Psychological Services Specialist, Corrections

Commonwealth Of Pennsylvania - La Belle, PA

Full-time - Mid Level

La Belle, PA

Administration of Human Resource Programs

About the position

The Department of Corrections at the State Correctional Institution at Fayette is seeking a dedicated Psychological Services Specialist, Corrections to join our Psychology Department. This role is pivotal in providing psychological services and group therapy to inmates, ensuring their mental health and emotional needs are effectively addressed during their incarceration. As a Psychological Services Specialist (PSS), you will engage in a variety of tasks that directly impact the well-being of offenders and contribute to public safety in Pennsylvania. Your work will not only involve individual interviews but also the selection of appropriate psychological tests to assess various aspects of inmates' mental health. In this position, you will coordinate with professional staff to ensure that inmates with special mental health needs receive the necessary counseling and medical services. You will be responsible for preparing comprehensive psychological reports that include classification results, clinical interview summaries, and updates on psychological evaluations. Collaboration with the Licensed Psychologist Manager is essential as you will help develop new therapeutic programs aimed at enhancing the educational and psychological support provided to inmates. Additionally, you will be the first point of contact for crisis intervention, providing immediate support until further professional assistance is arranged. This full-time position operates on a day shift schedule, with work hours from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday, including a 30-minute lunch break. The role offers a competitive salary and eligibility for full retirement benefits at age 50 or 55. Candidates with licensure as a Social Worker, Clinical Social Worker, or Professional Counselor may receive additional pay consideration, contingent upon providing the necessary documentation during the interview process.

Responsibilities

• Independently provide psychological services and group therapy to inmates.
• Conduct individual interviews and select appropriate psychological tests.
• Coordinate professional staff services for special needs mental health cases.
• Write and prepare psychological reports for classification and evaluations.
• Work with the Licensed Psychologist Manager to develop new therapeutic programs.
• Provide initial crisis intervention with inmates.

Requirements

• Master's degree in psychology or a closely related field with fifteen graduate level credits in psychology.
• Two years of experience in the field of psychology under the supervision of a licensed psychologist.
• Successful completion of basic training in Elizabethtown, PA is required.
• Must meet the Pennsylvania residency requirement.
• Must pass a background investigation.

Nice-to-haves

• Licensure as a Social Worker, Clinical Social Worker, or Professional Counselor issued by the Pennsylvania State Board.

Benefits

• Full retirement benefits at age 50 or 55.
• Additional pay consideration for licensure.