Psychological Services Specialist, Corrections - SCI Coal Township

Are you looking to apply your psychological expertise to positively influence the lives of inmates? The Department of Corrections at the State Correctional Institution (SCI) in Coal Township is excited to invite applications for the role of Psychological Services Specialist in our vibrant Psychology Department. Our mission focuses on delivering essential mental health services to those in our care, aiming to lower recidivism rates while honoring victim rights and facilitating successful community reintegration for every individual. If you are passionate about contributing to this mission and pursuing professional growth, we warmly invite you to apply today!

As a Psychological Services Specialist (PSS) for the Department of Corrections, you will be responsible for independently providing psychological services and group therapy to inmates of your assigned institution. The purpose of this service delivery is to ensure individuals' mental health and general emotional needs are addressed efficiently and effectively during a period of incarceration with the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections.

You will be conducting individual interviews and independently selecting appropriate tests to measure intellectual capacity, personality, special aptitudes and achievement levels. You will be coordinating professional staff services to ensure special needs mental health cases are referred for counseling, psychological, psychiatric, and medical services. You will be writing and preparing psychological reports for classification, clinical interview results, parole summaries, psychological updates and evaluations, and others as required. You will also be working in association with the Licensed Psychologist Manager to develop new departmental education therapeutic programs and providing initial crisis intervention with inmates until additional professional services are coordinated.

Work Schedule and Additional Information:

• Full-time employment, 37.5 hour work week
• Work hours are 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Tuesday - Saturday
• This position is eligible for full retirement benefits at age 50 or 55
• Salary: In some cases, the starting salary may be non-negotiable.
  • 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.

QUALIFICATIONS
Minimum Experience and Training Requirements:

• Two years as a Psychological Services Associate Corrections; or
• A Master's degree in psychology or a closely related field which includes fifteen graduate level credits in psychology; and two years of experience in the field of psychology under the direct supervision of a licensed psychologist. An equivalent combination of experience and training.

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

• You must pass a background investigation.

• 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.

• Pennsylvania law (51 Pa. C.S. *7103) provides employment preference for qualified veterans for appointment to many state and local government jobs. To learn more about employment preferences for veterans, go to www.employment.pa.gov/Additional%20Info/Pages/default.aspx and click the Veterans' Preference tab or contact us at ra-cs-vetpreference@pa.gov.

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

• 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.