Clinical Psychologist

Responsibilities

• Providing professional psychological services to offenders, including formal and informal mental health evaluations, diagnostic assessments, and clinical interventions.
• Providing group services, individual therapy, and crisis intervention.
• Aiding with screening and classification as needed.
• Overseeing cases of competency restoration.
• Closely collaborating with members of the Risk Reduction team.
• Using standardized tools (such as the VRAG-R and the PCL:SV) to conduct evaluations related to level of risk, violence, and psychopathy.
• Providing recommendations to institutional and parole staff for high-risk offenders upon reentry.
• Aiding with assessment pertaining to both emergency and non-emergency transfer for offenders experiencing acute mental health needs.
• Assisting with assessment pertaining to eligibility for services (such as those pertaining to intellectual disability).
• Working with educational staff in the formulation of Individualized Education Programs for some offenders, as well as diagnosis of learning disabilities (such as dyslexia).
• Providing clinical direction, education, and training to non-clinical correctional staff in mental health care and treatment of offenders.
• Working with other behavioral staff in the formation and implementation of behavior management and treatment plans.
• Participating in determining eligibility for services (such as those pertaining to intellectual disability).
• Providing direct clinical supervision to psychology interns, when applicable.
• Documenting in an accurate and timely manner to provide comprehensive offender mental health records.
• Promoting and ensuring the safety and security of the clinical and correctional environment through conscientious observations and sensitive item contraband control.
• Serving as a member of a multi-disciplinary team that addresses situations involving offenders with complex needs.

Requirements

• Applicant must possess a doctoral degree from an accredited institution in the field of psychology, and must be licensed or license-eligible in the State of South Dakota.
• Experience working with corrections-involved clients or within a correctional setting is preferred.
• Knowledge, skills, and abilities include providing professional behavioral health treatment to offenders, assessing, evaluating, and diagnosing offenders using evidence-based tools, working with special populations within corrections, excellent written and verbal communication skills, excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to collaborate effectively across facility programs and with external agencies, ability to work independently and handle competing priorities, ability to provide comprehensive clinical documentation, ability to work with a diverse population of offenders, ability to work effectively as part of a multi-disciplinary team, ability to read and comprehend the English language, ability to effectively communicate fluently in English both verbally and in writing.

Conditions of Employment

• The SD DOC is committed to a work environment free from illegal drugs and alcohol.
• All job offers are contingent upon successful completion of a background investigation, urine drug screen (UDS), and the candidate's ability to perform the essential functions of the position.
• To be considered, please attach your resume and three references.
• This position is exempt from the Civil Service Act.
• This position is eligible for Veterans’ Preference per ARSD 55:10:02:08.
• Successful applicant(s) will be required to undergo a background investigation. An arrest/conviction record will not necessarily bar employment. Offers of employment are conditional upon successful completion of a drug screening.
• The State of South Dakota offers $0 premium employee health insurance option plus eleven paid holidays, generous vacation and sick leave accrual, dental, vision, and other insurance options, and retirement benefits.
• This position is a member of Class A retirement under SDRS.
• The State of South Dakota does not sponsor work visas for new or existing employees. All persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and complete an Employment Eligibility Verification, Form I-9.
• The State of South Dakota as an employer will be using E-Verify to complete employment eligibility verification upon hire.
• Must apply online: https://gen-stateofsouthdako-trn.inforcloudsuite.com/hcm/xmlhttp/shorturl.do?key=3Z6.
• You must apply online, emailed resumes or submissions will not be accepted.
• South Dakota Bureau of Human Resources Telephone: 605.773.3148 Email: careers@state.sd.us
• http://bhr.sd.gov/workforus

Additional Requirements

• To be considered, please attach your resume and three references.