Psychological Services Associate 1 (Local Government) - Bedford County MH/ID

Salary: $41,672.00 Annually
Location :Bedford County, PA
Job Type: Civil Service Permanent Full-Time
Job Number: CS-2023-69413-L0771
Department:Local Government
Division: HS Bedford-Somerset Co Mh/Id U
Opening Date: 12/26/2023
Closing Date: 1/8/2024 11:59 PM Eastern
Job Code: L0771
Position Number: 80003486
Union: Non Union
Bargaining Unit: LG
Pay Group: LG
Bureau / Division Code: 88213456
Bureau / Division: Bedford-Somerset Developmental and Behavioral Health Services
Worksite Address: 1243 Shed Road
City: Bedford, Pennsylvania
Zip Code: 15522
Contact Name: Jen Georg
Contact Phone: 814.443.4891
Contact Email: Jennifer.Georg@dbhs.co
THE POSITION
NOTE: THIS IS A REPOSTING OF (CS-2023-69413-L0771). IF YOU APPLIED UNDER THE PREVIOUS POSTING WHICH WAS OPEN FROM NOVEMBER 21, 2023 TO DECEMBER 4, 2023, YOU CANNOT SUBMIT A NEW APPLICATION.
Thank you for checking out our position! Bedford-Somerset Developmental and Behavioral Health Services (DBHS) has been serving the Bedford and Somerset communities for 55 years! Our vision is for every person and family that we serve to have a network of family, friends, advocates, and supportive services to live a full and productive life in our community. Learn more about us at www.dbhs.co.
This opportunity is for a therapist to provide school-based counseling services in local schools. School therapists work on-site in schools to assess student needs, provide consultation and education to school personnel, and make referrals. This position also provides counseling services in an outpatient program to individuals of all ages. Under guidance of the supervisor, you will establish written goal-specific treatment plans, serve as a resource, and collaborate and consult with colleagues regarding mental health cases, community individuals, or agencies surrounding cases to assist in providing the highest quality of services.
We offer a supportive work environment, an excellent benefit package, and various opportunities for career advancement. Plus, a *NEW* Student Loan Reimbursement Incentive program! Apply today!
DESCRIPTION OF WORK
This professional therapist position provides School Based Counseling services in schools and outpatient services in the Bedford County Clinical Services Unit.
School Based Counseling duties include: Under the guidance of the Supervisor, provide group, individual, and play therapy to children and adolescents in the school. Provide consultation and education to school personnel, community individuals, and agencies relating to mental health issues and resources. Work on-site to complete school mental health assessments and intakes for students identified by the school. Assess student needs and complete appropriate referrals. Work with Crisis Intervention staff in handling mental health emergencies in schools.
Outpatient Services duties: Under the guidance of the Supervisor, provide individual therapy, family therapy, couples counseling, and group counseling to people of all ages utilizing various professional techniques. Collaborate with clientele and in conjunction with the Supervisor, establish within the Electronic Medical Record (EMR) a strengths-based, goal-specific treatment plan. Discuss mental health cases with other staff and community individuals or agencies. Perform Therapy Diagnostic Evaluations in order to enroll clientele in counseling and psychiatric services as well as to assess areas of need that might be effectively addressed by other MH programs and services. Make referrals to other programs as warranted. Assist and coordinate care with the Crisis Intervention staff in an effort facilitate crisis assessments related to voluntary hospitalizations when necessary. Roughly once a year, provide an eight-week, hourly group session related to the Extended Out Patient Program focusing on topics that promote self- care, self-management, and self-recovery. Attend meetings, participate in staff development trainings, and assist with presentations/trainings to community organizations as needed. Perform other related duties as required.
Work Schedule and Additional Information:

• 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.
  
• This position reports to the DBHS Office for work. Upon hire, new staff begin training and are on probation for 6 months. New staff may be eligible for a hybrid of on-site and remote work after 3-months of employment.
  
• You will receive further communication regarding this position via email. Check your email, including spam/junk folders, for these notices.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE, TRAINING & ELIGIBILITY
QUALIFICATIONS
Minimum Experience and Training Requirements:

• A master's degree in psychology or a closely related field.

• Applicants will be considered to have met the educational requirements once they are within 3 months of graduating with a qualifying degree.

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).
  
• This posting requires submission of a copy of your college transcript(s). Unofficial transcripts are acceptable. You may upload your document as an attachment during the application process. You must still complete the application and answer the supplemental questions. All documents MUST be uploaded prior to the submission of your application.
• 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.

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.employment.pa.gov/Additional%20Info/Pages/default.aspx and click the Veterans' Preference tab or contact us at ra-cs-vetpreference@pa.gov.

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.
EXAMINATION INFORMATION

• 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.

Benefit packages are determined by the county and may vary. Please contact the applicable county human resource office directly to inquire about a specific benefit package.
01
Do you possess a conferred master's degree or higher, or are you within 3 months of receiving a conferred master's degree or higher, in psychology, counseling, counseling education, rehabilitation, human development, special education, or vocational rehabilitation? If you are claiming credits/degree, you must upload a copy of your college transcript(s) for this education to be considered in the eligibility decision. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable. You must attach your transcript(s) prior to the submission of your application by using the "Attachments" tab on the left. You will not be able to add a transcript(s) to the application after it has been submitted. If you answer "Yes" to this question based on education acquired outside of the United States, you must also upload a copy of your foreign credential evaluation. For more information on foreign education credentials, please visit and click on Other Information.

• Yes
• No

02
If you do not have the conferred master's degree or higher, on what date do you expect to receive your degree? Type N/A in the text box if this does not apply.
03
You must complete the supplemental questions below. These supplemental questions are the exam and will be scored. They are designed to give you the opportunity to relate your experience and training background to the major activities (Work Behaviors) performed in this position. Failure to provide complete and accurate information may delay the processing of your application or result in a lower-than-deserved score or disqualification. You must complete the application and answer the supplemental questions. Resumes, cover letters, and similar documents will not be reviewed for the purposes of determining your eligibility for the position or to determine your score.
All information you provide on your application and supplemental questions is subject to verification. Any misrepresentation, falsification or omission of material facts is subject to penalty. If requested, you must provide documentation, including names, addresses, and telephone numbers of individuals who can verify the validity of the information you provide in the application and supplemental questions.
Read each question carefully. Determine and select which "Level of Performance" most closely represents your highest level of experience/training. List the employer(s)/training source(s) from your Work or Education sections of the application where you gained this experience/training. The "Level of Performance" you choose must be clearly supported within the description of the experience and training information entered in your application or your score may be lowered. In order to receive credit for experience, you must have worked in a job for at least six months in which the experience claimed was a major function.
If you have read and understand these instructions, please click on the "Yes" button and proceed to the exam questions.
If you have general questions regarding the application and hiring process, please refer to our

• Yes

04
WORK BEHAVIOR 1 - PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT
Assesses mental, behavioral, emotional, and developmental disorders of patients/clients/inmates by observing patients/clients/inmates; reviewing data and information, psychological reports, etc., provided by other professionals and staff; interviewing patients/clients/inmates, family, and/or staff to elicit information concerning patients/clients/inmates; administering and interpreting standardized tests of personality, interest, vocational aptitude, intelligence, academic achievement, degree of symptom severity, and/or risk assessment; and makes appropriate referrals in narrative reports based upon the patient's/client's/inmate's need.
Levels of Performance
Select the Level of Performance that best describes your claim.

• A. I have professional experience related to the work behavior above which includes assessing mental, behavioral, emotional, and developmental disorders of patients/clients/inmates by observing patients/clients/inmates AND reviewing data and information, psychological reports, etc. AND interviewing patients/clients/inmates, family, and/or staff to elicit information concerning patients/clients/inmates AND administering and interpreting standardized tests of personality, interest, intelligence, achievement, and/or risk assessment.
• B. I have professional experience related to the work behavior above such as interviewing and assessing individuals OR administering OR interpreting standardized tests OR providing feedback to other professionals/individuals.
• C. I have successfully completed college-level or graduate...