Associate Psychologist (NY HELPS)

NYS Office of Children and Family Services; City of Syracuse (NY); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The NYS Office of Children and Family Services seeks an Associate Psychologist to join the CMSO team. The role focuses on clinical case management, direct mental health services, and collaboration with youth, families, and caregivers to support holistic growth and wellness.

The clinician will participate in team meetings, develop individualized treatment plans, and coordinate referrals for higher levels of care when needed, including tele-health options.

Qualifications

• Must hold a doctoral degree in psychology.
• Experience in clinical settings preferred.
• Ability to work as part of a multidisciplinary team.

Responsibilities

• Serve as an active member of a multidisciplinary team; attend meetings.
• Present clinical information and observations; coordinate care and treatment planning.
• Conduct clinical assessments using standardized instruments and treatment plans.
• Provide direct mental health counseling and psychotherapy to individuals and families; may use tele-health.
• Conduct risk assessments and provide crisis intervention when indicated.
• Document and maintain youth records per state regulations and DJJOY policies.
• Collaborate with staff to develop discharge and aftercare service plans.

Skills

Clinical case management

Mental health counseling

Crisis intervention

Documentation

Education

Doctoral degree in psychology

Job description

Duties Description

The Associate Psychologist reports to the CMSO Regional Supervisor and BBHS Chief of Treatment Services and provides clinical case management services to youth and their families or caregivers. The CMSO clinician plays a critical role as a member of the youth’s support team. As such, the clinician works to assist the team in understanding youth holistically; conceptualizing those behaviors directly related to the youth’s placement in the context of familial, community, cultural and developmental experiences. The clinician continually assesses and draws upon the strengths and assets of youth and their caregivers to facilitate insight, cognitive, behavioral, emotional, and spiritual growth/wellness.

• Serve as an active member of a multidisciplinary team; attend meetings.
• Present clinical information and observations, provide consultation and assistance to staff in other disciplines; coordinate the care and treatment planning of individuals served by the team.
• While the CMSO Clinician primarily engages in clinical case management, the practitioner might be called on to conduct clinical assessments using standardized instruments and evaluation protocols; develop person-centered and goal-oriented treatment plans. Where indicated, recommend a higher level of care and complete referrals for specialized services.
• While the CMSO Clinician primarily engages in Clinical case management, the practitioner might be called on to provide direct mental health counseling and psychotherapy to individuals and families, including using tele-health technologies.
• Conduct risk assessments and provide crisis intervention when indicated.
• Document and maintain youth records, including contact notes, treatment plans, assessments, clinical recommendations, and collateral contacts, in accordance with state regulations and DJJOY policies.
• Collaborate with other clinical and community staff to develop and support discharge and aftercare service plans. The CMSO clinician might be called upon to assist facility clinicians with identifying community providers and scheduling appointments for continuity of care services for youth coming out of OCFS facilities.

Minimum Qualifications

Transfer: One year of permanent competitive or 55b/c service in this title or in a title eligible for 70.1 transfer.

In addition, you must have a doctoral degree in a field of psychology.

Open to the Public: This title is part of the New York Hiring for Emergency Limited Placement Statewide Program (NY HELPS). *

Earned doctoral degree in a field of psychology.

AND

either a one-year, full-time clinical internship, or traineeship; OR

one year of psychology experience in a clinical setting, under the supervision of a Licensed Psychologist.

Additional Comments

Core operating hours for office-based positions within the agency are 8-5. Exact shift within that timeframe will be discussed at the time of the interview.

Telecommuting is available for this position, however, it is at the sole discretion of the assigned supervisor and the Office of Community Partnerships when a candidate may be considered. Telecommuting applications will be reviewed and approved on a case by case basis in accordance with the OCFS Telecommuting Pilot Program Policy.

• For the duration of the NY HELPS Program, this title may be filled via a non- competitive appointment, which means no examination is required but all candidates must meet the minimum qualifications of the title for which they apply.

At a future date (within one year of permanent appointment), it is expected employees hired under NY HELPS will have their non-competitive employment status converted to competitive status, without having to compete in an examination. Employees will then be afforded with all of the same rights and privileges of competitive class employees of New York State. While serving permanently in a NY HELPS title, employees may take part in any promotion examination for which they are qualified.

Background Investigation Requirements

• All prospective employees will be investigated through a Criminal Background Check (CBC), which includes State and federal Criminal History Record Checks. All convictions must be reported; conviction of a felony or misdemeanor, or any falsified or omitted information on the prospective appointee’s employment application, may bar appointment or result in removal after appointment. Each case will be determined on its own merits, consistent with the applicable provisions of State and federal laws, rules, and regulations. Prospective employees will be fingerprinted in order to obtain a record of their criminal history information, and may be required to pay any necessary fees.
• All prospective employees will be screened against the Statewide Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment (SCR). Prospective employees will be required to pay any necessary fees.
• For Division of Juvenile Justice and Opportunities for Youth (DJJOY) prospective appointees will be checked against the Staff Exclusion List (SEL) maintained by the Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs. Prospective employees whose names appear on the SEL as having been found responsible for serious or repeated acts of abuse or neglect will be barred from appointment and may have their names removed from the eligible list(s) for the title(s) if applicable.

The Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) is an equal opportunity employer. OCFS does not discriminate based upon age, race, creed, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, military or veteran status, sex, disability (including pregnancy-related conditions), predisposing genetic characteristics, familial status, marital status or status as a victim of domestic violence, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. We devote special attention to dismantling racial injustice and recognize that diversity in our workforce is critical to fulfilling our mission. We are committed to the diversity of our staff, and encourage applicants from marginalized communities to apply. In furtherance of Executive Order 31 and OCFS’s mission to have a diverse workforce, all people with disabilities are encouraged to apply. All applicants must be dedicated to working in and sustaining an environment of inclusion that affirms and celebrates the backgrounds, learned and lived expertise, whole identities, and individual perspectives of our staff. Applicants of all backgrounds and experiences are encouraged to self-identify during the application process.