Psychological Services Specialist, DOC - SCI Fayette

Commonwealth Of Pennsylvania; La Belle (PA); On-site; USD 69,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is seeking a Psychological Services Specialist to independently provide psychological services and group therapy to inmates at the State Correctional Institution Fayette. You will support mental health and emotional well-being while collaborating with a dedicated professional team.

The role requires a master's degree in psychology or related field, and experience providing clinical services within a correctional setting is preferred.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in psychology or closely related field with fifteen graduate level credits in psychology or counseling.
• Applicants will be within three months of graduating with a qualifying degree.

Responsibilities

• Provide individual psychotherapy to inmates.
• Conduct group counseling sessions for prison adjustment and treatment goals.
• Perform inmate evaluations using appropriate psychological tests.
• Coordinate care with staff for referrals to psychological, psychiatric, and medical services.
• Prepare and write psychological reports for classification, interviews, parole summaries and updates.
• Assist in developing new educational therapeutic programs and provide initial crisis intervention.

Education

Master's degree in psychology or closely related field with fifteen graduate level credits in psychology or counseling

Job description

Salary

$69,086.00 - $104,959.00 Annually

Location

Fayette County, PA

Job Type

Civil Service Permanent Full-Time

Job Number

CS-2026-61962-42990

Department

Department of Corrections

Division

CR FYT Trmt Srvs

Opening Date

11/04/2026

Closing Date

11/18/2026 11:59 PM Eastern

Job Code

42990

Position Number

00302297

Union

SEIU Local 668

Bargaining Unit

F4

Pay Group

ST08

Bureau / Division Code

00112850

Bureau / Division

Department of Corrections/State Correctional Institution Fayette

Worksite Address

50 Overlook Drive

City

LaBelle, Pennsylvania

Zip Code

15450

Contact Name

Trisha Pratt

Contact Phone

717.317.5339

Contact Email

[e-mail]

THE POSITION

A Psychological Services Specialist (PSS) for the Department of Corrections, is responsible for independently providing psychological services and group therapy to inmates of an assigned institution. You will help support the mental health and emotional well-being of inmates while working with a dedicated team of professionals.

DESCRIPTION OF WORK

The purpose of this position is to deliver services that ensure individuals' mental health and general emotional needs are addressed efficiently and effectively during a period of incarceration with the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections. As a Psychological Services Specialist, you will perform the following duties:

• Individual Therapy: Provide psychotherapy for inmates who present significant experience significant symptoms and are open to treatment
• Group Counseling: Conduct group sessions on prison adjustment, treatment plan goals, and specific skills
• Inmate Evaluation: Conduct individual interviews and independently select appropriate tests to measure intellectual capacity, personality, special aptitudes and achievement levels
• Care Collaboration: Coordinate professional staff services to ensure special needs mental health cases are referred for counseling, psychological, psychiatric, and medical services
• Service Documentation: Write and prepare psychological reports for classification, clinical interview results, parole summaries, psychological updates and evaluations, and others as required
• Program Support: Help develop new departmental education therapeutic programs and provide initial crisis intervention with inmates until additional professional services are coordinated

Interested in learning more? Additional details regarding this position can be found in the position description.

Work Schedule and Additional Information

• Full-time employment (37.5-hour work week)
• Work hours are 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday - Friday, with a 30-minute lunch.
• This position is eligible for full retirement benefits at age 50 or 55.
• Telework: You will not have the option to telework in this position.
• Salary:In some cases, the starting salary may be non-negotiable.
• Note: Additional pay will be considered for those who currently possess or obtain licensure as a Social Worker, Clinical Social Worker, or Professional Counselor issued by the Pennsylvania State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapist and Professional Counselors. Documentation will need to be provided at interview to receive additional pay consideration.
• You will receive further communication regarding this position via email. Check your email, including spam/junk folders, for these notices.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE, TRAINING & ELIGIBILITY

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Experience and Training Requirements:

• A master's degree in psychology or a closely related field that includes fifteen graduate level credits in psychology or counseling.
• Applicants will be considered to have met the educational requirements once they are within three months of graduating with a qualifying degree.

Other Requirements:

• You must meet the PA residency requirement. For more information on ways to meet PA residency requirements, follow the link and click on Residency Guidelines.
• Successful completion of basic training in Elizabethtown, PA is required.
• You must be able to perform essential job functions.

Legal Requirements:

• You must pass a background investigation and meet Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) compliance requirements.

Veterans:

• Pennsylvania law (51 Pa. C.S. *7103) provides employment preference for qualified veterans for appointment to many state and local government jobs. To learn more about employment preferences for veterans, go to www.pa.gov/agencies/employment/how-to-apply.html and click on Veterans.

Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS):

• 711 (hearing and speech disabilities or other individuals).

If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodations due to a disability, please discuss your request for accommodations with the interviewer in advance of your interview date.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The Commonwealth is an equal employment opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse workforce. The Commonwealth values inclusion as we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most qualified people to serve the citizens of Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, union membership, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, AIDS or HIV status, disability, or any other categories protected by applicable federal or state law. All diverse candidates are encouraged to apply.

EXAMINATION INFORMATION

• Completing the application, including all supplemental questions, serves as your exam for this position. No additional exam is required at a test center (also referred to as a written exam).
• Your score is based on the detailed information you provide on your application and in response to the supplemental questions.
• Your score is valid for this specific posting only.
• You must provide complete and accurate information or:
  • your score may be lower than deserved.
  • you may be disqualified.
• You may only apply/test once for this posting.
• Your results will be provided via email.