DSHS WSH Psychology Services Supervisor

We’re looking to hire a Psychology Services Supervisor at Western State Hospital (WSH), a state in-patient psychiatric facility in Lakewood, Washington. You will be serving the Civil Center of Excellence (CCE) at WSH. Our staff members provide direct care, assessment, and evidence-based individual/group psychological therapies to adults with severe psychiatric conditions. Most of our patient population is admitted to the hospital under the Involuntary Treatment Act for civil commitment for psychiatric treatment. This is an exciting opportunity for a meaningful career where you have the ability to grow as a professional to enjoy the work you do and to help support the Civil Center’s mission of transforming lives through dedication to the wellness of individuals, their families, and the community through behavioral health interventions, treatment, and education.

As a Psychology Services Supervisor, you will supervise staff of 14 Psychologist, 11 Master’s level Psychology Associates, and three Institutional Counselors positions,. You will supervise psychologists who conduct psycho-legal / court work, completing court petitions for involuntary commitment and providing expert witness testimonies. You will provide direction for the implementation of psychological treatment and assessment conducted by the Psychology Services staff. You will be a key contributing member of leadership teams directly involved in determining how psychological treatment is provided at the hospital. The job duties are primarily onsite at Western State Hospital campus in Lakewood, WA, and there may be opportunities for some flexible or hybrid work.

Some of what you will do

• Hire and orient new staff; directly supervise doctoral staff; provide leadership, administrative, and clinical supervision to Psychology department staff; complete annual reviews; deploy psychology staff for best resource use; initiate FARM actions; initiate AROIs; initiate HR/OJCR consultations; initiate RA needs; manage NEOGov; facilitate trainings; complete AROI reviews; assures the competency of all the Civil Center psychology staff.
• Develop, direct, coordinate, and promote standards of excellence for the Civil Center psychology services and programming; 
• Collaborate with various disciplines/teams/directors to integrate psychology services into the Civil Center of Excellence and hospital-wide programming and policies;
• Ensure models of psychology interventions and programming are grounded in best and/or evidenced-based practices; establish psychology practice improvement initiatives; develop action plans; develop necessary forms/documentation; audit programming. Oversee Psychology quality assurance program.  
• Participate in clinical case consultation case reviews with senior clinical staff for patients with challenging/emergent issues. 
• Contribute towards the development of larger hospital wide policies/procedures participating as a member of functional work teams and sub-work groups.
• Provide coverage, as warranted, for psychology services, including petitions, evaluations, meetings with patients, intakes, early referrals, administrative and clinical supervision, and completing appropriate documentation, etc.  
• Ensure compliance with DSHS and WSH Policies, standards of Practice, CMS regulations (and other stakeholders as appropriate), and compliance with all state and federal legislation. 
• Make recommendations and maintain psychology policy and procedures, maintain updated clinical standards of care, psychology best practice, and code of ethics to ensure these standards/practices/ethics are consistent with current professional expectations for accreditation, regulatory bodies as well as best practices.

May be required to adjust scheduled hours of work to meet the hospital’s workload demands (i.e., work overtime, work outside of the typical schedule, work on holidays, etc.).

Occasional travel to court/meetings out of area.

Who should apply?

Professionals with the following:

• Doctorate degree in Psychology from an accredited school of psychology;

  AND

• Valid Washington State Psychology License;

   AND
   

• Three years applied post-doctoral experience and demonstrated psychotherapy, psychological consultation, and psychological assessment skills

  AND

• One year of post-doctoral supervisor experience.  

Preferred knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• Three (3) years of supervisory experience preferred. Relevant paid experience can be considered as substitution for supervisory experience; under discretion of hiring authority.
• Previous inpatient, forensic, and or correctional setting experience preferred.
• Possess extensive knowledge of Psychology’s best and evidence-based practices and standards.
• Possess demonstrated leadership and management skills/abilities including sound judgment, independent, problem-solving, high-level decision making, conflict management and resolution, time management, exceptional interpersonal/relationship skills, and ability to lead others through proactive modeling and provision of accurate and constructive feedback.
• Ability to maintain a working knowledge of WSH and DSHS policies, Federal and State laws and standards related to psychiatric hospitals, and APA and ABPP Forensic Psychology code of ethics.
  

To be considered for this opportunity please include the following:

• Current chronological resume or curriculum vitae
• Cover letter explaining why you are interested in the job, and the skills and experience that make you the best person for the job
• Three professional references with current contact information, including at least two references from past or present supervisors

Questions?
If you have questions about job number 02892, please contact Kathy Simmons at Kathy.Simmons@dshs.wa.gov or call (360) 725-5810.

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.