4A12
PAY RANGE: EP23***
GENERAL DEFINITION
This is psychological work at the full performance level administering or overseeing a variety of psychological tests and applying psychological techniques in the evaluation and treatment of prison inmates, children and youth, or the intellectually disabled and providing psychological information to agency staff. Employees in the Prisons provide psychological services to prison inmates and detainees and coordinate with contracted medical agencies in the treatment and evaluation of prisoners. Employees in the Department of Human Services provide administrative oversight of contracted mental health service agencies and act as liaisons between social service staff and contracted agencies; evaluates and coordinate the provision of forensic psychological services for children and families; and provides consultation regarding forensic psychological report interpretation. Employees in the Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services evaluate and coordinate the provision of psychological services to intellectually disabled clients, provide oversight to contracted emergency service workers and oversight of community home managers. Employees in all assignments are required to attend and play an active role on various multidisciplinary teams regarding psychological matters. Incumbents may also provide technical direction and supervision to lower level social service staff, contracted mental health agencies and student interns. Work is performed under the direction of an administrative manager.
ALLOCATING FACTORS
1. Positions must be located in the Philadelphia Prison System, Department of Human Services, or the Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services.
2. Positions provide clinical direction to all levels of staff including executive staff, lower level social service staff, contractors and/or student interns.
TYPICAL EXAMPLES OF WORK (ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY)
All Assignments:
Attends and participates in multidisciplinary teams such as the Special Custody Hearing Board, Suicide Prevention Team, Sex Abuse Teamings, Child Fatality and Near Fatality Review Board, Special Management Hearing Board, and the Parole Board; makes recommendations on reports for multidisciplinary teams such as the Special Custody Hearing Board and the Child Fatality and Near Fatality Review Board; provides expert testimony in legal proceedings.
Prepares reports on psychological examinations for use in educational and vocational guidance, court hearings and psychotherapy, testing requested by the social services staff or required by the courts as part of sentencing; activities of contractors, students, client progress, results of inspection, and related matters; prepares written recommendations pertaining to inmate eligibility for work-release status and parole and to development of service goals for inmates, children, and youth; prepares individual case histories for inmates or children and youths tested or undergoing therapy; makes recommendation for specific corrective action or program improvements; prepares required statistical and narrative reports for the State and Department; maintains records on activities as basis for reports.
Administers, scores and interprets tests and batteries of tests in such areas as intelligence, educational attainment, personality factors, vocational aptitude, and intellectual disability; determines testing methods and techniques; consults with other psychologists on test administration techniques and results interpretation; investigates the appropriateness and validity of psychometric instruments being used or considered for use.
Discusses and participates in the distribution of the testing and psychotherapeutic workload; recommends appropriate psychological treatment for inmates or children and youth; assists staff in the interpretation of psychological and psychiatric reports; coordinates agency staff usage of psychological and psychiatric diagnostic services in the community; discusses cases in progress.
Participates in planning and conducting psychological training for a variety of professional and community groups; provides consultative services to social workers, correctional officers, and other prison or social service staff in regard to particular inmate or children and youth problems; recommends appropriate psychological literature for agency staff review.
Provides guidance on the development and implementation of departmental policies and procedures.
May assign work to clerical personnel and may supervise student interns in routine testing, evaluation and casework.
Performs related work as required.
Prison Assignments:
Conducts individual, group or family psychotherapy using a variety of treatment approaches and techniques; determines and maintains appointment schedules for inmate therapy sessions; conducts group didactic sessions with inmates on general psychological coping skills; refers inmates when necessary and serves as a liaison to a contracted psychiatric unit for treatment; meets with inmates undergoing acute extreme emotional stress or in crisis; conducts therapeutic treatment to clients such as anger management, stress management, sex offender services, and social skills instruction.
Plans and provides training to staff on mental health first-aid, crisis intervention, and restorative practices; responds to requests regarding therapy progress, provides recommendations on clients housing status.
DHS Assignments:
Develops criteria used in awarding contracts to social service providers; develops guidelines used in evaluating contracted mental health service providers; monitors compliance of contracted service providers; makes recommendations on continuing relationships with contracted service providers.
Reviews all psychological reports, results and recommendations from service providers regarding treatment of children, parents, or legal custodians; makes final clinical recommendations regarding use of psychological tests in areas such as intelligence, personality, child welfare planning and intellectual disability regarding client progress, outcome and diagnosis.
DBHIDS Assignments
Advises and directs contracted workers providing emergency services to intellectually disabled clients; discusses with and recommends corrective action to hospitals, police officers, managers of community shelters, and others, on behalf of intellectually disabled clients; discusses cases with and follows-up on action taken by emergency service worker and others; recommends procedural changes and improvements.
Investigates reports of abuse or neglect in contracted homes, community living arrangements (CLAs), and in client's homes; checks for compliance with agreements and regulations concerning minimum care and treatment; advises managers of institutions or parents in correction of problems; contacts Law and/or Police Departments to compel correction of cases of abuse or neglect; secures authorization letters and prepares involuntary commitment order as necessary; compiles information on and prepares reports concerning institutions and homes having patterns of abuse or neglect; recommends action against such homes to departmental administrators; testifies in court on basis for legal action taken.
Reviews behavior modification programs prepared by contracted psychologist for appropriateness; reviews client records and may visit client to determine value and need for program; discusses possible changes with the contracted psychologist; provides technical and clinical assistance regarding behavior plans or other client services.
Participates in evaluation of home environments occupied by intellectually disabled clients to determine need for in-home services; recommends expenditure of Human Services Development Fund to provide for in-home services; evaluates performance of program and recommends improvements; analyzes range of client services, especially emergency services, and makes recommendations for new programs and funding sources.
Recommends placement of intellectually disabled clients, following psychological evaluation; refers clients to school or training organization; meets with parents and/or clients to discuss proposed action; provides letters explaining actions to parents' legal counsel; discusses client problems and recommends action to other staff members or representatives of the Department of Human Services; coordinates with DHS client services to insure proper care and avoid duplication of effort.
REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES
KNOWLEDGE OF:
· The theories, principles, and procedures of modern psychology as applied to the work assignment
· The principles, practices, methods, literature and developments in service to the client population of the relevant work assignment
· Psychological test administration techniques and standard test forms, devices, and procedures used to measure intelligence, educational attainment, personality factors, vocational aptitude, and intellectual disabilities
· The full range of child and adult intellectual disabilities
· Classifications of mental illness and abnormal behavior patterns
· Projective and non-projective test evaluation methods and techniques
· Personality structure and development
· The application of psychological theory and techniques in psychotherapy
· The social factors influencing personality development
· The sources of information and current literature and research in the field of psychology and psychometrics
· The methods, practices and techniques of program analysis, planning, evaluation and monitoring as they apply to the work assignment (Human Services and Behavioral Health assignments)
· State, federal, municipal, and professional codes of ethics and guidelines for psychologists and social service workers
· Laws, ordinances and regulations pertaining to mental health, sexual abuse, child abuse, the intellectually disabled and correctional health care
SKILL IN:
· Administering and interpreting a variety of psychometric examinations (Prison assignments)
· Conducting psychotherapeutic interviews
· Adapting psychometric tests for use in educational or vocational guidance
· Counseling and group therapy (Prison assignments)
ABILITY TO:
· Interpret psychometric test scores
· Make sound recommendations based on psychometric data and personal interviews
· Prepare detailed written reports of findings, conclusions, and recommendations
· Present ideas effectively, both orally and in writing
· Conduct site visits to program facilities and client homes
· Explain psychological concepts and therapeutic practices relative to the relevant work assignment in a court or other legal setting
· Utilize computer software for tracking client progress, statistical reporting, criminal justice tracking and reporting and electronic communication
· Establish and maintain effective working relationships with departmental officials, associates, social workers, and others
MINIMUM ACCEPTABLE TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE (The following statement represents the minimum training and experience standards which will be used to admit or reject applicants for tests. Applications submitted by candidates for this class will be reviewed based on training and experience requirements as approved on 5/22)
EDUCATION:
Completion of a master's degree program at an accredited college or university, with major course work in an acceptable area of psychology which has included coursework in psychometrics or related coursework in assessment and evaluation.
AND
EXPERIENCE:
Three years of experience in psychometrics or related psychological assessment, diagnostic evaluation and therapy in a correctional center, child welfare agency, social service agency, clinic, intellectual disability provider or counseling agency under the supervision of a licensed psychologist.
OR
One year of experience as a certified School Psychologist.
NOTE: Possession of a current license as a Psychologist as issued by the Pennsylvania State Board of Psychology satisfies all education and experience requirements.
NOTE: Possession of a doctoral degree in in psychology, clinical psychology, educational psychology, or counseling psychology substitutes for two years of the experience requirements.
Any equivalent combination of education and experience which has included a master's degree in an acceptable field as an educational minimum.
Selective Factor Certification may be utilized, as needed, to fill specific positions.
In accordance with Civil Service Regulation 11.032 - Selective Factor Certification the appointing authority may request certification of eligible candidates with specified experience, education, training, license, registration or certification to fill specific positions in this class. Certification to fill such positions will be made from the highest ranking eligible candidates on the eligible list who possess the specified education and/or experience.
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
Licensed by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as a Psychologist or certified as a School Psychologist at the time of application and appointment and possession during tenure of employment may be required by work assignment.
Class Established 1/53
Spec. Revision 9/82
Spec. Revision and consolidation with 4A15
CSC - 2/12
Ad. Board - 4/12
Spec. Revision:
CSC - 4/14
Ad. Board 5/14
Spec. Revision:
CSC 12/15
Ad. Board 12/15
Spec. Revision:
CSC 3/19; Ad. Board 4/19
Spec. Revision:
CSC 5/22; Ad. Board 6/22
SA