Psychiatric Examiner (Psychologist) (NY HELPS), Central Office

Duties Description

The New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH), Division of Forensic Services is recruiting to fill Psychiatric Examiner (Psychologist), Grade 27, positions in various locations throughout New York State.

Under the direction of a Chief Psychiatric Examiner (Psychologist), Psychiatric Examiners (Psychologist) conduct psychiatric evaluations of individuals who are statutorily referred for civil management consideration under the Sex Offender Management and Treatment Act (SOMTA). Incumbents review records, conduct and interpret actuarial risk assessments, complete clinical face‑to‑face interviews, generate reports and provide expert testimony in court for evaluations relative to assisting in the determination of a mental abnormality and whether civil confinement or intensive community supervision and treatment is appropriate, annual evaluations concerning the need for continued confinement, and determination of the level of dangerousness in identified community treatment cases.

The following duties are performed by Psychiatric Examiners (Psychologist) to meet the Office of Mental Health’s statutory obligations under the Sex Offender Management and Treatment Act (SOMTA; MHL Article 10).

• Evaluate convicted sex offenders nearing the end of their criminal sentences to determine whether they suffer from a mental abnormality that predisposes them to sexually offend and results in an inability to control such behavior and require civil management.
• Conduct annual evaluations of those civilly confined to secure treatment facilities to determine whether they remain dangerous and in need of confinement.
• Re‑evaluate those determined to suffer from a mental abnormality to assess their current level of dangerousness pursuant to Article 10 of the Mental Hygiene Law.
• Evaluate those in violation of their Strict and Intensive Supervision and Treatment (SIST) conditions to determine whether these conditions need to be modified, or civil confinement is warranted based on an individual’s current level of dangerousness.
• Conduct bi‑annual evaluations of SIST clients to determine whether release or a reduction in the conditions of SIST is appropriate.
• Administer, score, and interpret results of actuarial and other standardized risk assessment tools (e.g., Static‑99R, Violence Risk Scale:
  Sex Offender [VRS:SO], Screening Scale for Pedophilic Interest [SSPI], Psychopathy Checklist – Revised [PCL‑R], Stable‑2007/Acute‑2007).
• Interview collateral contacts (e.g., family members, treatment providers, and social supports); prepare detailed reports summarizing review and evaluation findings for use in Article 10 evaluations, legal proceedings, and by secure treatment and/or SIST community providers.
• Consult with Division of Forensic Services staff and other members of the Case Review Team and SIST team to assist in making and validating case outcome decisions; and make recommendations to the Office of the Attorney General (OAG).
• Provide expert testimony at probable cause hearings, civil management trials and disposition hearings, annual review hearings, SIST violation hearings, SIST bi‑annual hearings, and other Article 10 legal proceedings to defend case outcome decisions based on evaluation findings.
• Collaborate with staff in OMH Central Office and secure treatment facilities, the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, community SIST treatment providers, the OAG, the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities, and other State and local agency personnel.

Non‑Competitive Minimum Qualifications Under the NYS HELPS Program:
In order to be eligible for appointment, candidates must have either:

• Current New York State license and registration to practice psychology and one year of pre‑ or post‑licensure experience in the clinical assessment of the sex offender population, where clinical assessment entails the use of diagnostic tools and techniques to make a determination/recommendation regarding the effectiveness of an overall treatment plan in reducing the likelihood of recidivism and/or harm, the assessment of treatment needs, the assessment of treatment progress, and/or the…