Psychological Services Specialist, DOC - SCI Pine Grove

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

Job summary

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Corrections, seeks a Psychological Services Specialist to deliver thoughtful psychological care for inmates at SCI Pine Grove. The role emphasizes assessment, treatment delivery, and urgent mental health response in a highly structured setting to promote stability and well-being.

Responsibilities include individual and group therapy, psychological evaluations, and collaboration with internal and external partners.

Qualifications

• 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

• Provide individual and group therapy to address emotional disorders, behavioral concerns, treatment goals, and adjustment challenges.
• Conduct interviews, administer tests, interpret results, and prepare reports that support treatment planning and referrals.
• Collaborate with institutional departments, external agencies, and mental health facilities to support inmate care and service delivery.
• Deliver immediate psychological support to inmates experiencing acute distress and assist staff with related concerns.
• Serve on institutional committees, contribute to decision processes, and support reentry and classification activities.
• Provide instruction to interns and relevant experience in testing, scoring, and interpretation of the initial psychological test.

Skills

Therapy

Psych evaluation

Crisis intervention

Coordination

Training interns

Education

Master’s degree in psychology or closely related field (15 graduate credits in psychology or counseling)

Job description

THE POSITION

Are you inspired to bring thoughtful psychological care to individuals living in a highly structured correctional setting? As a Psychological Services Specialist, DOC with the Department of Corrections (DOC), you will provide therapeutic guidance that supports emotional balance and constructive personal development for inmates at the State Correctional Institution (SCI) at Pine Grove. This position places you in a vital role within assessment, treatment delivery, and urgent mental health response. Your professional insight will help individuals work through significant challenges, contribute to a more stable and supportive institutional climate, and promote lasting improvement in overall well-being.

THE POSITION

Are you inspired to bring thoughtful psychological care to individuals living in a highly structured correctional setting? As a Psychological Services Specialist, DOC with the Department of Corrections (DOC), you will provide therapeutic guidance that supports emotional balance and constructive personal development for inmates at the State Correctional Institution (SCI) at Pine Grove. This position places you in a vital role within assessment, treatment delivery, and urgent mental health response. Your professional insight will help individuals work through significant challenges, contribute to a more stable and supportive institutional climate, and promote lasting improvement in overall well-being.

DESCRIPTION OF WORK

This position delivers psychological services that address emotional health, behavioral needs, and therapeutic progress for inmates at SCI Pine Grove. As a Psychological Services Specialist, you will perform the following duties:

• Therapeutic Counseling: Provide individual and group therapy to address emotional disorders, behavioral concerns, treatment goals, and adjustment challenges
• Psychological Evaluation: Conduct interviews, administer tests, interpret results, and prepare reports that support treatment planning and referrals
• Interdisciplinary Coordination: Collaborate with institutional departments, external agencies, and mental health facilities to support inmate care and service delivery
• Crisis Response: Deliver immediate psychological support to inmates experiencing acute distress and assist staff with related concerns
• Program Participation: Serve on institutional committees, contribute to decision processes, and support reentry and classification activities
• Training and Guidance: Provide instruction to interns and relevant experience in testing, scoring, and interpretation of the initial psychological test

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 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Mon day - 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: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.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE, TRAINING & ELIGIBILITY

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.