Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

POSITION DESCRIPTION FOR JOB POSTING

Position Number:  50306946

Description Activated On:  7/20/2026 11:31:16 AM

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. 

 Under the supervision of the Licensed Psychologist Manager the Psychological Services Specialist provides psychological evaluation and a range of treatment services to inmates.

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.

Conducts individual interviews and independently selects appropriate tests to measure intellectual capacity, personality, special aptitudes and achievement levels. Develops interpretive conclusions to augment appropriate treatment planning. Prepares and signs reports of psychological evaluations for internal use at SCI-Somerset with supervisor’s co-signature and supervision.

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

Independently develops and conducts educational psychotherapeutic groups and individual services.

Works in association with the Licensed Psychologist Manager to develop new departmental education therapeutic programs.

Provides initial crisis intervention with inmates until additional professional services are coordinated.

May be required to perform no less than four (4) basic psychological evaluations per week with no more than one (1) assigned evaluation missed per quarter.

Performs the duties of Mental Health Coordinator by:
1. Preparing and scheduling the commitment of mental health inmates to a MHU or Mental Health Treatment facility (i.e. SCI-Waymart).
2. Developing and monitoring a special needs roster of inmates receiving mental health services and a roster of all inmates needing out-patient treatment or who are mentally ill.
3. Interviewing mental health, guilty but mentally ill and potential suicide cases to determine the need for coordination and initiation of mental health services.

4. Attends Psychiatric Review Team Meetings and acts as co-chairperson when necessary. Can act as Psychiatric Review Team Chairperson in the absence of Chief Psychologist.

Attends Unit Management Staff meetings relative to mental health cases as an observer.
Independently implements inmate treatment plans and recommendations as to treatment services.

Serves as a resource for training of other employees regarding mental health services, particularly as it relates to mental health and special needs units.

Independently prepares and submits statistical and other reports related to inmates' special needs.

Attends specialized trainings as required.

Participates in research activities relative to Psychological Services, which may include data collection to maximize the effectiveness of the Psychological Services Program.

Will rotate through all above noted duties as assigned by the LPM.

Performs related duties as required.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
1. Exercise therapeutic care, custody, and control over inmates
2. Effectively communicate verbally and in writing
3. Review and interpret information
4. Operate basic office equipment
5. Maintain regular and reliable attendance
6. Establish and maintain effective working relationships
7. Attend and participate in all mandatory training and/or testing
8. Work overtime in compliance with provisions of the Collective Bargaining Agreement
9. Travel as required
10. Be mobile over all types of physical surfaces and levels
11. Visually observe inmates’ activities
12. 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.

All decisions must be made with prior approval by immediate supervisor.

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:

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