Psychological Services Specialist, DOC - SCI Fayette

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; Pennsylvania; On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is seeking a Psychological Services Specialist to deliver mental health services within the Department of Corrections. Responsibilities include individual therapy, group counseling, inmate evaluations, and coordinating care with other professionals.

The role requires a master's degree in psychology and PA residency, with basic training required in Elizabethtown. Background checks and CJIS compliance are mandatory.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in psychology or closely related field with fifteen graduate level credits in psychology or counseling.
• Within three months of graduating, candidates will be considered to meet educational requirements.

Responsibilities

• Provide psychotherapy for inmates with significant symptoms and treatment openness.
• Conduct group sessions on prison adjustment, treatment goals, and skills.
• Perform individual interviews and select appropriate tests to assess intellect, personality, and aptitude.
• Coordinate referrals for counseling, psychology, psychiatry, and medical services.
• Write psychological reports for classification, interview results, parole summaries, and updates.
• Assist in developing educational therapeutic programs and provide initial crisis intervention.

Skills

Psychotherapy

Group Counseling

Inmate Evaluation

Care Collaboration

Education

Master's degree in psychology

Job description

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.

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.

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.

• 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.