Services Division. OCFMH executes the States’ federal responsibilities as the State Mental Health Authority and State Substance Abuse Authority for the purposes of administering federal mental health and substance abuse block grant funds.

The Court Services Department employs forensically practicing psychologists to provide evaluative services statewide, with staff in Pueblo, Denver and other locations. Evaluators complete all court ordered forensic evaluations for defendants in criminal cases as so ordered by the court. These evaluations are performed in the jail, in the community, at Mental Health Hospitals and are performed by psychologists and psychiatrists, as mandated in the Colorado Statute, 16-8.5.

Hybrid Work: This position is required to report to the office at least 2x a week.

Please note: These working arrangements are subject to change.

Our teams work within various settings including community agencies, jails, courts, and hospitals. The locations can include locked units and secure facilities and our clients may at times be unpredictable due to their mental health needs. Our team is required to make critical decisions in dynamic and fast-paced environments in order to ensure a high level of accountability for patient care. Our staff are required to maintain updated skills, knowledge, abilities, and competencies necessary to the position through continuing education, clinical supervision, literature review, and discipline and team development. This position may be required to travel throughout Colorado to meet the needs of the department.

Responsibilities

• Complete the equivalent of 12 court ordered evaluations for competency, restoration of competency or sanity/mental condition (if the evaluator meets qualifications) per month including a written report detailing their opinion regarding competency or sanity/mental condition, and if their opinion is incompetent includes an explanation of barriers to competency, clearly detailed in their report
• The Psychologist may be subpoenaed to testify to provide the court with information regarding their opinion. Evaluations may occur in various settings including hospitals, jails or in the community and this position responds to the location specified in the court order. This position requests collateral information as needed to inform their opinion and seeks consultation from their supervisor or colleagues on difficult, complex or ambiguous cases.
• Develop and deliver to courts, via expert testimony, professional opinion regarding the legal question of competency, restoration and in some instances sanity and mental condition
• Attends annual and ongoing competency training to statutorily and Forensic Services mandated training sessions to ensure evaluators stay informed of current trends and research in the field of forensic psychology.
• Present and provide feedback to peers during case presentations for continued growth and development and may be asked to submit evaluations for quality assurance and/or peer review
• This position may be called upon to perform tasks or undertake special assignments or projects deemed necessary by OCFMH, but not specifically referenced in the above duties
• Other duties as assigned

Education / Licensure / Certification / Experience

• Current, valid licensure as a Psychologist from the Colorado State Board of Psychologist Examiners
• One (1) year of experience as a licensed psychologist or permitted psychologist candidate

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in the area of Forensic Evaluations
• Experience in conducting and writing evaluations of competency to proceed
• Ability to work independently with little or no direction
• Clear and effective written and oral communication skill

Conditions of Employment

• Required vaccinations by the State of CO
• FULL BACKGROUND CHECK: This position will have direct contact with vulnerable persons (as defined by C.R.S.27-90-111: "Direct contact" means providing face‑to‑face care, training, supervision, counseling, consultation, or medication assistance to vulnerable persons, regardless of the level of supervision of the department employee. "Direct contact" may include positions in which persons have access to or unsupervised time with clients or patients, including but not limited to maintenance personnel, housekeeping staff, kitchen staff, and security personnel.)
• Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must disclose that information on the application, explain why the prior termination or resignation should not disqualify the applicant from the current position, and provide the employee number from the applicant’s prior State employment. Absent extraordinary circumstances, prior disciplinary termination or resignation in lieu of termination and failure to provide this information will disqualify the applicant from future State employment with CDHS.
• CBI name check and fingerprint check, ICON Colorado court database, Medicare fraud database, Reference Checks, Professional License verification (licensure requirements), Drug Screen, PREA (Division of Youth Services), Trails check (direct contact with children), CAPS (direct contact with adults – Mental Health Institutes, Regional Centers, Veterans Community Living Centers)
• Must possess a valid, unrestricted U.S. Driver's License
• May require extensive travel between offices, CMHHIP, CMHHI-FL, and various detention facilities.
• 2-step TB (tuberculosis) screening is required of all new employees upon hire and any required vaccination

Benefits

• Strong, secure, yet flexible retirement benefits including a PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan plus 401(k) and 457 plans
• Medical and dental health plans
• Employer supplemented Health Savings Account
• Paid life insurance
• Short- and long-term disability coverage
• 11 paid holidays per year plus vacation and sick leave
• State of Colorado Employee BenefitHub Resource Center
• Employee Wellness program
• Excellent work-life programs, such as flexible schedules, training and more
• Remote work arrangements for eligible positions
• *Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

Our Values

• We believe in a people-first approach: We prioritize the needs, well‑being, and dignity of the individuals, families and communities we serve. We commit to respect, fairness and access in every decision, policy and interaction. We engage client voices and experiences in the development and implementation of the services we provide.
• Balance creates quality of life: We want our team to be resilient through a supportive workplace that values flexibility, health and wellness, and employee engagement.
• We hold ourselves accountable: We take responsibility through our actions, programs, and results for the state of health and human services in Colorado.
• Transparency matters: We are open and honest with employees, our partners, the Coloradans we serve, and the public.
• We are ethical: We abide by what is best for those we serve by doing what is right, not what is easy.
• Collaboration helps us rise together: We work together with all partners, employees, and clients to achieve the best outcomes for Coloradans.

ADA Accommodations

CDHS is committed to a Colorado for ALL qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment. This includes completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre‑employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or performing essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to [e-mail].

EEO Statement

The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to increasing a “Colorado for ALL” of our staff and providing culturally responsive programs and services. Therefore, we encourage responses from people of all backgrounds and abilities. The State of Colorado believes that a “Colorado for ALL” drives our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law.