Forensic Psychiatry

About the Opportunity

The Department of Psychiatry at Dalhousie University is recruiting for a substantive full-time psychiatrist for Nova Scotia Health’s (NSH) Central Zone, East Coast Forensic Hospital (ECFH) in Dartmouth Nova Scotia. The Forensic Section is also an academic hospital affiliated with the Dalhousie Department of Psychiatry. The Department of Psychiatry is a mid-sized clinical academic department within the Faculty of Medicine at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Faculty work as members of multidisciplinary teams within the Nova Scotia Health Mental Health and Addiction Program to provide general psychiatric services to patients primarily in the Central Zone and specialty services to patients across the province.

ECFH is the largest psychiatric hospital in the Atlantic region. There are 60 inpatient rehabilitation beds, 24 beds for Forensic Assessment and Correction Treatment (FACT unit), two bungalows on the premises, and a community program. The full-time equivalent positions for the section are about 7 forensic psychiatrists.

The Model of Care within the service is being developed with exciting opportunities to join a dynamic, multidisciplinary, and modern care delivery based on evidence while monitoring and keeping track of key performance indicators and measured-based care leading to research opportunities.

This position is 1.0 FTE based in East Coast Forensic Hospital (ECFH) at Dartmouth.

The service is also responsible for the delivery of Correction Health Services, with hospitalists and psychiatrists delivering in-person and virtual care to all correction facilities in the province. Remuneration is based upon a highly competitive Academic Funding Plan, which pays for time spent in clinical service, teaching and research. Successful candidates will receive academic rank commensurate with qualifications and experience as per university protocols. Enhancements based on academic rank, leadership, etc. are also available.

Dalhousie University is committed to fostering a collegial culture grounded in diversity and inclusiveness. The university encourages applications from Indigenous persons, persons with a disability, racially visible persons, women, persons of a minority sexual orientation and/or gender identity, and all candidates who would contribute to the diversity of our community. For more information, please visit www.dal.ca/hiringfordiversity

Major Responsibilities

Clinical: • Provide forensic psychiatric care to the services and units at the East Coast Forensic Hospital utilizing pharmacological & psychosocial treatment interventions as per current standards of practice. Examples include Court Assessments (in custody, out of custody, and virtual pre-order consults), rehabilitation programs, acute and long-term psychiatric treatment, and correction psychiatry.

• Provide psychiatric care to persons in custody within Correction Health Services.

• Act as consultant and leader of a multi-disciplinary team that involves psychologists, social workers, case coordinators, occupational therapists, recreational therapists, and nurses.

• Provide submissions to the Criminal Code Review Board (CCRB) including assessment of patient readiness for different levels of privileges and care.

• Take part in a psychiatry on-call schedule as required within the program unless specifically exempted.

Educational Duties: Didactic teaching at the undergraduate, postgraduate, and continuing medical education level as determined in discussion with the director of education, Department of Psychiatry.

Research: Research and other scholarly innovation are encouraged; candidates who have a sufficient track record in mental health research may be eligible for protected research time depending on agreement with the Department of Psychiatry’s research and executive leadership.

Qualifications

• Applicants are required to be certified in Psychiatry by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (FRCPC) or equivalent in another jurisdiction. Forensic subspecialty training is preferred. Eligibility to sit for the FRCPC exams will be considered. Level of experience in Forensic Psychiatry will also be considered.

• Licensed (or eligible for licensure) in the province of Nova Scotia.

• Reporting to the ECFH Clinical Director and Head, Section of Forensic & Correction Psychiatry

For information on licensure in Nova Scotia please consult the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia website at www.cpsns.ns.ca

How to Apply

Please send CV and cover letter to: Neha Singh, Physician Resource Manager, Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University: hrpsych@dal.ca

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