Job Description

The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) and Department of Human Services (DHS) merged on July 1, 2022, to form one agency, the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). We are seeking a Forensic Psychologist to join the team at the Cherokee Mental Health Institute (CMHI). This is a full-time position with HHS offering resources for professional growth, opportunity for leadership advancement, and a unique occasion to help develop a dynamic forensic behavioral health system in Iowa.

The Cherokee Mental Health Institute is a state-operated, acute psychiatric hospital that is accredited by the Joint Commission and CMS certified. CMHI has 36 total beds across three units – 24 beds for acute psychiatric adults and 12 beds for adult forensic commitments. The forensic commitments primarily include persons found incompetent to stand trial and in need of competence restoration treatment. The hospital includes security professionals who assist in maintaining safety when required.

The Forensic Psychologist will work as part of an inviting and collaborative interdisciplinary team comprised of psychiatric providers, nurses, social workers, psychiatric rehabilitation specialists, and other health disciplines. This is the only doctoral-level psychologist position at the facility. This position will report to the CMHI Social Work Administrator, and receive clinical (psychological) oversight, support, and collaboration from the HHS Clinical Director’s Office based in Des Moines, IA.

The primary duties of this position include:

• 
  Direct, provide, and oversee clinical and forensic psychological services for the hospital.
• Conduct court-ordered competence to stand trial evaluations and other forensic psychological evaluations as requested, such as violence and sexual risk assessments and evaluations of persons found not guilty by reason of insanity (NGRI). Expert witness testimony (in-person or remote) will be provided when required.
• Provide and direct didactic and skills-based competence restoration treatment, including implementing a restoration curriculum and training restoration providers.
• Conduct various psychological assessments and reports to clarify diagnosis, eligibility for services (e.g., intellectual disability), and provide treatment and support recommendations.
• Provide individual/group/family psychotherapy.
• Provide psychological consultation, policy considerations, and direct staff training that promotes a strong continuity of care and improves other staff’s ability to work effectively with civil and forensic (criminal) commitments. This includes best practices for positive behavior management and restraint/seclusion reduction.
• Opportunities may be available for clinical supervision of practicum trainees/predoctoral interns/post-doctoral fellows. Preceptor guidance to psychiatric residents and fellows from the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics (UIHC) may also be available through Iowa’s Public Psychiatry Fellowship program.
• Clinical adjunct faculty appointment with UIHC may be available. This appointment would include access to numerous virtual learning opportunities such as, grand rounds, continuing education credits, and online access to numerous clinical databases, journal articles, and electronic books.

In addition, it is hoped that this Forensic Psychologist will assist HHS and their partners in further establishing a high-quality system of forensic behavioral healthcare that furthers HHS’ mission of providing high-quality programs and services that protect and improve the health and resiliency of individuals, families, and communities. Although not a core part of the job, CMHI is located on the same campus as the Civil Commitment Unit for Sexual Offenders (CCUSO), which may provide this Forensic Psychologist opportunity for additional consultation, psychological testing and evaluations, and training.

We have a great total compensation package, including:

• Iowa Public Employees' Retirement System (IPERS)
• Retirement Investors Club (RIC) (Employer Sponsored Retirement Plan)
• Health, Dental and Vision Insurance
• Vacation Leave
• Sick Leave
• Paid Holidays (9 days/year)
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Life Insurance
• Long-Term Disability Insurance

For additional information on benefits click here (Download PDF reader).

Loan forgiveness opportunities that may be applicable can be found here: https://www.iowaruralworkforce.org/loan-repayment-scholarships.html

Please Note: Under the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services new vaccine mandate for healthcare workers (published on November 5, 2021 and affirmed by the United States Supreme Court on January 13, 2022), all potential employees of this facility must have received, at a minimum, the first dose of a primary series or a single dose vaccine OR have an approved religious or medical exemption (as determined by the agency) OR have documentation reflecting a temporary delay in vaccination (as determined by the agency in accordance with CDC allowances), prior to the start date. Candidates shall coordinate with agency staff to ensure all requirements are met before the individual provides any care, treatment, or other services for the facility and/or its clients.

Cherokee Highlights

CMHI is in Cherokee, Iowa, a city of approximately 5,000 set in the beautiful Little Sioux River Valley in Northwest Iowa. Enjoy fishing and canoeing on the Little Sioux River that winds through town, providing a backdrop to a well-developed parks and trails system. In addition, Cherokee has over 1,000 acres of land devoted to parks for things like camping, hiking, and horseback riding. Cherokee is the home of the first accredited museum and planetarium in Iowa, Sandford Museum and Planetarium, established in 1951. Cherokee may be the smallest town in the world to have its own symphony orchestra! This 60-member orchestra has been referred to as the “best kept secret in Northwest Iowa.”

Cherokee is home to Western Iowa Tech Community College and 1 hour or less from other educational institutions including Morningside College, Northwestern College, Buena Vista University, and Dordt College. This quintessential Iowa town is 1 hour from Sioux City and 2 hours from Omaha. It is also 2 ½ hours from Des Moines, home to Wells Fargo Arena (a host site of NCAA Basketball and premier concerts), as well as Lauridsen Skatepark, the nation’s largest public skate venue. Additionally, Des Moines has one of the nation’s finest State Fairs and is home to professional sports teams the Iowa Cubs, Iowa Wolves, Iowa Barnstormers and Iowa Wild. Check out these 10 Reasons to Move to Iowa.

The State of Iowa is an EEO/AA Employer

HHS values those with “lived experience” and encourages adults who were fostered as youth, foster parents, and/or parents who were in the DHS system to apply. Minorities, women, persons with disabilities and veterans are encouraged to apply (Hearing and Speech Impaired – Relay Iowa 1-800-735-2942 TDD).

Our agency uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify.

Minimum Qualification Requirements

Applicants must meet at least one of the following minimum requirements to qualify for positions in this job classification:

1) Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in any field, and experience equal to six years of full-time professional-level work in program administration, program development, program operations, or management.

2) A total of ten years of education and/or full-time experience (as described in number one), where thirty semester hours of accredited college or university course work in any field equals one year of full-time experience.

3) All of the following (a, b, and c): a. Four years of full-time professional-level work experience in program administration, program development, program operations, or management; and b. A total of four years of education and full-time experience (as described in part a), where thirty semester hours of accredited college or university course work in any field equals one year of full-time experience; and c. A total of two years of graduate-level education and full-time experience (as described in part a), where twenty-four semester hours of accredited graduate college or university course work in a public-service-related area (e.g., public or business administration, social work, public health, law, education, engineering) equals one year of full-time experience. Graduation from the Iowa Certified Public Manager Program is also equivalent to one year of full-time experience or education.

4) Current, continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes one year of full-time work as an Executive Officer 3 or two years of full-time work as an Executive Officer 2 or comparable specific management-level position.

For additional information, please click on this link to view the job description (Download PDF reader).

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