Psychologist II - Clinical Psychologist

Location: Terrell, TX

About the role

Join the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and be part of a team committed to creating a positive impact in the lives of fellow Texans. At HHSC, your contributions matter, and we support you at each stage of your life and work journey. The Psychologist II (Clinical Psychologist) performs advanced and/or managerial (senior-level) psychological work under the direction of the State Hospital Director of Psychology. Responsibilities include coordinating psychological activities and programs, conducting psychological evaluations, diagnosing, and counseling clients, and conducting psychological research. The Psychologist provides clinical supervision, consultation, and technical assistance to program staff, and guidance to graduate psychology trainees as requested. Works under limited supervision, with moderate latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.

Other duties include actively participating and/or serving in a supporting role to meet the agency’s obligations for disaster response and/or recovery or Continuity of Operations (COOP) activation. Such participation may require an alternate shift pattern assignment and/or location.

Responsibilities

• Provides individual or group counseling for youth, adults, and families by offering therapeutic sessions to address mental health issues, improve coping strategies, and support overall well-being. 20%
• Administers and interprets psychological tests and conducts psychological assessments and diagnoses by utilizing standardized psychological tests to evaluate clients' mental health, interpreting the results accurately, and diagnosing any psychological conditions. 15%
• Supervises the work of others by overseeing the activities of other psychologists or mental health professionals, providing guidance, support, and ensuring that their work meets the required standards as needed or required. 10%
• In conjunction with the treatment team, implements specialized treatment programs as appropriate, ensuring these programs effectively meet the patients' unique requirements and continually monitors the effectiveness of the various interventions. 10%
• In conjunction with the treatment team, develops and coordinates training programs by designing educational and training sessions for staff, clients, or other stakeholders to enhance their understanding and skills related to psychological practices and mental health. 10%
• In conjunction with the treatment team, designs and monitors behavior modification and skill acquisition plans by assessing patients' behaviors, creating plans to modify undesirable behaviors, and helping patients acquire new skills to improve their mental health and functioning. 10%
• Coordinates and evaluates mental health and psychological delivery services by creating and managing various mental health initiatives and ensuring they meet the needs of patients, including assessing the effectiveness of these treatments and making necessary adjustments. 10%
• Provides training, education, and expert consultation to multidisciplinary teams and community stakeholders on psychological services through comprehensive continuing education programs, tailored outreach initiatives, and collaborative efforts designed to enhance awareness, improve inter-agency coordination, and promote best practices. 10%
• Performs other duties as assigned, including actively participating in disaster response and/or recovery or Continuity of Operations (COOP) activation, which may require an alternate shift pattern assignment and/or location. 5%

Requirements

• Must be licensed as a Psychologist by the State of Texas or a reciprocity state.
• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a doctoral degree in psychology. A doctoral degree based on a program of studies whose content is primarily psychological in nature (transcript indicates a major in psychology) or its equivalent from an accredited institution of higher education.
• At least one (1) year of supervised experience by a licensed psychologist in the field of psychological services; the year of supervised experience may be interpreted as an academic year of full-time supervised internship in an approved clinical program.
• One year of experience conducting individual and group psychotherapy with forensic populations in an inpatient psychiatric setting.
• Applicants must pass a fingerprint criminal background check, pre-employment drug screen, and registry checks including the Client Abuse/Neglect Reporting System (CANRS), Nurse Aid, Medication Aide and Employee Misconduct, List of Excluded Individuals/Entities (LEIE).
• Males between the ages of 18-25 must be registered with the Selective Service.
• All applicants must be at least 18 years of age to be considered for employment at a state-operated facility. Waco and Terrell Center for Youth applicants must be 21 years of age.
• Flexibility in work hours may be required for this position. The position may be required to work overtime and/or extended hours.
• Compliance with HHSC immunization policy and state hospital operating procedures related to immunizations is required. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, healthcare workers are considered to be at significant risk for acquiring or transmitting hepatitis B, measles, mumps, rubella, varicella (chicken pox), tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), and influenza. In the event you choose to not be immunized for the influenza virus, you may be required to wear a mask and take other protective measures.

Skills

• Knowledge of and skills in interviewing techniques with individuals and families, and knowledge of current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) diagnostic criteria.
• Knowledge of psychotherapy and CBT, DBT, behavior therapy, and other empirically supported psychotherapeutic modalities.
• Knowledge of administration, scoring, and interpretation of a variety of psychological tests, including personality and intellectual instruments.
• Knowledge of The Joint Commission (TJC) standards and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) conditions of participation relating to psychological services.
• Skills in the use of psychological instruments to evaluate personality, neurocognition, adaptive functioning, suicide risk, and malingering (e.g., MMPI, HCR-20, VRAG, TOMM, MFAST, and SIRS).
• Ability to provide direct services in accordance with accepted professional standards.
• Ability to function as a member of the psychology management team.
• Ability to provide individual and family education regarding serious mental illness.
• Ability to complete treatment documentation in electronic medical record using computer.
• Ability to communicate assessment data and treatment/discharge implications to team members, courts, and patients where appropriate.
• Ability to educate staff in correct implementation of individual and group therapy programs as well as Individualized Intervention programs as needed.
• Ability to operate a computer and applicable software.
• Ability to train and supervise the work of others.

Benefits

Our comprehensive benefits package includes:

• 100% paid employee health insurance for full-time eligible employees.
• A defined benefit pension plan.
• Generous time off benefits.
• Numerous opportunities for career advancement.

Explore more details on the Benefits of Working at HHS webpage.

Pay

Salary Range: $8,060.00 - $9,508.25 per month

Schedule

• Full-time
• Day shift (First)
• Not eligible for telework
• Travel: Up to 10%
• FLSA: Exempt