Psychological Services Specialist, Corrections - Waynesburg, United States - State of Pennsylvania

Description

THE POSITION

Are you looking for an opportunity to take the next step in your career in the field of psychology? The Department of Corrections, State Correctional Institution at Greene is seeking a highly motivated Psychological Services Specialist, Corrections to join our dynamic Psychology Department.

Every day will present you with unique situations to learn from and your work will directly influence the public safety of Pennsylvania and the well-being of offenders at our facility.

Become a catalyst for change and join us in transforming lives behind bars


DESCRIPTION OF WORK

As a Psychological Services Specialist (PSS) for the Department of Corrections, you will be responsible for independently providing psychological services and group therapy to inmates of your assigned institution.

The purpose of this service delivery is to ensure individuals' mental health and general emotional needs are addressed efficiently and effectively during a period of incarceration with the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections.

You will be conducting individual interviews and independently selecting appropriate tests to measure intellectual capacity, personality, special aptitudes, and achievement levels.

You will be coordinating professional staff services to ensure special needs mental health cases are referred for counseling, psychological, psychiatric, and medical services.

You will be writing and preparing psychological reports for classification, clinical interview results, parole summaries, psychological updates and evaluations, and others as required.

You will also be working in association with the Licensed Psychologist Manager to develop new departmental education therapeutic programs and providing 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 during probation will be 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM and work hours after probation will be 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM or 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM, Monday - Friday, with 30-minute lunch.
• This position is eligible for full retirement benefits at age 50 or 55.
• 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.
• 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:

• Two years as a Psychological Services Associate Corrections; 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:

• 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 Requirement:

• You must pass a background investigation.

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 and click the Veterans' Preference tab or contact us at ra-cs-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.

Learn more about our Total Rewards by watching this short video

Health & Wellness

We offer multiple health plans so our employees can choose what works best for themselves and their families. Our comprehensive benefits package includes health coverage, vision, dental, and wellness programs.

Compensation & Financial Planning

We invest in our employees by providing competitive wages and encouraging financial wellness by offering multiple ways to save money and ensure peace of mind including multiple retirement and investment plan options.

Work/Life Balance

We know there's more to life than just work Our generous paid leave benefits include paid vacation, paid sick leave, eight weeks of paid parental leave, military leave, and paid time off for most major U.S.

holidays, as well as flexible work schedules and work-from-home opportunities.

Values and Culture

We believe in the work we do and provide continual opportunities for our employees to grow and contribute to the greater good.

As one of the largest employers in the state, we provide opportunities for internal mobility, professional development, and the opportunity to give back by participating in workplace charitable giving.

Employee Perks

Sometimes, it is the little "extras" that make a big difference. Our employees receive special employee-only discounts and rates on a variety of services and memberships.

For more information on all of these Total Rewards benefits, please visit and click on the benefits box.

• Eligibility rules apply.

01

Have you been employed by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as a Psychological Services Associate, Corrections for two or more years full-time?

• Yes
• No

02

If you are claiming experience in the above question, please list the employer(s) where you gained this experience in the text box below.

The employer(s) and a description of the experience must also be included in the appropriate sections of your application if you would like the experience to be considered in the eligibility decision.

If you claimed you do not have experience, type N/A in the text box below.

03

Do you possess a conferred master's degree in psychology or a closely related field which includes 15 graduate credits in psychology? If you are claiming credits/degree, you must upload a copy of your college transcript(s) for this education to be considered in the eligibility decision.

Unofficial transcripts are acceptable.

You must attach your transcript(s) prior to the submission of your application by using the "Attachments" tab on the left.

You will not be able to add transcript(s) to the application after it has been submitted.

If you answer "yes" to the above question based on education acquired outside of the United States, you must also upload a copy of your foreign credential evaluation.

For more information on foreign education credentials, please visit and click on Other Information.

• Yes
• No

04

Do you possess two or more years of full-time experience in the field of psychology under the direct supervision of a licensed psychologist?

• Yes
• No

05

If you are claiming experience in the above question, please list the employer(s) where you gained this experience in the text box below.

The employer(s) and a description of the experience must also be included in the appropriate sections of your application if you would like the experience to be considered in the eligibility decision.

If you claimed you do not have experience, type N/A in the text box below.

06

You must complete the supplemental questions below. These supplemental questions are the exam and will be scored.

They are designed to give you the opportunity to relate your experience and training background to the major activities (Work Behaviors) performed in this position.

Failure to provide complete and accurate information may delay the processing of your application or result in a lower-than-deserved score or disqualification.

You must complete the application and answer the supplemental questions.

Resumes, cover letters, and similar documents will not be reviewed for the purposes of determining your eligibility for the position or to determine your score.

All information you provide on your application and supplemental questions is subject to verification. Any misrepresentation, falsification or omission of material facts is subject to penalty.

If requested, you must provide documentation, including names, addresses, and telephone numbers of individuals who can verify the validity of the information you provide in the application and supplemental questions.

Read each question carefully. Determine and select which "Level of Performance" most closely represents your highest level of experience/training. List the employer(s)/training source(s) from your Work or Education sections of the application where you gained this experience/training.

The "Level of Performance" you choose must be clearly supported within the description of the experience and training information entered in your application or your score may be lowered.

In order to receive credit for experience, you must have worked in a job for at least six months in which the experience claimed was a major function.

If you have read and understand these instructions, please click on the "Yes" button and proceed to the exam questions.

If you have general questions regarding the application and hiring process, please refer to our FAQ page.

• Yes

07

WORK BEHAVIOR - PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT

Assesses mental, behavioral, emotional, and developmental disorders of patients/clients/inmates by observing patients/clients/inmates; reviewing data and information, psychological reports, etc., provided by other professionals and staff; interviewing patients/clients/inmates, family, and/or staff to elicit information concerning patients/clients/inmates; administering and interpreting standardized tests of personality, interest, vocational aptitude, intelligence, academic achievement, degree of symptom severity, and/or risk assessment; and makes appropriate referrals in narrative reports based upon the patient's/client's/inmate's need.

Levels of Performance

Select the Level of Performance that best describes your claim.

• A. I have professional experience related to the work behavior above which includes assessing mental, behavioral, emotional, and developmental disorders of patients/clients/inmates by observing patients/clients/inmates AND reviewing data and information, psychological reports, etc. AND interviewing patients/clients/inmates, family, and/or staff to elicit information concerning patients/clients/inmates AND administering and interpreting standardized tests of personality, interest, intelligence, achievement, and/or risk assessment.
• B. I have professional experience related to the work behavior above such as interviewing and assessing individuals OR administering OR interpreting standardized tests OR providing feedback to other professionals/individuals.
• C. I have successfully completed college or graduate level coursework; OR I have completed an internship related to this work behavior.
• D. I have NO experience or training related to this work behavior.

08

In the text box below, please describe your experience as it relates to the level of performance you claimed in this work behavior.

Please be sure your response addresses the items listed below which relate to your claim. If you indicated you have no work experience related to this work behavior, type N/A in the box below.

• The name of the employer(s) where you gained this experience.
• The actual duties you performed related to psychological assessment.
• Your level of responsibility.

09

If you have selected the level of performance pertaining to college coursework, please provide your responses to the items listed below.

If you indicated you have no education/training related to this work behavior, type N/A in the text box below.

• College/University
• Course Title
• Credits/Clock Hours

10

WORK BEHAVIOR - TREATMENT OF INDIVIDUALS

Treats patients/clients/inmates/family and/or staff by utilizing various psychological techniques and ongoing assessment tools to continuously update the degree of symptom(s) severity and progress; selecting the appropriate approach to use in individual and/or group therapy and planning the frequency, intensity, and duration of therapy; collaborating with other professionals/specialists in diagnostic and evaluative multi-disciplinary team meetings to discuss diagnosis, etiology, treatment disposition, and community re-entry issues; prepares progress notes, psychological reports, behavioral safety and support plans, treatment plan statements, etc.

related to the mental and emotional/behavioral status of patients/clients/inmates/family and/or staff which include data on diagnosis, risk analysis, level of functioning, prognosis, and remediation.

Levels of Performance

Select the Level of Performance that best describes your claim.

• A. I have professional experience related to the work behavior above which includes treating patients/clients/inmates/family, or staff by utilizing various psychological techniques AND selecting the appropriate approach to use in individual and/or group therapy AND planning the frequency, intensity, and duration of therapy AND collaborating with other professionals/specialists in diagnostic and evaluative multi-disciplinary team meetings to discuss diagnosis, etiology, treatment disposition, and community re-entry issues AND preparing progress notes, psychological reports, treatment plan statements, etc. related to the mental and emotional/behavioral status of patients/clients/inmates/family, or staff which include data on diagnosis, risk analysis, level of functioning, prognosis, AND remediation.
• B. I have professional experience related to the work behavior above which includes treating individuals OR selecting the appropriate approach to use in individual/group therapy OR collaborating with other professionals/specialists or preparing progress reports/treatment plans for individuals in a setting where the treatment options are limited to a particular type of treatment/individual.
• C. I have successfully completed college or graduate level coursework; OR I have completed an internship related to this work behavior.
• D. I have NO experience or training related to this work behavior.

11

In the text box below, please describe your experience as it relates to the level of performance you claimed in this work behavior.

Please be sure your response addresses the items listed below which relate to your claim. If you indicated you have no work experience related to this work behavior, type N/A in the box below.

• The name of the employer(s) where you gained this experience.
• The actual duties you performed related to the treatment of individuals.
• Your level of responsibility.

12

If you have selected the level of performance pertaining to college coursework, please provide your responses to the items listed below.

If you indicated you have no education/training related to this work behavior, type N/A in the text box below.

• College/University
• Course Title
• Credits/Clock Hours

Required Question

Agency Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Address 613 North Street

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, 17120

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