Department of State Hospitals
CONSULTING PSYCHOLOGIST
$11,904.00 - $14,290.00 per Month
New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.
Final Filing Date: 6/22/2026
Job Description and Duties
This position is located at Coalinga State Hospital.
Under direction of the Senior Psychologist (Supervisor), the Consulting Psychologist provides a variety of forensic psychological evaluation and consultation services. The primary job duty of the Consulting Psychologist is to independently evaluate, review extensive case files and records, perform risk assessments, and write evaluations of individuals committed to the Department of State Hospitals, Coalinga as Sexually Violent Predators (SVP) and/or Mentally Disordered Offenders (MDO). The purpose of these evaluation reports is to determine if hospital patients continue to meet SVP or MDO statutory criteria for civil commitment. Additional types of forensic evaluations may be required as hospital populations expand to other types of forensic patients.
The Consulting Psychologist evaluates individuals and reviews their records located at Coalinga State Hospital. The Consulting Psychologist provides court testimony and at deposition, typically in the patients’ county of commitment. Travel to the hospital on a regular basis for patient interviews and files reviews, and travel in response to subpoenas, is required.
The Consulting Psychologist may be required to review evaluations written by other Forensic Department psychologists to ensure that their reports are clinically and legally sound, accurate, fact-based, and grammatically correct. Departmental reports must be specifically focused on issues as required by SVP and MDO statutes.
This position entails no clinical duties.
The Consulting Psychologist possesses a high degree of skill in multiple areas: Clinical Psychology, Forensic Psychology, SVP/MDO laws and, specialized knowledge and experience in the area of forensic report writing and court testimony. In addition, Consulting Psychologists have strict ethical and technical responsibilities regarding patient confidentiality. Forensic evaluations involve exposure to sensitive and confidential patient information and materials. Consulting Psychologists are expected to maintain HIPPA requirements regarding confidentiality, as well as DSH and DSH-C rules and regulations, and applicable state and federal laws at all times.
Working Conditions
Consulting Psychologist is primarily a telecommuning positon. The incumbent will work in their home or professional offices and is required to travel to Coalinga to review files and interview patients once or twice monthly. They are also required to attend weekly conference calls and to travel to DSH-Coalinga occasionally for training and staff meetings.
****Travel to the hospital on a regular basis for patient interviews and file reviews, and travel in response to subpoenas, is required.****
Position Details
Department Information
DSH-Coalinga opened in 2005 and began treating forensically committed patients, mostly of which are sexually violent predators. It is a self-contained psychiatric hospital constructed with a security perimeter. California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) provides perimeter security as well as transportation of patients to outside medical services and court proceedings.
Department Website: www.dsh.ca.gov
Special Requirements
- The position(s) require(s) a Drug Screening be passed prior to being hired.
- The position(s) require(s) a Background Investigation be cleared prior to being hired.
- The position(s) require(s) Medical Clearance prior to being hired.
Redacted forensic (6600) report
Formal Curriculum Vital
** To be considered for this Job Opportunity, applicants must have permanent civil service status, be reachable on an employment list, have transfer eligibility, or have reinstatement eligibility. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE ELIGIBILITY, YOU MUST TAKE THE EXAM. Please visit the CalHR website to find information on the Consulting Psychologist Exam.
The Exam Bulletin can be found using the following link:
https://calcareers.ca.gov/CalHrPublic/Exams/ExamBulletin.aspx?ExamControlId=5145
Please note: The exam score must be posted before the Final Filing Date in order to be eligible for a hiring interview.
This advertisement will be used for this and other vacancies that may occur during this posting and future Permanent/Full-time and/or Limited Term/Full-time vacancies that may occur at Department of State Hospitals - Coalinga
Unless otherwise requested by the candidate, all communications and correspondence regarding this recruitment from our agency will be sent electronically via your CalCareers account and/or email listed on your State Application, STD. 678. It is the applicant’s responsibility to check their email inbox, including junk/spam emails for any correspondence regarding their application status. In addition, applicants are encouraged to keep their CalCareers profile updated with a current telephone number, mailing address, and email.
All state civil service employees are currently subject to a mandatory Personal Leave Program (PLP). The PLP program reduces the monthly gross salary but provides paid leave options (PLO) leave credits in lieu of pay. The amount of salary reduction depends on the classification and associated union Bargaining Unit (BU). The BU that represents this position is BU19 and is represented by America Federation of State, County, and Municipal Engineers (AFSCME). The expected salary reduction will be 3% of the salary identified above, and you will accrue 5 hours of PLP each qualifying pay period. Incumbents will be subject to the PLP salary reduction and leave accruals through June 30, 2027. Positions with time bases that are less than full-time will receive a prorated accrual of PLP that’s based on number of hours worked during the pay period.
Application Instructions
Completed applications and all required documents must be received or postmarked by the Final Filing Date in order to be considered. Dates printed on Mobile Bar Codes, such as the Quick Response (QR) Codes available at the USPS, are not considered Postmark dates for the purpose of determining timely filing of an application.
Final Filing Date: 6/22/2026Who May Apply
Applications will be screened and only the most qualified applicants will be selected to move forward in the selection process. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications stated in the Classification Specification(s).
How To Apply
Address for Mailing Application Packages
You may submit your application and any applicable or required documents to:
Address for Drop-Off Application Packages
You may drop off your application and any applicable or required documents at:
Required Application Package Documents
The following items are required to be submitted with your application. Applicants who do not submit the required items timely may not be considered for this job:
- Current version of the State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 (when not applying electronically), or the Electronic State Employment Application through your Applicant Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. All Experience and Education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification should be included to demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position.
- Resume is optional. It may be included, but is not required.
- Other - Redacted Forensic (6600) Report
- Other - Formal Curriculum Vital
Desirable Qualifications
The ideal candidate needs five (5) years of Mentally Disordered Offender (MDO) Report writing experience. Additionally, a candidate should also have one (1) year of Forensic evaluation experience.
Qualifying experience must be listed on the State Application.
Benefits
Contact Information
The Human Resources Contact is available to answer questions regarding the position or application process.
Department Website: www.dsh.ca.gov
Human Resources Contact:
Cassandra Leon
(559) 935-7138
cassandra.leon@dsh.ca.gov
Please direct requests for Reasonable Accommodations to the interview scheduler at the time the interview is being scheduled. You may direct any additional questions regarding Reasonable Accommodations or Equal Employment Opportunity for this position(s) to the Department's EEO Office.
EEO Contact:Natalie Osekowsky
(559) 935-7215
natalie.osekowsky@dsh.ca.gov
California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice) TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.
Equal Opportunity Employer
The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.
It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free work place. Any applicant for state employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing Civil Service, and the special trust placed in public servants.
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