Correctional Treatment Specialist (Specialty Program Treatment Specialist - Stepdown Unit Program)

US Bureau of Prisons/Federal Prison System; Springfield (MO); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

US Bureau of Prisons/Federal Prison System seeks professionals in behavioral sciences to promote humane, secure environments and support public safety by preparing inmates for reentry.

Basic requirements emphasize 24 semester hours in behavioral or social sciences, with graduate study leading to a Ph.D. or doctorate, plus one year of specialized experience in counseling or casework in corrections or related settings, and additional selective placement factors.

Qualifications

• 24 semester hours of coursework in behavioral or social sciences.
• Graduate education in corrections or related field (Ph.D. path).
• One year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade.
• Selective Placement Factors: 18 semester hours in mental illness or 24 months experience counseling mental illness.
• Must upload transcripts or address experience on resume.

Skills

Inmate counseling

Psychological assessment

Interviews and data collection

Conflict recognition and de-escalation

Education

Graduate education in corrections or related field

Ph.D. degree or equivalent doctoral degree

Job description

Corrections professionals who foster a humane and secure environment and ensure public safety by preparing individuals for successful reentry into our communities.

To be considered for the position, you must meet the following qualification requirements.

Basic Requirements:

A. Degree: that included at least 24 semester hours of course work in the behavioral or social sciences.

B. Combination of education and experience -- that included at least 24 semester hours of course work in the behavioral or social sciences, and that provided applicants with knowledge of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a 4-year degree as shown in A above.

Evaluation of Education:

Courses such as sociology, correctional administration, criminal justice, government/political science, psychology, social work, counseling, and other related social or behavioral science courses may be used to satisfy the 24-semester-hour requirement.

Evaluation of Experience:

Experience must have been gained in (1) casework in a correctional institution or in another criminal justice setting; (2) counseling in any setting, provided it required diagnostic or treatment planning skills to achieve specific social or occupational goals; or (3) work treating persons in need of social rehabilitation.

AND

In addition to meeting the Basic Requirements above, applicants must have:

Education:

Three years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree OR Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree.

Graduate Education must have been in corrections or a related field, such as criminal justice, sociology, psychology, counseling, social work, or other course work related to the position.

Experience:

You must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to the next lower grade level. To be creditable, this experience must have equipped the applicant with the particular qualifications to successfully perform the duties of the position, and must typically be in or related to the position to be filled.

Some examples of this qualifying experience are:

• Experience in recognizing defense mechanisms, manipulation attempts, avoidance ploys and signs of conflict.
• Experience in applying new assessment and treatment techniques for helping inmates overcome psychological problems.
• Experience in administering questionnaires and conducts interviews to obtain information about inmates to identify techniques for helping inmates overcome psychological problems.

Combination of Education and Experience:

Combination of successfully completed graduate level education and specialized experience. This experience must have equipped you with the qualifications to perform the major duties of this position as described above.

Selective Placement Factor:

Applicants applying for this position MUST also possess one of the following Selective Placement Factors. In the event you do not meet one of the Selective Factors, you will be found ineligible.

• 18 semester hours of graduate course work specific to mental illness.
• 24 months of professional experience in counseling mental illness.

NOTE: All applicants MUST electronically upload legible transcripts as verification of educational requirement or clearly address this professional experience in their resume to be found qualified.

If applicable, credit will be given for paid and unpaid experience. To receive proper credit, you must show the actual time (such as number of hours worked per week) spent in the activities.

**Your eligibility for consideration will be based on your responses to the questions in the application.**