Psychological Services Specialist, DOC - SCI Phoenix

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; Pennsylvania; On-site; USD 62,000 - 76,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Full retirement benefits

Job summary

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is seeking a Psychological Services Specialist in the Department of Corrections (DOC) at SCI Phoenix to support counseling, assist with psychological evaluations, and contribute to treatment planning under professional oversight. This role helps promote emotional stability and safer, healthier inmate adjustment.

You will perform counseling, evaluation support, service coordination, and research duties within a structured treatment environment, with a focus on

Qualifications

• 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.

Responsibilities

• Counseling Support: Provide individual and group counseling on skills such as anger management, sleep hygiene, and prison adjustment
• Evaluation Assistance: Conduct interviews, help administer tests, and discuss results with supervising psychologists
• Service Coordination: Collaborate with institutional departments and outside agencies to support mental health services
• Treatment Planning: Prepare case summaries and behavior plans for review by a licensed psychologist
• Research Support: Assist with studies that aim to improve psychological services across the institution

Skills

Counseling

Interviews

Collaboration

Education

Master’s degree in psychology

Job description

The Position

Do you want to make a meaningful impact as a Psychological Services Specialist, DOC with the Department of Corrections (DOC)? This position allows you to assist with counseling, support psychological evaluations, and encourage successful adjustment for inmates at the State Correctional Institution (SCI) at Phoenix. You contribute to a structured treatment environment where emotional growth and safety are priorities. Step into a role where your dedication supports positive outcomes every day.

Description Of Work

This position supports the mental health needs of inmates by providing counseling assistance, helping with psychological evaluations, and contributing to treatment planning under professional oversight. The work promotes emotional stability, healthy behavior, and improved adjustment within the facility. As a Psychological Services Specialist, you will perform the following duties:

• Counseling Support: Provide individual and group counseling on skills such as anger management, sleep hygiene, and prison adjustment
• Evaluation Assistance: Conduct interviews, help administer tests, and discuss results with supervising psychologists
• Service Coordination: Collaborate with institutional departments and outside agencies to support mental health services
• Treatment Planning: Prepare case summaries and behavior plans for review by a licensed psychologist
• Research Support: Assist with studies that aim to improve psychological services across the institution

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 hours per week
• Work hours are 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Tues day - Saturday or Sun day - Thursday, 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:
  • Selected candidates who are new to employment with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania will begin employment at the starting annual salary of $69,086.00 (before taxes).
  • 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.

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.