Psychological Services Specialist, DOC - SCI Fayette

About the role

A Psychological Services Specialist (PSS) for the Department of Corrections, is responsible for independently providing psychological services and group therapy to inmates of an assigned institution. You will help support the mental health and emotional well-being of inmates while working with a dedicated team of professionals. This role with State Correctional Institution (SCI) Fayette is a rewarding opportunity to build a career focused on service and impact. Apply now and share your expertise to create positive change, encourage personal growth, and start an exciting public service career!

The purpose of this position is to deliver services that ensure individuals' mental health and general emotional needs are addressed efficiently and effectively during a period of incarceration with the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections. As a Psychological Services Specialist, you will perform the following duties:

• Individual Therapy: Provide psychotherapy for inmates who present significant experience significant symptoms and are open to treatment
• Group Counseling: Conduct group sessions on prison adjustment, treatment plan goals, and specific skills
• Inmate Evaluation: Conduct individual interviews and independently select appropriate tests to measure intellectual capacity, personality, special aptitudes and achievement levels
• Care Collaboration: Coordinate professional staff services to ensure special needs mental health cases are referred for counseling, psychological, psychiatric, and medical services
• Service Documentation: Write and prepare psychological reports for classification, clinical interview results, parole summaries, psychological updates and evaluations, and others as required
• Program Support: Help develop new departmental education therapeutic programs and provide initial crisis intervention with inmates until additional professional services are coordinated

Interested in learning more? Additional details regarding this position can be found in the position description.

Work Schedule and Additional Information

• Full-time employment (37.5-hour work week)
• Work hours are 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday - Friday, with a 30-minute lunch.
• This position is eligible for full retirement benefits at age 50 or 55.
• Telework: You will not have the option to telework in this position.
• Salary: In some cases, the starting salary may be non-negotiable.
• Note: Additional pay will be considered for those who currently possess or obtain licensure as a Social Worker, Clinical Social Worker, or Professional Counselor issued by the Pennsylvania State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapist and Professional Counselors. Documentation will need to be provided at interview to receive additional pay consideration.
• You will receive further communication regarding this position via email. Check your email, including spam/junk folders, for these notices.

Minimum Experience and Training Requirements

• A master’s degree in psychology or a closely related field that includes fifteen graduate level credits in psychology or counseling.
• Applicants will be considered to have met the educational requirements once they are within three months of graduating with a qualifying degree.

Other Requirements

• You must meet the PA residency requirement. For more information on ways to meet PA residency requirements, follow the link and click on Residency Guidelines.
• Successful completion of basic training in Elizabethtown, PA is required.
• You must be able to perform essential job functions.

Legal Requirements

• You must pass a background investigation and meet Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) compliance requirements.

How to Apply

• Resumes, cover letters, and similar documents will not be reviewed, and the information contained therein will not be considered for the purposes of determining your eligibility for the position. Information to support your eligibility for the position must be provided on the application (i.e., relevant, detailed experience/education).
• If you are claiming education in your answers to the supplemental application questions, you must attach a copy of your college transcripts for your claim to be accepted toward meeting the minimum requirements. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable.
• Your application must be submitted by the posting closing date. Late applications and other required materials will not be accepted.
• Failure to comply with the above application requirements may eliminate you from consideration for this position.
• All application materials and interview responses must reflect the applicant’s own experience, qualifications, and work. Applicants may use generative AI tools for preparation purposes only. Use of AI to misrepresent or falsify information, or to assist during interviews, is not permitted. Review the Guidance for Generative AI Tools & Job Seekers for additional information.

Veterans

• Pennsylvania law (51 Pa. C.S. §7103) provides employment preference for qualified veterans for appointment to many state and local government jobs.

Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS)

• 711 (hearing and speech disabilities or other individuals).

Additional information

If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodations due to a disability, please discuss your request for accommodations with the interviewer in advance of your interview date.

• Completing the application, including all supplemental questions, serves as your exam for this position. No additional exam is required at a test center (also referred to as a written exam).
• Your score is based on the detailed information you provide on your application and in response to the supplemental questions.
• Your score is valid for this specific posting only.
• You must provide complete and accurate information or:
• your score may be lower than deserved.
• you may be disqualified.
• You may only apply/test once for this posting.
• Your results will be provided via email.