What are the responsibilities and job description for the Psychological Services Specialist, Corrections - SCI Somerset position at Commonwealth of Pennsylvania?
Are you ready to advance your career in psychology? The Department of Corrections is on the lookout for a committed and empathetic Psychological Services Specialist to provide essential mental health support to incarcerated individuals. In this role, you will engage with a diverse group of inmates, many of whom face various psychological challenges, requiring your keen attention to detail and strong clinical skills. Effective communication will be crucial as you collaborate with inmates, social workers, correctional officers, and other staff members. By addressing the mental health needs of those in custody, you will contribute significantly to creating a safer and more supportive correctional environment, aiding in their recovery and eventual reintegration into society. If you are seeking a rewarding and challenging opportunity, we invite you to apply today!
As a Psychological Services Specialist (PSS) within the Department of Corrections, your role will involve the independent provision of psychological services and group therapy to inmates at SCI-Somerset. This service aims to effectively address the mental health and emotional needs of individuals during their incarceration with the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections.
You will be responsible for conducting individual assessments and selecting appropriate tests to evaluate intellectual capacity, personality traits, special aptitudes, and achievement levels. Additionally, you will coordinate with professional staff to ensure that inmates with special mental health needs are referred for counseling, psychological, psychiatric, and medical services. Your duties will also include preparing psychological reports for various purposes, such as classification, clinical interview outcomes, parole summaries, and psychological evaluations. Furthermore, you will collaborate with the Licensed Psychologist Manager to develop new therapeutic educational programs and provide initial crisis intervention for inmates until further professional assistance is arranged.
Work Schedule and Additional Information:
You will be responsible for conducting individual assessments and selecting appropriate tests to evaluate intellectual capacity, personality traits, special aptitudes, and achievement levels. Additionally, you will coordinate with professional staff to ensure that inmates with special mental health needs are referred for counseling, psychological, psychiatric, and medical services. Your duties will also include preparing psychological reports for various purposes, such as classification, clinical interview outcomes, parole summaries, and psychological evaluations. Furthermore, you will collaborate with the Licensed Psychologist Manager to develop new therapeutic educational programs and provide initial crisis intervention for inmates until further professional assistance is arranged.
Work Schedule and Additional Information:
- Full-time employment, 37.5 hour work week
- Work hours are 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Monday - Friday, with a 30-minute lunch.
- Telework: You will not have the option to telework in this position.
- Salary: In some cases, the starting salary may be non-negotiable.
- 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.
- This position is eligible for full retirement benefits at age 50 or 55
- 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:
- Two years as a Psychological Services Associate Corrections (Commonwealth job title or equivalent Federal Government job title, as determined by the Office of Administration); or
- A Master's degree in psychology or a closely related field which includes fifteen graduate level credits in psychology; and two years of experience in the field of psychology under the direct supervision of a licensed psychologist.
Other Requirements:
- Successful completion of basic training in Elizabethtown, PA is required.
- You must meet the PA residency requirement. For more information on ways to meet PA residency requirements, follow the link and click on Residency.
- 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.
Commonwealth employees who wish to use their seniority rights must apply to the internal posting for their seniority rights to be considered.
How to Apply:
- Resumes, cover letters, and similar documents will not be reviewed, and the information contained therein will not be considered for the purposes of determining your eligibility for the position. Information to support your eligibility for the position must be provided on the application (i.e., relevant, detailed experience/education).
- If you are claiming education in your answers to the supplemental application questions, you must attach a copy of your college transcripts for your claim to be accepted toward meeting the minimum requirements. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable.
- Your application must be submitted by the posting closing date. Late applications and other required materials will not be accepted.
- Failure to comply with the above application requirements may eliminate you from consideration for this position.
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.employment.pa.gov/Additional Info/Pages/default.aspx and click the Veterans’ Preference tab or contact us at ra-cs-vetpreference@pa.gov.
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.
Salary : $66,250 - $100,636
