Forensic Mental Health Specialist

Forensic Mental Health Specialist

Job no: 5105832

Work type: Full-Time (Salaried)

Location: Falls Church, Virginia

Categories: Health and Human Services

Title: Forensic Mental Health Specialist

State Role Title: Direct Service Associate III

Hiring Range: Starting salary $46, 073

Pay Band: NV 3

Agency: Dept Behavioral Health/Develop

Location: Northern VA Mental Health Inst

Agency Website:

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

To promote the organizational objective of the psychology department via the provision of quality psychological evaluation, assessment, and treatment services, in collaboration with other disciplines, thereby fostering adaptive functioning and improving the welfare of individuals served. • Provide therapeutic interventions demonstrating use of best practices in mental health treatment and adherence to a person-centered, strengths-based philosophy of care • Facilitate individual and group Competency Restoration sessions, Community Meetings, Escorted Grounds Walks, Escorted Community Reintegration Outings, individual behavioral supports, and other forensic or direct care tasks as assigned. • Demonstrate good written and oral communication skills in team/unit meetings and progress notes. • Demonstrate understanding of the legal code, departmental instructions, and department policies and procedures for individuals with forensic legal status , Abide by ethical and professional standards of practice in an inpatient setting • Participate in training and educational opportunities as assigned. Therapeutic milieu management Group & 1:1 Individualized interventions Community reintegration outings Crisis De-escalation Behavioral Supports Appropriate documentation in medical record Training and educational opportunities Demonstrated comprehension of and adherence to a person-centered, strengths-based philosophy of care • Ability to conduct personal interviews and group discussions • Basic knowledge of behavioral intervention techniques • Good written and oral communication skills • Understanding of the legal code, departmental instructions, and department policies and procedures for individuals with forensic legal status Familiarity with relevant ethical and professional standards of practice in an inpatient setting. Good written and oral communication skills .Other forensic or direct care tasks as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Knowledge of best practices in mental health treatment
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel
• Direct care experience required

Additional Considerations

Inpatient psychiatric experience
Experience working with forensic populations preferred

Special Instructions

You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to "Your Application" in your account to check the status of your application for this position.

Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute only accepts online applications via PAGEUP. Resumes and other documents may accompany the application but will not serve as a substitute for an application. Faxed, e-mailed or mailed applications will not be accepted. Please refer to your PAGEUP account for the status of your application and this position. This posting will remain open for a minimum of five (5) business days.


Commonwealth's Alternate Hiring Process: In support of the Commonwealth's commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their Certificate of Disability (COD) provided by a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor within the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS). Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS to get their Certificate of Disability. If you need to get a Certificate of Disability, use this link:


Contact Pathways


Led by the Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services and the Virginia Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired, the Career Pathways grant will help nearly 500 Virginians with disabilities, including young adults and veterans, gain new skills and credentials through Career Pathways to seek employment in competitive, high-demand, high-quality occupations.

or call DARS at View phone number on click.appcast.io.


Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. Contact Human Resources at (HR Rep phone #) for assistance. Minorities, Individuals with disabilities, Veterans, and people with National Service experience are encouraged to apply. EEO/AA/TTY.


Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment opportunities are open to all regardless of race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, political affiliation, genetics or disability.


DBHDS is a healthcare organization and must comply with the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (federal CMS) guidance on Omnibus COVID-19 Health Care staff Vaccination Regulation which requires vaccination of all employees or an exemption. A job offer of employment is contingent upon the candidate meeting these guidelines as a condition of employment.


Agency website


Contact Information

Name: Sue Upadhyay

Phone: View phone number on click.appcast.io

Email: View email address on click.appcast.io

In support of the Commonwealth's commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at View phone number on click.appcast.io.

Note : Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.

Advertised: 04 Jun 2026 Eastern Daylight Time

Applications close:


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