FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGIST - 78958

Executive Service

FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGIST

Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services

Middle Tennessee Mental Health Institute

Nashville, TN

Annual Salary: $103, 440.00 - $165,048.00

Closing Date: 07/22/2026

This position is on-site.

Background Check:

This position requires a criminal background check. Therefore, you may be required to provide information about your criminal history in order to be considered for this position.

Who we are and what we do:

The Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (TDMHSAS) serves as the State of Tennessee's mental health and substance abuse authority. It is charged with planning for and promoting an array of services from prevention and early intervention to resiliency and recovery. TDMHSAS operates four (4) regional mental health institutes (RMHIs), contracts with mental health and substance abuse agencies across the state to offer community services and provides policy, programmatic and quality oversight to programs that provide an array of behavioral health and substance abuse services to eligible persons. Middle Tennessee Mental Health Institute (MTMHI) is a psychiatric hospital that has been serving 18 counties in Middle Tennessee since 1995. Hospitalizations are on a voluntary or involuntary basis, or patients can also be referred by the court system for pre-trial evaluations. The hospital offers 4 long-term care units, 3 short-term care units, forensic services, and therapeutic treatment units for a total of 207 beds. Middle Tennessee Mental Health Institute's mission is to provide quality care to the patients and families served by meeting their needs and continuously striving to exceed expectations.

Job Overview:

Under the direction of the Psychology Department Director, the Forensic Psychologist is responsible for performing professional psychological work of considerable difficulty and performing related work as required. The role of the Forensic Psychologist for this position is to complete court-ordered inpatient forensic evaluations and related work following inpatient admission to the Regional Mental Health Institute.

An employee in this class may function in a variety of assignments as a fully qualified Forensic Psychologist. An incumbent may be assigned to act primarily as a treatment team member, as an evaluative forensic specialist in supervising psychological examiners, or in a specialty staff assignment such as gathering collateral information on the case, evaluating, testing, consulting, providing group/individualized competency training, and/or researching. Incumbents often supervise or lead professional, sub-professional, and other staff. This class differs from that of the Psychology Director in that an incumbent of the latter is responsible for directing a psychological services program of broad extent.

Key Responsibilities:

Developing Objectives and Strategies:

1. Plans a comprehensive mental health treatment program, including evaluation and diagnosis, detailed treatment planning, and extensive service.

Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards:

1. Evaluates various clinical documentations and services to ensure compliance with professional, state and federal standards.

Making Decisions and Solving Problems:

1. Develops treatment strategies to effectively address challenging and unique treatment needs.

Assisting and Caring for Others:

1. Provides crisis intervention services for individuals.

2. Provides individual, group, and other therapy to improve behavioral health and/or mental health.

Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates:

1. Supervises the clinical work of professional, sub-professional, and nonprofessional personnel.

Getting Information:

1. Administers tests to individuals to collect information needed to make an appropriate evaluation and diagnosis.

2. Observes individuals to obtain information relevant to their physical, emotional, cognitive, and social functioning.

3. Interviews various individuals to collect information necessary to perform specific types of evaluations.

Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People:

1. Evaluates the quality of work of service providers to determine whether corrective action is needed.

Monitoring and Controlling Resources:

1. Controls the use of resources relevant to psychological services by determining whether or not services are warranted.

Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others:

1. Testifies as an expert witness to provide information relevant to an individual's case.

2. Explains biopsychosocial constructs to help others understand mental health and more effectively provide care.

Provide Consultation and Advice to Others:

1. Serves as a psychological resource person in evaluating and identifying problems, in developing detailed and coordinated treatment plans, and in conducting a wide variety of individual and group therapeutic and habilitative activities.

Documenting/Recording Information:

1. Writes detailed clinical notes and reports to document services provided.

Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships:

1. Maintains professional working relationships with peers, with assigned subordinates, and with upper management to ensure smooth and effective team operations.

Analyzing Data or Information:

1. Analyzes and interprets behavioral and mental health data to monitor progress and plan treatment.

2. Analyzes quality improvement, benchmarking or other data relevant to the performance and improvement of the agency to identify trends and/or determine improvement needs.

Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates:

1. Conducts and participates in diagnostic and evaluative staff meetings to discuss diagnoses, etiology, treatment, and disposition.

Processing Information:

1. Enters appropriate diagnostic info into clinical documents.

Communicating with Persons Outside Organization:

1. Performs personal contact work with a variety of other individuals, groups, agencies, and other entities in explaining, interpreting, and furthering programs.

Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others:

1. Resolves simple conflicts without supervisory input to ensure timely and efficient performance and to maintain positive working relationships.

2. Maintains a respectful and productive work environment within the assigned work unit to minimize disputes and facilitate performance.

Coaching and Developing Others:

1. Instructs professional, sub-professional, and non-professional personnel in the theories, practices, and techniques employed in psychological services programs.

Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work:

1. Independently plans and prioritizes work in order to meet strict deadlines.

Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others:

1. Coordinates workloads with internal and external business partners as required to facilitate timely and accurate task completion.

Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge:

1. Applies evidence-based practices in the delivery of psychological services.

2. Reads professional literature to keep up to date on community best practices.

3. Attends various continuing education seminars relevant to work in order to maintain licensure.

Performing Administrative Activities:

1. Completes relevant forms as required to accomplish professional responsibilities.

Minimum Qualifications:

Doctorate in psychology and forensic evaluation experience.

Pursuant to the State of Tennessee's Workplace Discrimination and Harassment policy, the State is firmly committed to the principle of fair and equal employment opportunities for its citizens and strives to protect the rights and opportunities of all people to seek, obtain, and hold employment without being subjected to illegal discrimination and harassment in the workplace. It is the State's policy to provide an environment free of discrimination and harassment of an individual because of that person's race, color, national origin, age (40 and over), sex, pregnancy, religion, creed, disability, veteran's status or any other category protected by state and/or federal civil rights laws.