Licensed Psychologist
1 day ago
Bakersfield
Job Description ABOUT US Bakersfield Behavioral Healthcare Hospital, located in Bakersfield, California, is an acute psychiatric and behavioral 90-bed facility situated on 8.8 acres. We offer inpatient and outpatient services for adolescents and adults needing mental/behavioral health, chemical dependency; and co-occurring disorders treatment through our medically supervised detoxification. Within our Workplace Community, BBHH is striving daily to be one of the BEST PLACES TO WORK not just here in Kern County, but throughout the Behavioral Healthcare Community. By offering amazing benefits, encouraging individual growth and development, and incorporating our CARES values system into our daily operations, we are creating a workplace culture where people enjoy coming to work each day. BBHH CARES about your experience as a candidate, and we encourage you to apply to our open positions. Compassion Acceptance Respect Empowerment Sincerity Our progressive and dedicated healthcare team strives to change the lives of our patients and provide exceptional care. This is a fast-paced environment that requires critical thinking, exceptional leadership, teamwork, and communication skills. POSITION SUMMARY The Director of the Competency Restoration Program is a licensed doctoral-level psychologist responsible for the clinical leadership, program oversight, and regulatory compliance of the hospital’s court-ordered competency restoration services. This role ensures the delivery of evidence-based, trauma-informed, legally defensible treatment for individuals deemed incompetent to stand trial under California Penal Code §1370 and related statutes. The Director provides clinical supervision, program development, quality oversight, and interdisciplinary leadership, while serving as a subject matter expert in forensic psychology, competency restoration, and court interface. This position balances direct clinical authority with administrative, operational, and strategic leadership. WHY THIS ROLE MATTERS This role is central to the hospital’s mission to provide ethical, lawful, and clinically sound competency restoration services while supporting public safety, judicial efficiency, and patient dignity. The Director of the Competency Restoration Program serves as both a clinical authority and system leader, shaping outcomes for patients, courts, and the organization. WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR Simply put: HUMANS WHO CARE Though we do need to meet some minimum requirements for the position such as a High School Diploma, a Doctoral Degree in Psychology, and a current California License as a Psychologist as described below, we're really looking for people who bring their HEART to work. If you have previous experience in a mental healthcare hospital environment where your attention was focused on human behavior, psychiatry, psychology, or other mental healthcare situations, particularly in forensics, your application to this position will be moved to the shortlist of candidates. WHAT YOU'LL DO Program Leadership & Oversight • Direct and oversee all clinical, operational, and administrative aspects of the Competency Restoration Program, • Ensure the program meets all California Department of State Hospitals (DSH) standards, Title 22, CMS, and Joint Commission requirements, • Lead program planning, census management, and capacity optimization in collaboration with hospital leadership, • Develop and maintain program policies, procedures, curricula, and treatment protocols Clinical & Forensic Responsibilities • Provide clinical oversight of competency restoration treatment plans, psychoeducation, and therapeutic interventions, • Ensure competency restoration services are evidence-based, legally appropriate, and individualized, • Review and approve forensic reports, treatment summaries, and restoration determinations, • Serve as a clinical resource for complex cases involving malingering, severe mental illness, or legal complications, • Interface with courts, public defenders, district attorneys, probation, and state agencies as required Supervision & Staff Development • Provide clinical supervision to psychologists, psychology interns, LCSWs, LMFTs, and other staff as applicable, • Support recruitment, onboarding, training, and performance management of team members, • Foster a culture of ethical practice, accountability, interdisciplinary collaboration, and staff wellness Quality, Compliance & Risk Management • Ensure compliance with ethical standards, patient rights, confidentiality, and forensic documentation requirements, • Lead quality improvement initiatives, audits, and outcome tracking related to restoration timelines and success rates, • Participate in surveys, audits, and corrective action plans related to competency services, • Identify and mitigate clinical and legal risk associated with forensic populations Strategic & Administrative Functions • Collaborate with executive leadership on program expansion, funding, staffing models, and sustainability, • Participate in hospital committees, leadership meetings, and strategic planning efforts, • Support data reporting, grant participation (if applicable), and state reporting requirements, • Serve as the hospital’s clinical authority and spokesperson for competency restoration services Knowledge, Skills & Abilities • Expert knowledge of competency to stand trial, forensic psychology, and California legal standards, • Strong understanding of severe mental illness, restoration methodologies, and structured psychoeducational models, • Ability to lead within high-acuity, high-risk forensic environments, • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including court-related documentation, • Demonstrated ability to balance clinical integrity with operational realities, • Strong leadership presence, judgment, and ethical decision-making Physical & Environmental Requirements • Ability to work in a secure inpatient psychiatric setting, • May require participation in court hearings (in person or remote), • Ability to sit, stand, walk, and engage in clinical and administrative activities throughout the day Requirements Required: • Doctoral degree (PhD or PsyD) in Psychology from an accredited program, • Active, unrestricted Psychologist license in the State of California, • CPR and Handle-With-Care Certification prior to completion of orientation., • Formal training or specialization in Forensic Psychology, • Experience serving as an expert witness or providing court testimony, • Prior leadership or program management experience in a competency restoration or forensic setting Bakersfield Behavioral Healthcare Hospital is proud to offer a suite of benefits to those who join our workplace community. *Benefits eligibility varies based on employment status (full-time, part-time, per diem, temporary, etc.). Some of the benefits you can expect as a Full-Time employee include: • Paid Time Off, • over THREE WEEKS of Paid Time Off in your first year!!!, • Life Insurance, • Short-Term Disability Insurance, • Long-Term Disability Insurance, • Medical Insurance, • Dental Insurance, • Vision Insurance, • Pet Insurance, • Accident Insurance, • 401k Retirement Plan, • Discounted Meals, • Employee Assistance Program, • TUITION REIMBURSEMENT