01/24/2005

SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST 43042

DEFINITION: This is practitioner level professional work as a school psychologist at a state-owned institution that serves school age children, which is covered by the Pennsylvania Public School Code.

An employee in this job performs independent and specialized work in providing educational, behavioral, developmental, therapeutic, remedial, and counseling services for school age children at state-owned institutions. Work involves the diagnosis of the individual student needs, the planning, development, and implementation of student therapies, the evaluation of individual student progress and the formulation of individual student prognoses. Important aspects of this work include the selection and application of psycho-therapeutic treatments for school age children including determining the frequency, intensity and duration of applied therapies. Work includes the development of treatment procedures and the implementation of policies regarding the delivery of psychological
services to individual students served. Work is performed under the general supervision of a program administrator and is subject to review through consultation and evaluation of work performed.

EXAMPLES OF WORK: Selects, administers, scores and interprets a wide range of psychological diagnostic measures and employs other diagnostic techniques on school age children to evaluate intellectual functioning, personality structure, interests, aptitudes, and related psychological factors.

Establishes reliability, validity and confidence limits for psychological measures used for school age children.

Performs individual, group or family counseling, or other therapeutic procedures and techniques of a psychological nature with school age children in a multi-disciplinary/case management setting.

Participates in staff meetings to discuss and evaluate the adjustment of students and their individual habilitation/case management plan. Reviews preliminary interpretations of standard psychological tests; prepares comprehensive diagnostic, progress evaluation and behavior status reports.

Develops and implements behavior programs appropriate for school age children with restrictive clauses such as over-correction, contingent observation, required relaxation and non-preferred activity.

Develops and consults on the implementation of counseling programs to deal with student and parent/guardian adjustment problems in daily living, social interaction, and educational development.

Reviews evaluation results and therapeutic recommendations with school administrators, counselors, teachers, students, and parents/guardians.

Assists an administrative supervisor in the development of a psychological services program.

Testifies as an expert witness in legal proceedings regarding students.

Performs related work as required.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: Knowledge of the principles and methods of child and adolescent psychology including statistical measurement of children as individuals and in groups, diagnostic evaluation, psychotherapy, and the relationship between diagnostic findings and therapeutic methodologies.

Knowledge of the application of child and adolescent psychology to individual and group behavior of school age children.

Knowledge of mental illnesses and disabilities, their systems, treatment and social implications.

Knowledge of current federal and state laws, regulations and standards applicable to school psychology and education.

Ability to promote and implement student psychological services programs.

Ability to administer, score and interpret a wide range of psychological tests appropriate for school age children.

Ability to interpret and evaluate varied psychological data, prepare reports of findings, and develop and implement recommendations.

Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with school age children, instructional personnel, student and residential services staff, school administrators and parents and guardians.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING: Possession of a school psychologist certification issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Education or another state.

CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT: For Scranton State School for the Deaf: demonstrated ability to communicate through American Sign Language and American manual alphabet at the intermediate sign communication level as determined by the Sign Language Communication Proficiency Interview evaluation.