PERMANENT FULL-TIME PSYCHOLOGIST - FORENSIC PROGRAM AND ASSESSMENT AND REINTEGRATION PROGRAM (ARP)

Position Summary

Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences is seeking a full-time Psychologist for a unique joint position, with time divided equally between the Forensic Program and the Assessment and Reintegration Program (ARP). Working with interprofessional teams in both programs, the successful candidate will provide evidence-based psychological assessment, consultation, and intervention to patients with severe and persistent mental illness, including patients with a Forensic designation.

This role offers a unique opportunity to work across two complementary service areas, applying and integrating forensic and recovery-oriented, reintegration-focused practice. The successful candidate will also contribute to teaching, research, quality improvement, and program evaluation, and will support the organization, supervision, and coordination of psychological services.

About the Programs

Forensic Program

The Forensic Program consists of a total of 138 in-patient beds and serves approximately 120 patients in the Forensic Outpatient Service. Patients are ordered by the courts or the Ontario Review Board (ORB).

• Secure Forensic Service: 3 units with a total of 62 beds, providing assessment, treatment, and rehabilitation services for patients who require accommodation at a higher security level.
• General Forensic Service: 3 units with a total of 76 beds, providing assessment, treatment, and rehabilitation services for patients who require accommodation at a lower security level.
• Forensic Outpatient Service (FOS): provides assessment, treatment, and rehabilitation services for patients who reside in the community.

Assessment and Reintegration Program (ARP)

The ARP serves patients with severe and persistent mental illness, with an emphasis on diagnostic clarification, evidence-based clinical management, and reintegration.

Key Responsibilities

• Work collaboratively with the interprofessional team to provide evidence-based clinical assessment, evaluation, and management of patients with severe and persistent mental illness.
• Provide consultation to clarify diagnosis and contribute to evidence-based clinical management.
• Conduct psychological assessments, including self-report instruments and semi-structured diagnostic interviews.
• Provide individual and group therapy and other evidence-based psychological interventions, including CBTp.
• Implement and model the Recovery philosophy in all aspects of care.
• Participate in education and teaching, including the teaching and supervision of psychology residents and graduate students.
• Conduct and/or participate in research, quality improvement, and program evaluation initiatives relevant to the mandate of both programs.
• Contribute to the supervision, organization, and coordination of psychological services.
• Provide psychological services to forensic patients in the Secure Forensic Service, General Forensic Service, and Forensic Outpatient Service who are ordered by the courts or the Ontario Review Board (ORB).
• Conduct violence risk assessments using a structured professional judgment approach.
• Provide assessment, consultation, and reports in the context of the Review Board system.
• Develop assessment protocols to clarify diagnosis and contribute to the evidence-based clinical management and assessment of patients with a serious mental illness.
• Support patient reintegration through assessment, intervention, and recovery-oriented care planning.

Requirements

• Doctoral-level degree in Psychology, preferably with 3 years of clinical and/or research experience in the field of severe and persistent mental illness, as well as experience working with clients in the forensic system (e.g., experience with the Review Board system and expertise in conducting violence risk assessments using a structured professional judgment approach).
• Current and unrestricted license to practice in Ontario with the College of Psychologists and Behaviour Analysts of Ontario (CPBAO), authorized to practice in both clinical and forensic psychology with adult populations. (Candidates who are eligible for registration or in supervised practice with the CPBAO may be interviewed.)
• Demonstrated skills to work with an interdisciplinary team to provide evidence-based clinical management, assessment, and therapy of patients with a serious mental illness, including those who have come into contact with the law.
• Demonstrated training and skills in assessments (including self-report instruments and semi-structured diagnostic interviews) and interventions.
• Expertise in developing assessment protocols to clarify diagnosis and contribute to evidence-based clinical management and assessment of patients with a serious mental illness.
• Proven experience and abilities in the supervision, organization, and coordination of psychological services.
• Demonstrated interest and aptitude for academic activities (e.g., teaching psychology residents and graduate students) and the ability to conduct independent research relevant to the mandate of both programs.
• Ability to implement and model the Recovery philosophy in all aspects of care.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills and interpersonal skills, and the ability to work effectively in a dynamic team environment.
• Demonstrated working knowledge of and experience with computers; Meditech experience preferred.
• Ability to maintain good attendance.

Link to OPSEU Wage Table - This is part of the OPSEU bargaining unit.

1 Existing Vacancy

Job Posting Closing: November 23, 2026. Please note any applications after this closing date will not be considered.