Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

POSITION DESCRIPTION FOR JOB POSTING

Position Number:  00041452

Description Activated On:  6/21/2024 12:42:40 PM


Position Purpose:
Describe the primary purpose of this position and how it contributes to the organization’s objectives. Example: Provides clerical and office support within the Division to ensure its operations are conducted efficiently and effectively. 

This position manages psychological services programs at the State Correctional Institution (SCI) Dallas.

Description of Duties:
Describe in detail the duties and responsibilities assigned to this position. Descriptions should include the major end result of the task. Example: Types correspondence, reports, and other various documents from handwritten drafts for review and signature of the supervisor.

20% Supervises and participates in the work of subordinate psychological staff, which includes screening inmates referred for psychiatric services and/or other mental health services; making appropriate referrals for evaluation or treatment; conducting psychological evaluations; administering the scoring and interpretation of diagnostic measures; employing diagnostic techniques to evaluate intellectual functioning, personality structure, interests, aptitudes and related psychological factors; performing individual and group counseling, psychotherapy or other therapeutic procedures and techniques; formulating short and long term psychological treatment objectives for individual inmates; and providing immediate crisis intervention and therapeutic services as needed.

20% Serves as the administrative supervisor in the development of psychological services programs. Assists in developing and integrating new policies and procedures. Manages, develops, and/or implements a counseling program to deal with adjustment problems in daily living, social interaction and work settings. Manages and participates in research projects of a psychological services program.

20% Serves as Chairman of the Initial Reception Committee, Suicide Clinical Review Team, Psychiatric Review Team, Mental Health Services Review Committee, and Critical Incident Stress Management Team.

10% Establishes the Clinical Competencies and Privileges of the Psychological Services Specialists and Psychological Services Associates. Establish reliability, validity and confidence limits for psychological measures. Supplies stability rating in the medical profiles and updates as needed.

10% Reviews preliminary interpretations of standard psychological tests. Prepares and/or reviews comprehensive diagnostic, progress evaluation and prognostic mental and behavior management status reports.

10% Serves as a consultant for both Behavioral Management and Special Needs Unit program development and staff training and provides services to the units as needed. Serves as a consultant to the Corrections Classification Program Manager, Unit Manager, or other staff regarding treatment of mental health issues. Holds staff meetings to discuss and evaluate the adjustment of inmates and their individual treatment/case management plan.

5% Testifies as an expert witness in legal proceedings regarding inmates. Ensures the American Correctional Association (ACA) standards for the provision of psychological services are met for accreditation.

5% Perform related work as required.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
1. Exercise therapeutic care, custody, and control over inmates
2. Manage psychological services programs and operations through subordinate staff
3. Supervise and evaluate the work of subordinate staff
4. Maintain an active license to practice psychology issued by the PA State Board of Psychology
5. Effectively communicate verbally and in writing
6. Review and interpret information
7. Operate basic office equipment
8. Maintain regular and reliable attendance
9. Establish and maintain effective working relationships
10. Present informational briefings to individuals and groups
11. Attend and participate in all mandatory training and/or testing
12. Work overtime as required
13. Travel as required
14. Be mobile over all types of physical surfaces and levels
15. Visually observe inmates’ activities
16. Hear and identify sounds (voices, whistle, buzzer, lock release, scuffling, sudden quiet)

Decision Making:
Describe the types of decisions made by the incumbent of this position and the types of decisions referred to others. Identify the problems or issues that can be resolved at the level of this position, versus those that must be referred to the supervisor. Example: In response to a customer inquiry, this work involves researching the status of an activity and preparing a formal response for the supervisor’s signature.

The incumbent of this position is expected to work independently and with initiative. The incumbent will perform daily work assignments in accordance with procedures established by the supervisor, Superintendent, Departmental policies, and employee performance standards. Work is assigned verbally, in writing, or through e-mail.

Requirements Profile: Identify any specific experience or requirements, such as a licensure, registration, or certification, which may be necessary to perform the functions of the position. Position-specific requirements should be consistent with a Special Requirement or other criteria identified in the classification specification covering this position. Example: Experience using Java; Professional Engineer License

Experience:



Licenses, registrations, or certifications:

1. 
  Psychologist
 
2.  
N/A
 
3.  
N/A
 
4.  
N/A
 
5.  
N/A
 
6.  
N/A

Essential Functions
: Provide a list of essential functions for this position. Example: Transports boxes weighing up to 60 pounds.
 
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