Psychologist

PSYCHOLOGIST

Qualification Requirements

1. Psychologist must have the minimum experience as follows::

Minimum of twelve (12) continuous months of experience within the last three (3) years performing services similar in scope to those defined herein, in a public or private institution. Internship does not count towards the required experience.

2. All Psychologists must have the required licenses, permits, and/or certifications noted herein. 

3. Patient-inmate/wards healthcare is of paramount importance. Accuracy in communications is critical to ensure timely, correct care is provided. Therefore, any licensed Psychologist providing services must be proficient in the English language and be able to communicate effectively. All Psychologists must be able to speak, understand oral and written communication, and write effectively, in the English language. Any Psychologist who fails to meet the minimum qualifications shall not be permitted to perform service. 

Service Delivery Requirements

Under the direction of the Senior Psychologist, Supervisor and/or the chief of Mental Health, the Psychologist provides psychological services to mentally ill inmates/wards. Psychologists maintain order and supervise the conduct of patient-inmates/youths, protect and maintain the safety of persons and property, and do other related work. The Psychologist must be able to work in conditions that require all of the following essential functions:

a. Must be able to periodically serve as clinician-of-the-day by being available for on-call during scheduled work days for patient emergencies;

b. Expected to work effectively and cooperatively with staff from all classifications in order to enhance the quality of professional working relationships;

c. Conducts initial mental health evaluations including criminal, psychological, and substance abuse case history to assess inmate’s current needs and make treatment recommendations in the initial evaluation;

d. Conducts clinically sound suicide risk evaluations including clinical review, applying suicide risk assessment protocols, pertinent data/chart reviews, proper documentation and consultations as needed;

e. Meets with mentally ill inmates/wards for crisis intervention, group psychotherapy, face-to-face interviews, etc. May be required to provide clinical, face-to-face interviews at cell fronts in inmate housing units. In some institutions, multi-tiered housing units may require the ability to climb stairs and walk long distances;

f. Identify the relevant signs and symptoms of psychiatric disorders in order to comprehensively assess, diagnose, and manage the presenting symptomatology;

g. Effectively applies psychological assessments in the selection, administration, scoring and interpretation of the continuum of psychological tests;

h. Writes clinical reports regarding diagnoses, prognoses and develops treatment plans that reflect the standard of practice;

i. Consults on complex cases with supervisor, treatment team members, and with institutional healthcare personnel, and other divisions within the department;

j. Documents all care provided to the inmate, including face-to-face contacts and Interdisciplinary Treatment Team (IOTTs) meetings;

k. Monitors inmate progress using Subjective Assessment Plan Evaluation (SOAPE) FORMATTED PROGRESS NOTES;

l. Effectively applies community standard of practice for the selection and effective implementation of psychological treatment modalities and maintains ethical standards;