DSHS WSH Psychologist 4

State of Washington • Pierce County – Lakewood, WA

4d • Onsite

About The Position

Join us at the forefront of transforming healthcare! The Behavioral Health Administration (BHA) within WA State’s Department of Social and Health Services is seeking a dedicated Psychologist 4: Sex Offense Treatment Provider to join our team at Western State Hospital (WSH) in Lakewood, WA. As one of the largest psychiatric inpatient hospitals west of the Mississippi River, this pivotal role will help us provide treatment, consultation, and evaluation services for this specialized area of mental health. As a Sex Offense Treatment Provider, you’ll utilize evidenced-based approaches to evaluation and assessment, to include following professional guidelines and statutory requirements in assessing risk. As part of the process, you will review records, which could include treatment notes, evaluations, police reports, and victim statements etc., in addition to interviewing patients and consulting with treatment team staff and other stakeholders. Your recommendations will help inform discharge planning and work to support a safe transition plan for both the patient and the community. Your expertise will also extend to providing psychological consultation to staff, offering guidance on psychiatric disorders, treatments, and care strategies, as well facilitating work between contracted providers who currently provide sex offense treatment. You may provide sex offense treatment or other treatment interventions related to sexually problematic behavior, including providing recommendations to treatment teams. Within this role, you will participate in and present bulletins to the End of Sentence Review Committee, and will be the formal representative and voting member for WSH, once training requirements have been met. Involvement with this committee will also provide opportunities to learn and collaborate with many agencies within WA state. Additionally, you will chair the Sex Offense Review and Referral Team, which is responsible for overseeing the review process for patients with a history of sex offenses or problematic sexual behavior. More broadly, this role will also help to support BHA efforts to provide trauma- informed care and champion equity, diversity, access, and inclusion across all facets of work, emphasizing employee engagement, patient care, provider relations, and community partnerships.

Requirements

• Hold a doctoral degree in psychology from an accredited school or department of clinical psychology.
• Are licensed or eligible to obtain a license in Washington to practice psychology by hire date
• Bring at least three years of post-doctoral psychology experience, including one year of experience supervising other professionals.
• Experience working with forensic patients and/ or experience with individuals who have committed sexual offenses and/ or struggle with sexually problematic behavior.
• Have working knowledge of static and dynamic risk factors, protective factors, approaches to treatment and assessment, and the Risk Need Responsivity considerations, as it pertains to individuals with sexual offenses.

Nice To Haves

• Certification as a Sex Offender Treatment Provider is desired

Responsibilities

• Evaluate and testify for individuals who are criminally and civilly committed, following RCWs 10.77 and 71.05 which would include conducting risk assessments, preparing comprehensive forensic evaluation reports, and defending your findings in court, if needed.
• Provide consultation to treatment teams on individuals with sexual offenses, to include discussion of risk, risk mitigation, and protective factors.
• Conduct assessments related to sexually problematic behaviors.
• Track and manage caseload for patients with sex offenses, monitoring for notifications needed, presentation for leveling, and supporting risk mediation measures.
• Conduct evaluations for civil commitment, conditional release, and less restrictive orders.
• Provide court with petitions, affidavits, letters, or other required documentation.
• Provide expert testimony in support of psycho-legal opinions regarding diagnosis, grounds for commitment, and placement readiness under direct & cross-examination, relying on established psychological principles, facts, and functional data.
• Conduct psychological assessments as assigned; prepare comprehensive psychological assessment reports.
• Treatment Team consultation as necessary.
• Participate in and present cases to the End of Sentence Review Committee.

Benefits

• Opportunities performed on site at this work location at least three days a week may be eligible for an additional 5% premium pay in addition to the advertised salary.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree