Correctional Psychologist

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Department

Job Summary
Under general supervision, provides clinical services as a doctoral level correctional care psychologist for the Denver Sheriff Department. Services will include individual therapy, group therapy, and diagnostic assessment for incarcerated individuals. Also provides case coordination to facilitate referrals to specialty care as needed. Functions as an integral member of the interdisciplinary team and provides clinical teaching and leadership for other staff members. Is actively involved in quality improvement, data monitoring, supervising psychology trainees, and research/educational activities.
The Correctional Care staff provides care at either Downtown Detention Center or the Denver County Jail. These environments of care have a higher level of clinical acuity and environmental hazard than inpatient and ambulatory settings based on the nature of the facility. The detention centers employ a high level of security, which impacts daily working conditions, including both personal and institutional safety and operations.
Environmental awareness, critical thinking, and decisive, decision-making skills are required in the correctional care setting.
Essential Functions:

• This position is funded by the Office of Civil and Forensic Mental Health (OCFMH)and is responsible for the forensic psychological services in the Denver Restoration and Transition Unit. The program consists of 18 participants at any given time. The responsibilities related to this role include: Conduct and write an average of 15 comprehensive reviews/assessments monthly related to patients’ progress and barriers related to their competency. Lead monthly clinical meetings with OCFMH regarding each patient. Provide ongoing written and  verbal communication to the state regarding changes in patients and their ongoing progress Have knowledge in the provision of clinical services and legal-related education in group and individual competency restoration programming as well as in supervision of students. (65%)
• Diagnoses, evaluates, and treats emotional, behavioral, and mental disorders and/or psychological problems resulting from a physical dysfunction, illness, disease, or disability. (3%)
• Conducts, administers, and interprets tests assessing intellectual abilities, personality characteristics, cognitive skills, psychopathology, and neuropsychological characteristics and writes up appropriate reports as appropriate. (3%)
• Conducts intakes, admissions, and discharges of patients, and manages the patient care. (3%)
• Exercises legal, clinical and professional responsibilities as requires under applicable state laws, such as: involuntary holds, certifications, and release actions. (3%)
• Utilizes clinical interviewing, medical record and history review, and other psychological techniques to assess patient needs. Prepares, updates, and maintains medical records, progress notes, reports, and summaries. (3%)
• Participates in teaching psychology and other integrated care trainees. (3%)
• Performs clinical supervision. This may entail work with staff, master’s and doctoral-level interns, psychologist candidates for licensure/postdoctoral fellows, Residents, nursing students, and/or other professional level trainees. (3%)
• Consults and/or collaborates with other professionals, family members, and other relevant stakeholders to coordinate the diagnosis, management, intervention, or treatment of patients. (3%)
• Conducts treatment planning, rounds, and ward management, as required by area of responsibility. Conducts, utilizes, and /or participates in quality assurance and utilization review activities. (3%)
• Conducts research projects, other scholarly activities, grant preparation, and fund administration, as available/required by area of responsibility. Prepares and submits scholarly articles for professional publication as available/required by area of responsibility. (3%)
• Plans, organizes, conducts and/or participates in educational seminars, case conferences, professional workshops, community education, team building seminars and workshops related to the field of psychology and mental health (3%)
• Assists in developing departmental budgets, as needed. (2%)

Education:

• Doctorate Degree in Clinical or Counseling Psychology Required

Work Experience:

• 1-3 years 4000 hours supervised clinical service, including completion of doctoral internship and one year of postdoctoral experience Required and
• 1-3 years 2000 hours providing behavioral health services in a related setting Required and
• 1-3 years Forensic psychology Postdoctoral Fellowship and competency evaluation experience (for positions with competency evaluation job responsibilities

Licenses:

• PSY-Licensed Psychologist - State Board of Psychologist Examiners Required and
• BLS-Basic Life Support (BLS/CPR) - AHA - American Heart Association or American Red Cross Required

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Advanced knowledge and skills in effective psychological practice in primary care medical settings.
• Is able to provide psychodiagnostic assessment, intervention and patient education for patients commonly seen in the correctional care setting.
• Possesses skills needed to participate effectively in a leadership role with the multidisciplinary team and to provide teaching to other members of the behavioral health team and trainees.
• Can participate as a faculty member with the psychology internship and training program.
• Possesses advanced written and oral communication skills.

Shift

Work Type

Salary

Benefits

At Denver Health, we take care of the people who take care of our community. Our benefits are built to support your life, your family, and your future — with generous paid time off, fully paid parental leave, exceptional retirement contributions, comprehensive health coverage, and nationally recognized well-being programs. We invest in your growth through tuition assistance, career advancement pathways, and professional development — while also offering meaningful financial advantages through loan forgiveness eligibility and employer contributions. When you join Denver Health, you’re joining a mission-driven organization that invests in you.

Here is a small list of our benefit programs:

• Paid time off starting at 28 days per year, inclusive of vacation, personal/sick, and 7 Holidays

• 100% paid parental leave up to 6 weeks

• Immediate eligibility for retirement plans with employer contribution up to 9.5%

• Generous medical, dental, vision plans in addition to employer paid disability and life insurance.

• Comprehensive well-being programs including on-site employee fitness center located on Denver Health main campus and nationally recognized RESTORE Center

• Free RTD EcoPass (public transportation)

• Childcare discount programs & exclusive perks on large brands, travel, and more

• Tuition reimbursement & assistance

• Education, coaching, and professional development opportunities through the Workforce Development Center (WFDC) that support internal career growth and advancement pathways

• Professional clinical advancement program & shared governance

• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) eligible employer+ free student loan coaching and assistance navigating the PSLF program

• National Health Service Corps (NHCS) and Colorado Health Service Corps (CHSC) eligible employer

About Denver Health

Denver Health is an integrated, high-quality academic health care system considered a model for the nation that includes a Level I Trauma Center, a 555-bed acute care medical center, Denver’s 911 emergency medical response system, 10 family health centers, 19 school-based health centers, Rocky Mountain Poison & Drug Safety, the Public Health Institute at Denver Health, Denver Health Medical Plan and Denver Health Foundation.

As Colorado’s primary, and essential, safety-net health care system, Denver Health is a mission-driven organization that has provided millions in uncompensated care for the uninsured each year.

Located near downtown Denver, Denver Health is just minutes away from many of the cultural and recreational activities Denver has to offer.

Denver Health is an equal opportunity employer (EOE). We value the unique ideas, talents and contributions reflective of the needs of our community. All job applicants for safety-sensitive positions must pass a pre-employment drug test, once a conditional offer of employment has been made. Applicants will be considered until the position is filled.