Job Description

Overview The Department of Mental Health (DMH) is seeking an experienced Forensic Psychologist who will provide forensic services and evaluations to individuals with mental illness and substance abuse who become involved with the courts and the criminal justice system; or who present with a need for a risk assessment. The incumbent will conduct court ordered evaluations and risk assessments for individuals at court or in community settings, including pre-trial and post-adjudication defendants (such as competence to stand trial, criminal responsibility and aid in sentencing) and statutory evaluations pertaining to involuntary commitment to inpatient systems. The psychologist will assess mental status, answer dispositional questions, provide the court with non-statutory evaluations, and offer 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 and works 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 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); and related evaluations and determinations. Conducts Forensic Risk Assessments as requested by DMH Forensic Mental Health Services at inpatient facilities or in community settings; meets with patients and treatment teams, reviews records, and makes treatment planning recommendations. Provides testimony as requested by the court in the role of expert witness, in conjunction with evaluations conducted as described above. Provides consultation to the court and probation staff and to community providers involved with forensic clients to assess mental status and/or dispositional questions. Establishes and maintains working relationships with agencies and sources, maintains knowledge of DMH priority populations and available services, and participates in regular meetings and training to support performance. Conducts psychological evaluations and testing when clinically indicated, using assessment instruments generally accepted as reliable and valid in the field. Completes data collection forms as required by the Department of Mental Health. Maintains current knowledge of developments, trends, policies, and procedures in mental health and substance abuse services for individuals involved in civil and criminal justice systems through training and continuing education to maintain licensure. Maintains professional expertise through CEUs and other training. Provides clinical consultation on difficult cases followed by other team staff, as part of a collaborative team relationship. Provides review and feedback on other team members’ evaluations when requested. Participates on committees, training and supervision as requested. Required Qualifications Considerable knowledge of types and symptoms of mental, emotional and substance abuse disorders. Ability to recognize symptoms, interact with people in distress, analyze psychological data, draw conclusions, and make appropriate recommendations. Knowledge of behavioral techniques; familiarity with theories of psychotherapy and counseling; understanding of current treatment approaches for serious mental illnesses, including severe personality disorders. Ability to complete high quality written forensic reports and evaluations. Preferred Qualifications Ability to work under time pressure, manage multiple tasks, and produce high quality reports according to applicable standards and guidelines. Appointment as a designated forensic psychologist or eligibility to become one within one year of hire. Knowledge of human services and criminal justice systems. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and ability to collaborate with a wide variety of constituents. Proficient use of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook). Given the population served, bilingual or multilingual fluency. DMH Mission Statement The Department of Mental Health assures and provides access to services and supports to meet the mental health needs of individuals of all ages, enabling them to live, work and participate in their communities, and fosters standards to ensure effective and culturally competent care to promote recovery. Pre-Offer Process A criminal background check will be completed as required by the regulations set forth by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services prior to hiring. For more information, please visit mass.gov/hhs/cori. Education, licensure and certifications will be verified in accordance with the Human Resources Division’s Hiring Guidelines. Information provided by the selected candidate is subject to the Massachusetts Public Records Law and may be published on the Commonwealth’s website. If you require ADA accommodations, please request through the ADA Reasonable Accommodation Online Request Form. For questions regarding this requisition, contact the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, Human Resources at 1-800-510-4122 Ext. 4. First consideration will be given to those applicants that apply within the first 14 days. Requirements and Benefits Minimum Entrance Requirements: Applicants must have a Doctorate in Psychology from a school accredited by the American Psychological Association and at least three years of full-time (or equivalent) professional experience as a Licensed Psychologist. At least one year must include supervision over Post-doctoral Psychologists-in-training and/or Psychological Assistants. Special Requirements: Current and valid registration as a Psychologist with the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Psychology. Depending on assignment, must meet eligibility for Designated Forensic Psychologist per 104 CMR 33.04(3)(b). Travel may be required. If using a motor vehicle, must hold a current Massachusetts driver’s license or equivalent. Salary placement is based on experience and education and aligned with the Human Resources Division guidelines. For bargaining unit positions, compensation follows the applicable collective bargaining agreement. Comprehensive Benefits DMH offers a comprehensive benefits package. For specifics, explore our Employee Benefits and Rewards. This is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action 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 race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by applicable law. We encourage applicants who believe they have the necessary skills to apply. #J-18808-Ljbffr Mass.gov

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