Psychologist III - Forensic Psychologist

DHRM•Danville, VA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Southern Virginia Mental Health Institute is seeking a forensic psychologist to support patient recovery and respond to mental health questions from courts and jails. The institute is a 72-bed state psychiatric hospital in Danville, Virginia, where most patients are involved in the forensic system. The psychologist works with individuals acquitted not guilty by reason of insanity, defendants ordered to competency restoration, and inmates ordered to pretrial and post-trial treatment. The role also responds to forensic referral questions and provides treatment update reports to jails, attorneys, and courts. The position offers exposure to a wide range of forensic assessment questions, legal codes, diagnoses, and patient presentations, with access to didactic training, webinars, and expert consultation. The psychologist works as part of a multidisciplinary treatment team and uses assessment and clinical skills in a state hospital setting. A sign-on bonus of $8,000 is available to candidates new to state service who remain employed at the facility for one year. The posting lists state benefits including paid holidays, vacation, sick leave, family personal leave, family medical leave, short- and long-term disability coverage, health insurance, group and optional life insurance, flexible reimbursement accounts, referral bonuses, a Virginia 529 College Savings Plan that may be available for the role, and state employee discounts.

Requirements

Doctoral degree in psychology (e.g., Ph.D. or Psy.D.) from an APA-accredited program or an equivalent accrediting body recognized by the Virginia licensing board, as required for licensure eligibility.
Completion of a predoctoral internship accredited by the APA or an equivalent accrediting body, as required for licensure eligibility under Code of Virginia Regulation 18VAC125-20-54E.
Experience as a doctoral-level psychologist working with forensically involved individuals with mental illness.
Must hold or be able to obtain a Virginia Department of Health Professions Licensed Clinical Psychologist license within 12 months of hire and maintain it throughout employment.
Must hold or be able to complete DBHDS forensic certification through the Institute of Law, Psychiatry and Public Policy (ILPPP) within 12 months of hire.
Comprehensive knowledge of psychological principles, practices, and ethical standards.
Strong diagnostic evaluation, treatment-planning, and psychotherapy skills.
Proficiency in administering and scoring basic psychological testing instruments.
Proficiency in assessing and treating individuals with a variety of clinical presentations.
Familiarity with psychosocial rehabilitation and the recovery model.
Strong oral and written communication skills.
Ability to analyze behavior patterns and develop behavioral assistance plans.
Ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary treatment team.
Strong crisis management skills.
Ability to present and testify effectively in court.
Basic computer skills, including word processing and computerized test scoring.
Adherence to high professional practice standards, supported by training in programs meeting national psychology accreditation standards.
Successful fingerprint-based criminal history check, drug screen, and reference checks are required for the selected candidate.

Nice To Haves

Forensic certification by Virginia’s Institute of Law, Psychiatry, and Public Policy.
Board certification in forensic psychology.

Responsibilities

Support patients in their recovery through forensic psychological services.
Work with individuals acquitted not guilty by reason of insanity.
Work with defendants ordered for competency restoration.
Work with inmates ordered for pretrial and post-trial treatment.
Answer forensic referral questions and mental health questions from courts and jails.
Provide treatment update reports to jails, attorneys, and courts.
Conduct diagnostic evaluations, treatment planning, psychotherapy, and psychological testing.
Assess and treat individuals with varied clinical presentations.
Analyze behavior patterns and develop behavioral assistance plans.
Work effectively within a multidisciplinary treatment team.
Present and testify in court as needed.

Benefits

$8,000 sign-on bonus for candidates new to state service who remain employed at the facility for one year.
13 paid holidays.
12 or more paid vacation days per year.
8 paid sick days per year.
4 or more paid family personal days per year.
Family Medical Leave.
Short- and long-term disability coverage.
Low-cost comprehensive Anthem or AETNA health insurance.
Group life and optional life insurance.
Flexible reimbursement accounts.
Referral bonuses.
Virginia 529 College Savings Plan may be available for this role.
State employee discounts and more.