Psychologist I - Evaluator Court Services - Pueblo

Psychologist I - Evaluator Court Services - Pueblo

Salary: $95,340.00 Annually

Location: Statewide, CO

Job Type: Full Time

Job Number: IIB-03852

Department: Colorado Department of Human Services

Division: OBH - CMHIP

Opening Date: 08/29/2024

Closing Date: Continuous

FLSA Status: Exempt; position is not eligible for overtime compensation.

Primary Physical Work Address: Colorado Mental Health Institute at Pueblo

1600 W. 24th Street

Pueblo, CO 81003

Department Contact Information: jerusalen.marshall@state.co.us

Type of Announcement: A residency waiver has been granted for this announcement. Applications will be considered from residents and non-residents of Colorado. This announcement is open to potential candidates who are legal residents of the United States. All legal residents of the United States are eligible to apply and compete. If appointed to a position, applicants from outside of Colorado will be required to relocate to Colorado prior to their start date, at their own expense.

About Us

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.

Description of Job

Hybrid Work: This position is required to report to the office at least 2x a week. 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. This position may be required to travel throughout Colorado to meet the needs of the department. Additionally as a Psychologist I you can expect to:

• 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 I 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

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

Education/Licensure/Certification/Experience:

• Current, valid licensure as a Psychologist from the Colorado State Board of Psychologist Examiners
• AND
• One (1) year of experience as a licensed psychologist or permitted psychologist candidate
• No Substitutions
• Special Qualification:
• Valid licensure as a Psychologist
• 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 skills
• Previous State experience
• Ability to use independent judgment to accomplish tasks to meet deadlines
• Conditions of Employment:
• 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
• Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must:
• Disclose that information on the application.
• Provide an explanation why the prior termination or resignation should not disqualify the applicant from the current position.
• 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.

Appeal Rights

If you receive notice that you have been eliminated from consideration for this position, you may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board or request a review by the State Personnel Director. An appeal or review must be submitted on the official appeal form, signed by you or your representative. This form must be delivered to the State Personnel Board by email (dpa_state.personnelboard@state.co.us), postmarked in US Mail or hand delivered (1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver CO 80203), or faxed (303.866.5038) within ten (10) calendar days from your receipt of notice or acknowledgement of the department's action. For more information about the appeals process, the official appeal form, and how to deliver it to the State Personnel Board; go to spb.colorado.gov ; contact the State Personnel Board for assistance at (303) 866-3300; or refer to 4 Colorado Code of Regulations (CCR) 801-1, State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures, Chapter 8, Resolution of Appeals and Disputes, at spb.colorado.gov under Rules.

Supplemental Information

How to Apply: The Assessment Process

For additional recruiting questions, please contact cynthia.nunez@state.co.us (joel.drahos@state.co.us).

About Us: If your goal is to build a career that makes a difference, consider joining the dedicated people of the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS). Our professionals strive to design and deliver high quality human and health services that improve the safety, independence, and well-being of the people of Colorado. In addition to a great location and rewarding and meaningful work, we offer:

• Strong, secure, yet flexible retirement benefits including a PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan www.copera.org plus 401(k) and 457 plans
• Medical and dental health plans
• Employer supplemented Health Savings Account
• Paid life insurance</