JOB TITLE: LICENSED PSYCHOLOGIST

JOB CODE: 43041

DEFINITION: This is practitioner level professional work providing psychological services at a commonwealth facility.

An employee in this job performs independent and specialized work in clinical, vocational, rehabilitation, educational, habilitation, forensic, or research areas of a psychological services program. Work involves selecting psychological tests; testing, interpreting, and diagnosing the psychological service needs of individuals; collaborating with psychiatric or medical services staff; coordinating with multidisciplinary staff to plan, develop, and implement psychological treatment programs, consultations, clinical services, and individual and group therapies; evaluating individual progress; and adjusting psychological treatment plans. Work may include testifying as an expert witness in legal proceedings; signing official documents; and serving as coordinator of a multidisciplinary treatment team with responsibility to oversee development of comprehensive treatment plans for individuals. Work is performed under the general supervision of a higher-level licensed psychologist or program administrator and is subject to review through consultation and evaluation of work performed.

EXAMPLES OF WORK: (NOTE: The examples of work are representative of the work, but every position classified to this job may not perform all examples of work listed. Conversely, this is not an all-inclusive list of work examples.)

• Evaluates the psychological strengths and weaknesses of individuals through various means, including reviewing medical and social case histories, personal interviews, and observation of their behavior and emotional and physical condition.

• Selects, administers, and interprets intelligence, neuropsychological, social development, achievement, competency, interest, personality, and other projective and objective psychological tests to diagnose individual psychological disorders and formulate plans for psychological treatment.

• Ensures diagnostic measurements are valid and reliable and are expressed within confidence limits.

• Collaborates with staff from psychiatric or medical services or other disciplines in developing individual treatment program plans.

• Serves as multidisciplinary treatment team coordinator in formulating, implementing, and monitoring individual comprehensive treatment plans consistent with the established psychiatric or medical diagnoses and in accordance with regulations, policies, practices, standards, and clinical privileges relevant to the treatment of individuals.

• Participates in treatment team staff meetings to discuss and evaluate the progress of individuals in meeting their treatment program objectives and to plan needed adjustments.

• Reviews evaluation results and therapeutic recommendations with patients.

• Treats individual psychological disorders to effect behavior modification and improve adjustments by using various psychological techniques, such as individual and group therapy, milieu therapy, and individual, group, and family counseling or other therapeutic procedures for individuals in a multidisciplinary treatment team setting.

• Testifies as an expert witness in legal proceedings regarding individuals served, such as Vecchione financial competency determinations or redeterminations, involuntary commitments, and general competencies ordered by the courts for determining suitability of alleged law violators for trial proceedings.

• Develops, conducts, or arranges for technical psychological program service training and staff development programs for facility staff, psychology residents, or interns.

• Serves as a mentor to Psychological Services Associate staff, to orient and assist them with work-related problems.

• Provides consultation and psychological services education and training programs for community mental health and developmental disability program service providers.

• Collaborates with an administrative supervisor in the development of a facility psychological services program.

• Prepares clear and concise written reports regarding recommendations, treatment goals, and psychological evaluations.

• Maintains case files on all individuals receiving services to include treatment session documentation, therapeutic goals, and progress toward goal achievement.

• Conducts facility approved and assigned research projects for psychological services programs.

• Performs related work as required.

ENTRY LEVEL KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of the principles and methods of psychology, including diagnostic evaluation, behavior modification, therapy, and the relationships between diagnostic findings and therapeutic methodologies.

• Knowledge of psychological testing methodologies.

• Knowledge of statistical methods and analysis for social services.

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

• Knowledge of mental health disorders and developmental disabilities, their symptoms, and 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 Pennsylvania Mental Health Procedures Act.

• Knowledge of the use and functionality of Microsoft Office Suite software.

• Ability to select, administer, score, and interpret a wide range of projective and objective psychological tests.

• Ability to develop recommendations based on the interpretation of psychological data.

• Ability to prepare clear and concise reports.

• Ability to communicate effectively in writing.

• Ability to communicate effectively orally.

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• All employees must possess a valid license to practice psychology as issued by the Pennsylvania State Board of Psychology.

• All employees in the Department of Corrections must obtain Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) certification within two months of hire and maintain it for the duration of employment in the job.