Psychologist - Evaluator Court Services Statewide

Open to Colorado Residents Only

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.

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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…