Psychologist

Basic Purpose

Positions in this job family are assigned responsibilities for performing professional work in the administration and interpretation of standardized cognitive, affective and behavioral tests, and providing clinical services in a state agency, institution, facility or clinic. This includes determining the psychological diagnosis and/or treatment of patients in state custody.

Typical Functions

• Provides initial and on-going mental health screenings and evaluations identifying at-risk and vulnerable inmates needing prevention, intervention, referral, and the immediate provision of mental health services.
• Provides crisis, suicide and harm-reduction intervention/procedures to inmates identified as high-risk for self-harm, harm to others and/or having the potential for violence.
• Identifies, monitors and provides mental health services to inmates with diagnosable mental health, behavioral or emotional disorders to facilitate and support their wellness and recovery.
• Provides individual or group counseling or psychotherapy and evidence-based therapeutic services to inmates identified as needing mental health services to prevent decompensation, promote personal growth and coping skills, and support their recovery.
• Selects, administers and interprets the findings of a variety of psychological tests, including intelligence, personality, aptitude and related tests to be used in inmate’s treatment-planning with the treatment team, to include physicians, nurses, inmates and other appropriate staff.
• Prepares report of findings to include diagnostic judgment and recommendation.
• Selects, administers and interprets the findings of a variety of psychological tests, including intelligence, personality, aptitude and related tests to be used in inmate’s treatment-planning with the treatment team, to include physicians, nurses, inmates and other appropriate staff.
• Develops and implements an individualized mental health continuity of care/aftercare plan to inmates discharging to prevent decompensation and provides referrals and linkage to community resources.
• Supervises and assists in developing comprehensive, culturally attuned training programs for the recognition and handling of behavioral and psychological problems most common in a correctional setting involving difficult-to-manage inmates and the seriously mentally ill.
• Conducts psychological, social and personality adjustments and suicide prevention in-service training for correctional and other professional staff members in the recognition, prevention and handling of emergent crisis situations.
• Attends professional conferences and keeps abreast of the most recent research, trends and therapeutic modalities in the field of psychology, including ethics training necessary for the improvement of quality of care and systems of service delivery.
• Participates in psychological research projects to evaluate objectives, methods and the results of mental health interventions.
• Participates as a member of the agency’s interdisciplinary team in meetings, correctional conferences and other related facility and state-wide trainings.
• May function as the supervisor of other mental health professionals.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, And Competencies

• Knowledge of psychological theory; methods of psychological counseling; psychotherapeutic methods; case assessment methods; individual and group testing; projective techniques; statistical methods; research designs of community problems; special education of individuals with mental, emotional and/or social problems, and/or special needs; and administration and supervisory practices, principles, and techniques.
• Ability to establish and maintain professional relationships; direct the work of others; serve as a consultant and/or function in an administrative capacity; work with community groups and agencies to develop guidance programs and services; and exercise good judgement in solutions analysis and decision making.

Education And Experience

• A master's degree in psychology from an accredited college or university, with a specialty in counseling psychology, plus one academic year in a full-time post-master’s or pre-doctoral internship or one year of full-time experience while enrolled in a major doctoral study program, under the direct supervision of a licensed psychologist.
• Must be currently licensed by the Oklahoma State Board of Examiners of Psychologists.

Mental Health/Joseph Harp Correctional Center

This is not a remote position.

Equal Opportunity Employment

The State of Oklahoma is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of genetic information, race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, or disability. Current active State of Oklahoma employees must apply for open positions internally through the Workday Jobs Hub. If You Are Needing Any Extra Assistance Or Have Any Questions Relating To a Job You Have Applied For, Please Click The Link Below And Find The Agency For Which You Applied For Additional Information