PSYCHOLOGIST 2                                                   L0766

Definition:

This is advanced professional and administrative work in the field of psychology.

An employee in this class serves as a discipline coordinator of a psychological services program or is responsible for the development and administration of a specialized component of a facility psychological services program. Work includes the development and integration of psychological services policies and procedures and the evaluation of psychological services provided. Supervision may be exercised over a staff of professional and technical personnel. Work is performed under the general direction of a higher level psychologist or program administrator and is subject to review through consultation, written reports, and evaluations of program effectiveness.

Examples of Work:

Coordinates the psychological services program with other disciplines and integrates new policies and procedures in existing programs.

Plans, organizes, and directs a specialized component of a facility psychological services program such as admissions, long term care, forensic, geriatric, children, adolescents or other comparable components.

Conducts and participates in diagnostic and evaluative staff meetings to discuss diagnosis, etiology, treatment, and disposition of patients/clients.

Performs individual, conjoint, group or family counseling or psychotherapy or other therapeutic procedures of a psychological nature in a multi-disciplinary setting.

Participates in staff meetings to discuss and evaluate the adjustment of patients/clients and their individual plan; may serve as Treatment Team Director.

Formulates short and long term psychological treatment objectives for individual patients/clients.

Directs and instructs professional, technical, and non-professional personnel in the theories, practices, and techniques employed in a psychological services program.

Assigns and reviews the work of subordinate staff and evaluates their performance.

Reviews professional practices of staff to assure compliance within the scope of applicable statutes, professional standards and ethical guidelines.</span></p>

Reviews staff application of psychological measures to assure validity and reliability of instruments.

Integrates varied psychological data with other patient data to develop a comprehensive description of patients/clients.

Plans, organizes and directs program evaluations or research projects of a psychological services program.

Prepares reports on progress of the program and makes recommendations.

Conducts peer review, utilization review and quality assurance studies of psychological services.

Testifies as an expert witness in legal proceedings regarding patients/clients.

Performs related work as required.

Required Knowledges, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of the principles and methods of psychology including statistical measurement of individuals and groups, diagnostic evaluation, psychotherapy, and the relationships between diagnostic findings and therapeutic methodologies.

Knowledge of the application of psychology to individual and group behavior.

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

Knowledge of the principles and methods of psychological research and experimental design as applied to the field of psychology.

Knowledge of the standards and ethical principles of the practice of psychology.

Knowledge of the principles and methods of administration and supervision.

Ability to develop, plan, organize, implement, and promote a psychological services program.

Ability to administer, score and interpret a wide range of psychological tests.

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

Ability to supervise professional and technical staff in a psychological services program.

Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with patients/clients, departmental and facility personnel, and the general public.

Minimum Experience and Training:

Two years as a Psychologist 1;

or

Four years of post-doctoral experience in a clinical, applied or behavioral field of psychological services; and doctoral degree in a clinical, applied, or behaviorally oriented field of psychology including a clinical internship or one year of clinical, applied, or behavioral experience under the supervision of a doctoral level psychologist.

Necessary Special Requirement:

Possession of a current license to practice psychology as issued by the Pennsylvania State Board of Psychologist Examiners or possession of a current license to practice psychology as issued by another state with licensure requirements acceptable to the Board. <b>[</b>Pennsylvania licensure must be obtained within one year of employment.

Necessary Special Requirement:

Applicants for positions in Mental Health facilities must meet the current guidelines for defining a doctoral degree in psychology as developed and published by the council for the National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology.

Date Established or Last Revised

Class Specification - 1986

Evaluation Guide - 1995

Commonwealth Equivalent PSG ST09