What are the responsibilities and job description for the Psychological Services Associate 2 (Local Government) - Somerset County MH/ID position at Commonwealth of Pennsylvania?
Do you want to support our vision for every person and family to have a network of family, friends, advocates, and supportive services to live a full and productive life in their community? Apply for this Psychological Services Associate 2 with Bedford-Somerset Developmental & Behavioral Health Services (DBHS); Somerset County Outpatient Program. With our team, you will have the chance to support people of all ages as they work toward healthier lives as well as collaborate and consult with colleagues, community individuals, and agencies to assist in providing the highest quality of services.
DBHS is a family friendly agency that encourages work/life balance. We offer excellent benefits including healthcare coverage; pension plan; student loan reimbursement program; flexible spending account; employee assistance program; paid holidays, time off, sick time; and more. If you want to share your clinical strengths by encouraging learning and connection and by promoting resilience and wellbeing across the community, apply today and join us in serving the community!
In this Psychological Services Associate 2 position, you will provide a variety of outpatient services in the Somerset County Outpatient program which includes the School Based Counseling Program and Outpatient Group Therapy sessions. Work involves counseling, treatment planning, assessments, and collaboration with partners across the service system. At times, you may provide coverage in Bedford County. Your responsibilities in this role will include:
- Therapeutic Counseling: Provide individual, family, couples, and group counseling to people of all ages using various professional techniques
- Treatment Planning: Collaborate with clients and document a strengths-based, specific goals; complete progress notes, treatment plans, and coordination of care notes
- Diagnostic Evaluation: Perform Therapy Diagnostic Evaluations to determine each client’s counseling or psychiatric service needs
- Care Coordination: Work with internal teams, external agencies, and crisis intervention staff to ensure the highest quality of services, crisis assessments, and appropriate referrals
- School Based Support: Complete on-site assessments and provide group, individual, and play therapy to children and adolescents in school; provide mental health consultation and education to school personnel, community individuals, and agencies
- Outpatient Group Therapy: Lead outpatient group therapy sessions focused on topics that promote self-care, self-management, and self-recovery
Work Schedule and Additional Information:
- This position reports to the DBHS Office for work.
- Full-time employment
- Work hours are 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday - Friday, with a 30-minute lunch.
- Hours must be adjusted as needed based upon consumer requests for evening appointments.
- On occasion, staff may need to work hours outside of the set work week to complete projects, meet work demands, or in the event of an emergency.
- New staff will be on probation for six months.
- New staff may be eligible for a hybrid of on-site and remote work after three months of employment.
- 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:
- One year of experience as a Psychological Services Associate 1; or
- One year of professional experience in psychological services work; and a master’s degree in psychology or a closely related field.
Other Requirements:
- PA residency requirement is currently waived for this title.
- You must be able to perform essential job functions.
Legal Requirements:
- You must pass a background investigation.
- This position falls under the provisions of the Older Adult Protective Services Act.
- Under the Act, a conditional offer of employment will require submission and approval of satisfactory criminal history reports, including but not limited to, PA State Police and FBI clearance.
- This position falls under the provisions of the Child Protective Services Law.
- Under the Law, a conditional offer of employment will require submission and approval of satisfactory criminal history reports including, but not limited to, PA State Police clearance, PA Child Abuse history clearance, and FBI Fingerprint clearance.
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. To learn more about employment preferences for veterans, go to www.pa.gov/agencies/employment/how-to-apply.html and click on Veterans.
Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS):
- 711 (hearing and speech disabilities or other individuals).
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.
The Commonwealth is an equal employment opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse workforce. The Commonwealth values inclusion as we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most qualified people to serve the citizens of Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, union membership, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, AIDS or HIV status, disability, or any other categories protected by applicable federal or state law. All diverse candidates are encouraged to apply.
- 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.