You are here

Home » State Human Resources » Compensation & job classes » Classified Job Listing » » State of Washington Class Specification

State of Washington Classified Job Specification

FORENSIC THERAPIST

<< Classified Job Listing

FORENSIC THERAPIST
Class Code: 352P
Category: Social Services


Definition

Directs the care, custody, evaluation, treatment, and community liaison for one or more groups of court‑committed sexual or mentally ill offenders at a mental health hospital treatment center utilizing group therapy techniques. Performs a program‑wide assignment such as program interpretations, development, security, or offender evaluation.

Typical Work

Conducts individual and group training sessions and demonstrations for Group Psychotherapy personnel;

Gathers and assists in the analysis and presentation of program interpretations, development or research material;

Observes, interviews, gathers data about, evaluates, and directs the treatment of each offender assigned to one or more treatment groups;

Guides and directs one or more groups of offenders in individual and group psychotherapy; supervises inpatient, work-release, outpatient, and marital treatment groups; conducts individual and group therapy sessions for offenders or offenders and their spouses;

Communicates and works with judges, prosecuting attorneys, probation officers, physicians, agencies and institutions regarding the admission, evaluation, treatment, and discharge of offenders;

Participates in program-wide clinical and administrative meetings; presents cases before review committees; prepares and maintains progress reports and records;

Performs other related work as required.

Knowledge and Abilities

Knowledge of: treatment values and objectives; laws, regulations, and procedures related to the legal offender; individual and group behavior; hospital and community resources, methods of gathering and organizing personality and social data, supervision and instruction techniques and procedures.

Ability to: recognize and interpret deviant behavior; relate to people with psychological understanding, personal honesty and concern; build motivating rapport with offenders; work effectively with professional people; appraise persons and situations accurately and adopt effective courses of action; speak and write clearly and effectively; instruct, supervise and regulate supervises.

Legal Requirement(s)

There may be instances where individual positions must have additional licenses or certification. It is the employer’s responsibility to ensure the appropriate licenses/certifications are obtained for each position.

Desirable Qualifications

A Bachelor's degree with major study in Psychology, Sociology, Social Work, Occupational Therapy, Criminology, or Law Enforcement and three years of experience providing group therapy for juvenile or adult offenders, or the mentally ill; or three years of mental health, criminal justice or social service experience which shall include two years of experience providing mental health treatment to groups and/or individuals.

OR

Two years of experience as a Forensic Therapist 1 or a Corrections Mental Health Counselor.

OR

A Master's degree in Psychology, Sociology, Social Work, Occupational Therapy, Criminology, or Law Enforcement, or allied field may be substituted for one year of experience.

OR

A Doctorate in Psychiatry or one of the above fields may be substituted for all but six months of the required experience.

Note: Mental health treatment is defined as any experience where responsibilities have included mental health treatment planning, mental health program implementation and/or direct delivery of client mental health services including both individual and group counseling.

Note: For specific programs, specialized training and/or experience may be required for eligibility for examination or appointment.

Class Specification History

New class Effective October 12, 1971
General revision, revises definition and minimum qualifications February 15, 1974
Revised October 11, 1985 Revises definition and minimum qualifications, title change (formerly Therapy Supervisor Z)
Revised definition May 9, 1986
Revised minimum qualifications: 9-10-99
New class code: (formerly 36440) effective July 1, 2007
Revise title and definition, adopted May 12, 2011, effective May 13, 2011.
Base range salary adjustment adopted 6/30/2017, effective 7/1/2017.