Psychologist (Fam. Court)Level III

About the Role

NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest public health care system in the United States, providing essential outpatient, inpatient, and home-based services to more than one million New Yorkers annually across the city’s five boroughs. This position encompasses professional and/or supervisory work in forensic psychology within the City’s Family Court System, conducting court-ordered evaluations for juvenile delinquency, termination of parental rights, custody disputes, neglect and abuse cases, and other Family Court proceedings.

As a mandated reporter, the role requires documenting and reporting suspected cases of child abuse or neglect to the New York State Central Registry. Evaluations must comply with all applicable local, state, and federal rules, regulations, and psychology standards of care.

Responsibilities

• Plans, organizes, and supervises psychological services for Family Court Mental Health Services, participating in the development of program objectives.
• Advises on service delivery, areas of emphasis, and utilization of psychological services to meet program goals.
• Provides consultation and training to the Family Court, Child/Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship programs, and stakeholders in Juvenile Justice, Child Protective, and Domestic Violence systems.
• Supervises psychologists and administrative staff, acting as a consultant on encountered problems.
• Leads or co-leads weekly clinic team meetings and conducts secondary reviews of prepared e-case files.
• Supports senior team management and operations, including clinical oversight, training activities, or research initiatives.
• Communicates with court personnel, including preparing status reports for submission to the court.
• Establishes staffing allocations, assignments, and work schedules within the Family Court department.
• May assist with grant proposals for independent program funding.
• Develops and conducts training programs for graduate students or postgraduate professionals in clinical psychology, psychiatry, forensics, or related fields.
• Represents psychological services to lay and professional organizations.
• Conducts impartial, objective court-ordered forensic clinical evaluations for Family Court proceedings, ensuring compliance with program requirements and quality standards.
• Completes multiple clinical evaluations within standard caseload requirements and timeframes.
• Evaluates individuals’ emotional and intellectual functioning through clinical interviews, interactional observation, and standardized tests of personality, development, and intellectual capacity.
• Ensures evaluations comply with Family Court protocols and legal admissibility standards.
• Prepares formal written reports for Court records, including emergency or expedited cases.
• Testifies as an expert witness in Family Court cases where directly involved in evaluations.
• Participates in in-service educational and administrative activities.
• Conducts sufficient interviews to render recommendations to the court with professional certainty.
• Obtains informed consent and informs participants of confidentiality limits and disclosure conditions.
• Makes recommendations in evaluations utilizing integrated data and prepares timely reports for court records.
• Supervises unlicensed psychologists, psychology interns, and psychologists-in-training, coordinating activities with other City Agencies.
• Assists with or coordinates training programs, case conferences, and seminars for training purposes.
• Provides instructions on diagnostic and evaluation techniques to psychologists and trainees.
• Reviews court, medical, and mental health records to compile histories and summarize findings for licensed psychologists’ use.
• Conducts interviews with collateral contacts (e.g., family members, therapists, school staff) and summarizes findings for evaluations.
• Administers, scores, and interprets cognitive assessments and psychological tests, documenting procedures, results, and limitations.
• May attend and participate in general training and staff conferences.
• Performs other relevant professional clinical activities as directed.

Requirements

• Valid license and current registration to practice as a Psychologist issued by the New York State Education Department (NYSED).
• One (1) year of post-licensure supervisory experience or eighteen (18) months of post-licensure experience.
• Completion of the NYC Health + Hospitals Supervisory training within three (3) months of appointment.
• Successful completion of the NYC Health + Hospitals Family Court Mental Health Services (FCMHS) Forensic Training Program within twelve (12) months of appointment.
• Must maintain a valid Psychologist license by completing thirty-six (36) hours of Continuing Education (CE) from a NYSED-approved provider every three (3) years after initial certification.