Are you looking for a meaningful career in forensics with room to grow, job stability, consultation opportunities, and a chance to work within a multidisciplinary team? If you are passionate about working with severely behavioral ill patients, we have a spot for you! Check out Western State Hospital’s Gage Center of Forensic Services (aka CFS), located on the historical Fort Steilacoom Campus and currently under expansion.
 
Opportunities performed on-site at this work location at least three days a week may be eligible for an additional 5% premium pay in addition to the advertised salary. Pierce County employees are eligible to receive an Orca Card for transportation needs. 
 
We’re hiring motivated, enthusiastic candidates to work as Psychologists in either of two forensic programs under RCW 10.77 – Competency Restoration (Comp Rest) and Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity (NGRI). Both programs are under review and evolving, so if you’re interested in systemic and programmatic improvements, challenges, and rewards, this is for you.
 
In either program, you will work with patients with complex, challenging, and diverse cases from a trauma-informed care approach. As a multidisciplinary team member, you will be a team lead and consultant, ensuring the team uses evidence-based treatment modalities and behavior management strategies.
 
Outside of typical work duties, there are opportunities to enhance your professional development and leadership skills, teach various disciplines about psychological concepts, develop and inform policy and standards of practice, obtain free continuing education units, join committees, supervise students, and conduct research. There is much more offered. Let’s talk.
 
Some of what you will be doing (depending on the program):

• Therapeutically engage with patients
• Consulting with the team and other stakeholders regarding patient care, practices, and procedure
• Support non-medical and medical clinical staff by providing psychoeducation and appropriate modeling leadership 
• Complete assessments of violence and suicidal risk
• Implement evidence-based treatment practices
• Conduct psychological testing 
• Provide court testimony (where applicable) 
• Complete required documentation according to professional, hospital, and CMS standards.

Who should apply?
Professionals with a Doctoral degree in Psychology from an accredited school or department of psychology and preferably two years of doctoral experience working in an inpatient or forensic setting with a severely behavioral ill population. Individuals with formal training in evidence-based treatment modalities or forensic/psychological testing are preferred.
 
In-training positions are available, but you must be approved to take EPPP in WA state or have passed EPPP and applied for licensure in WA state.
 
How to Apply:
Completed applications will include:

1. Resume/CV 
2. Letter of interest 
3. Three professional references with current contact information.

 
Our Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) mission to Transform Lives requires that we come together with a sense of belonging, common purpose, shared values and meaningful work. It is crucial to our agency’s mission that you bring an equity, anti-racism and social justice commitment to your work with DSHS. We strive to create greater access and affirming representation of the communities we serve, including Black, Indigenous and People of Color, people with physical, behavioral health, and intellectual disabilities, elders, LGBTQIA+ individuals, immigrants and refugees, and families building financial security.
 
Questions about 01990?   Contact Jourdan.Phipps@dshs.wa.gov