Consulting Psychologist - Forensics

and Duties

This position is located at Coalinga State Hospital.

Under direction of the Senior Psychologist(Supervisor), the Consulting Psychologist provides a variety of forensicpsychological evaluation and consultation services. The primary job duty of theConsulting Psychologist is to independently evaluate, review extensive casefiles and records, perform risk assessments, and write evaluations ofindividuals committed to the Department of State Hospitals, Coalinga asSexually Violent Predators (SVP) and/or Mentally Disordered Offenders (MDO).The purpose of these evaluation reports is to determine if hospital patientscontinue to meet SVP or MDO statutory criteria for civil commitment. Additional types of forensic evaluations may berequired as hospital populations expand to other types of forensic patients.

TheConsulting Psychologist evaluates individuals and reviews their records locatedat Coalinga State Hospital. The Consulting Psychologist provides courttestimony and at deposition, typically in the patients county of commitment.Travel to the hospital on a regular basis for patient interviews and filesreviews, and travel in response to subpoenas, is required. TheConsulting Psychologist may be required to review evaluations written by otherForensic Department psychologists to ensure that their reports are clinicallyand legally sound, accurate, fact-based, and grammatically correct.Departmental reports must be specifically focused on issues as required by SVPand MDO statutes. TheConsulting Psychologist may respond to questions from DSH-C non-Forensicdepartments regarding multiple issues, to include: Sex Offender research, MDOresearch, risk assessment, SVP/MDO laws and legal issues, and SVP/MDOevaluations. This position entails no clinical duties. TheConsulting Psychologist possesses a high degree of skill in multiple areas:Clinical Psychology, Forensic Psychology, SVP/MDO laws and, specializedknowledge and experience in the area of forensic report writing and courttestimony. In addition, ConsultingPsychologists have strict ethical and technical responsibilities regardingpatient confidentiality. Forensicevaluations involve exposure to sensitive and confidential patient informationand materials. Consulting Psychologists are expected to maintain HIPPArequirements regarding confidentiality, as well as DSH and DSH-C rules andregulations, and applicable state and federal laws at all times.

You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement .

Working Conditions

Consulting Psychologist is primarily a telecommuning positon. The incumbent will work in their home or professional officesand is required to travel to Coalinga to review files and interview patientsonce or twice monthly. They are also required to attend weekly conference callsand to travel to DSH-Coalinga occasionally for training and staff meetings.
****Travel to the hospital on a regular basis for patient interviews and file reviews, and travel in response to subpoenas, is required.****