Operating under the guidance of the Deputy Court Administrator, the Chief Psychologist plays a crucial role in shaping treatment programs and resources to achieve the Court’s objectives in supporting juveniles and families involved in the juvenile justice system and/or petitioned to the court for neglect and/or abuse. Provides professional psychological expertise to the judicial system on core psychological processes related to criminal offending in order to inform legal decisions. Evaluates children and/or parents referred by Court staff and Judges and provides written psychological reports to the Court. Testifies in Court relative to findings when requested. Evaluates prospective employees, foster and group home parents when requested and provides recommendations as to the personality and stability of these persons. Responsible for program development, staff training program and consultation. Serves as a mental health expert for the court. Provides managerial oversight to the Juvenile Division’s Mental Health Team and serves as supervisor for the Clinical Mental Health Professionals.
Essential Functions
1. Provides expert clinical opinion of children, adolescents, and/or parents or families under the supervision of the Juvenile Division, which may include (but is not limited to): evaluation, consultation, explaining psychological function, diagnosing problems, predicting risk for recidivism and public safety risk, risk for neglect/abuse, making recommendations for treatment/treatment programming, recommendation for sexual offender registry, and program and treatment evaluation.
2. Provides forensic evaluation of mental competency for adolescent criminal proceedings, pre-adjudicative evaluation of safety risk of criminal sexual misconduct offenders, violence risk assessment, sentencing transfer/waiver transfer, and comprehensive evaluation/diagnosis (not limited to this description of evaluation type).
3. Prepares written evaluation reports as a result of testing/consultation and testifies at hearings when necessary.
4. Provides direction and managerial oversight to the Juvenile Division’s Mental Health Team and serves as supervisor for the Clinical Mental Health Professionals which includes (but is not limited to):
a. Conducts clinical supervision for the purpose of training, treatment planning, case consultation, and professional support;
b. Providing review and approval of curriculum/treatment programs developed/implemented by the Juvenile Division Clinical Mental Health Professionals;
c. Ensuring clinicians maintain proper licensure for the duration of employment with the Juvenile Division; and
5. Serves as Clinical Director for the Ingham County Youth Center which includes:
a .Remaining on-call non-traditional hours and on weekends to assist w/ managing crisis
b. Providing clinical directives, in terms of emergency direction (triage, safety precautions, and behavioral directive), staff behavioral directives in response to youth psychological function, and programming direction;
c. Provides managerial oversight for program development/implementation in order to ensure fidelity and adherence to evidence-based practices;
d. Serves as a member of the Youth Center’s management team providing insight to inform facility procedures/policies, assistance with managing staff dynamics, and training necessary to meet facility Department of Child Welfare Licensing requirements.
6. Serves on the Administrative Staffing Committee to make recommendations to the judiciary for placement and/or services of adjudicated youth. This task requires using critical thought to consider the complex intersection between safety of the community and the best interest of the youth. The committee consists of five members that absorb synthesized information from the assigned caseworker to formulate the recommendation.
7. Responsible for research, development and fidelity adherence of Court programming/treatment programs/curricula in accordance with best practice and evidence-based treatment standards for adolescents in specialty programs and specialty Courts. May serve on Steering Committees assigned to Specialty Courts.
8. Engages in the hiring process of the Juvenile Division by screening and interviewing candidates for various positions within the Division. Makes hiring recommendations to the Deputy Court Administrator.
9. Responsible for the orientation and training of new and existing Juvenile Division employees on psychological related policies/procedures, behavioral management techniques, psychological process/adolescent development, crisis prevention/suicide prevention, evidenced-based best practice, and interpersonal communication.
10. Assists the Deputy Court Administrator in building and maintaining a positive and inclusive workplace culture, ensuring the Juvenile Division’s values and mission are reflected in day to day operations and interactions. This may include but is not limited to: developing and implementing various initiatives, managing staff engagement strategies, creating feedback mechanism to gauge staff satisfaction and identify areas for improvement.
Other Functions:
Performs other work duties as assigned.
Employment Qualifications
Education: A Ph.D. in Counseling, Clinical Psychology or other related Psychological disciplines is required.
Experience: A minimum of 5-7 years of progressively increased responsibilities as it relates to counseling and criminal justice is required. Experience with counseling adolescents and their respective families is preferred.
Other Requirements:
•Must be fully licensed as a Psychologist with the State of Michigan. Must be able to pass a court screening process.
•Have competency in the following areas (not limited to):
- Forensic Psychology
- psychological evaluation test instruments
- evidenced based treatment in criminal thinking, maladaptive behavior and trauma
•On-call duties during non-traditional hours in response to levels of acuity in the detention center.
•Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of Juvenile Justice/Child Welfare and organizational development best practices.
•Adaptable and resilient, able to handle changing priorities and work under pressure
•Effective risk management skills including the ability to make appropriate decisions when issues need to be escalated or referred, and to whom.
•High level of verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills such as persuading others to take action and facilitating presentations.
Working Conditions:
- This position works primarily in an indoor, office environment.
- This position may be required to travel for meetings and appointments. This position may require out of state travel.
- Regular contacts with persons charged and/or convicted of criminal offenses.
- May encounter physical altercations in the course of crisis management situations.
- Require work in adversarial situations/hostile environment i.e. domestic violence, weapons, personal threats, and physical assaults.
Revised 07/23/2024
MC 15
