This is psychological work of limited scope and difficulty administering a variety of psychological tests and applying psychological techniques in the evaluation and treatment of prison inmates or children and youths. Testing and interviewing prison inmates or children and youths and providing psychological information to other agency staff are significant aspects of the work.

Work is performed under the direction of a Director of Correctional Professional Services of Social Work Administrator. Employees in this class also receive technical guidance from more advanced level psychologists.

• Administers, scores and interprets tests of intelligence, educational attainment, personality factors, vocational aptitude, and learning disabilities; reviews literature to determine testing methods and techniques; consults with other psychologists on test administration techniques and results interpretation.
• Prepares reports on psychological examinations for use in educational and vocational guidance and psychotherapy; prepares reports on testing requested by social services staff or required by the course as part of sentencing; may prepare written recommendations pertaining to inmate eligibility for work release status; prepares written recommendations pertaining to the development of service goals for inmates or children and youth.
• Conducts individual psychotherapy using a variety of treatment approaches and methods; determines and maintains appointment schedules for inmate therapy sessions; may refer inmates with very severe psychological problems to more advanced level psychologists or a referring inmates, children, and youth with severe psychological problems to appropriate psychiatric units for treatment.
• Meets with inmates or children and youths undergoing acute extreme emotional stress; evaluates inmates' or children's and youths' problems; decides whether intensive treatment is needed.
• Provides consultative services to social workers, correctional officers, and other agency staff in regard to particular inmate or children or youth problems; recommends appropriate psychological literature for prison or social service staff review.
• Prepares individual case histories for inmates or children and youths tested or undergoing therapy.
• Attends and participates in psychology or social service staff meetings; discusses cases in progress; discusses and participates in the distribution of the testing and psychotherapeutic workload.
• May supervise student interns in routine testing and casework.
• Performs related work as required.

KNOWLEDGE OF:

• psychological test administration techniques and standard test forms, devices, and procedures used to measure intelligence, educational attainment, personality factors, vocational aptitude, and learning disabilities.
• standard classifications of mental illness and abnormal behavior patterns.
• psychological tests evaluation methods and techniques.
• personality structures and development.
• the application of psychological theory and techniques in psychotherapy.
• the sources of information and current literature and research in the field of psychology and psychometrics.

SKILL IN:

• administering a variety of psychometric examinations.
• conducting psychotherapeutic interviews.

ABILITY TO:

• interpret psychometric test scores.
• make sound recommendations based on psychometric data and personal interviews.
• prepare written case histories and test evaluations.
• establish and maintain effective working relationships with departmental officials, associates, social workers, and others.

• Completion of a master's degree program at an accredited college or university with major course work in psychology which shall have included courses in psychometrics.
• One year of supervised paid psychological experience in a clinic or counseling agency involving diagnostic evaluation and therapy or guidance.

PHYSICAL AND MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to physically perform the duties and to work in the environmental conditions required of a position in this class.

LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS, AND/OR CERTIFICATES

• Certification by the State of Pennsylvania's Department of Education as a School Psychologist at the time of appointment if required by work assignment.

PAY RANGE: EP17
Class Established: 1/1953

Latest Spec. Revision: 9/1982

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