State of Colorado hiring Associate Director of Training, Court Services (Psychologist II) - Statewide. in Colorado, United States | LinkedIn (2024)

Department Information This position has a residency waiver and will be accepting applications 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. 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.

Opt in below to receive text message updates on CDHS recruiting events! CDHSCareers Description Of JobThe Forensic Services Division is responsible for six departments including Forensic Community Based Services (FCBS), Jail Based Evaluation and Restoration (JBR), Outpatient Restoration (OPR), the Forensic Support Team (FST), the Court Services Department, and the Operations Department. 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 CMHHIP, or at CMHHIFL and are performed by psychologists and psychiatrists, as mandated in the Colorado Statute, 16-8.5.

The Court Services Postdoctoral Forensic Fellowship Program develops and provides training to those accepted to this selective program to become subject matter experts in forensic evaluation. This program is nationally recognized, accepted by the American Board of Forensic Psychology (ABFP) for the experience waiver, and is approved to offer continuing education credits (CEU) through the American Psychological Association (APA). During the course of the training program, fellows directly contribute to all forensic evaluations court ordered to the OCFMH.

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.

Job Duties

• Assist the director of training within the Court Services Department and the fellowship training program and is responsible for the training, supervision, and oversight of all forensic evaluations conducted by the postdoctoral fellowship trainees
• Support the achievement of all requirements to remain in good standing with the American Board of Forensic Psychology’s (ABFP) experience waiver, approved status as a provider of continuing education units (CEU), the American Psychological Association (APA) and/or Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC)
• Review all evaluations completed by the fellowship trainees prior to submission to the Courts until one achieves approval for other practice arrangements
• Completes an average of six (6) restoration and/or competency evaluations (or the equivalent based on sanity and mental condition or risk evaluations) per month and may be specifically assigned to high profile cases on behalf of the department
• Provide work lead requirements to the Health Professional I (Postdoctoral Fellow) staff
• Foster the development of the fellows through observation training during their various evaluations and stepwise increase autonomy
• Promotes operational and administrative compliance with Forensic Services and CDHS policies and procedures, the American Psychological Association Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct and the Specialty Guidelines for Forensic Psychology, all State/Federal Statutes, State Licensing/Credentialing and Regulatory Board standards affecting the evaluation of competency
• Other duties as assigned

Minimum QualificationsMinimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal RightsEducation/Licensure/Certification/ExperienceCurrent, valid licensure as a Psychologist from the Colorado State Board of Psychologist Examiners

ANDThree (3) years of experience as licensed psychologist or permitted psychologist candidate, two of which must have been at the level of a fully operating psychologist

No SubstitutionsSpecial Qualifications: Current Licensed Psychologist with the State of Colorado

Preferred Qualifications

• Three years experience working independently as a forensic evaluator
• Experience with competency and restoration of competency evaluations
• Experience with ABFP waivered educational program
• ABPP board certified
• Preferred board certification in Forensic Psychology and management skills for oversight of the post doctoral forensic fellowship program
• Ability to work independently with little or no direction
• Clear and effective written and oral communication skills
• Ability to use independent judgment to accomplish tasks to meet deadlines

Conditions Of Employment

• A pre-employment criminal background check will be conducted as part of the selection process as this position is deemed to have direct contact with vulnerable persons. 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)
• May require travel between offices, CMMHIP (Pueblo), CMHI-FL (Denver), and various detention facilities.
• Must successfully pass a TB (tuberculosis) Test.
• This position will be paid biweekly.
• Valid and Current Unrestricted Colorado Driver’s License.
• Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must disclose the information on the application and provide an explanation why the prior termination or resignation should not disqualify the applicant from the current position. Absent extraordinary circ*mstances, prior disciplinary termination or resignation in lieu of termination will disqualify the applicant from future State employment with CDHS.

Appeal RightsIf 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 InformationHow To ApplyThe Assessment ProcessFor additional recruiting questions, please contact joel.drahos @state.co.usAbout UsIf 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
• Short- and long-term disability coverage
• 11 paid holidays per year plus vacation and sick leave
• BenefitHub state employee discount program
• Employee Wellness program MotivateMe
• Excellent work-life programs, such as flexible schedules, training and more
• Remote work arrangements for eligible positions
• Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. For more

information, go to https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/dhr/student-loan-forgiveness-programs .

Our ValuesWe believe in a people-first approach: To serve the people of Colorado, we develop a culture and work environment that creates an energized, inspired, and healthy team capable of giving their best to Coloradans .Balance creates quality of life: We want our team to be resilient through a supportive workplace that values flexibility, health and wellness, and employee engagement.

We hold ourselves accountable: We take responsibility through our actions, programs, and results for the state of health and human services in Colorado.

Transparency matters: We are open and honest with employees, our partners, the Coloradans we serve, and the public.

We are ethical: We abide by what is best for those we serve by doing what is right, not what is easy.

Collaboration helps us rise together: We work together with all partners, employees, and clients to achieve the best outcomes for Coloradans.

We are committed to increasing the diversity of our staff and providing culturally responsive programs and services. Therefore, we encourage responses from people of diverse backgrounds and abilities. ADAA Accommodations: CDHS is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to our ADAA Coordinator, Nancy Schmelzer, at cdhs_ada@state.co.us or call 1-800-929-0791.

~THE STATE OF COLORADO IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER~Toll Free Applicant Technical Support