See Psychology Affiliate.

This is the journey, working or occupational level of the series. Subject to supervision or general review and consultation of a licensed psychologist, positions serve as one or more of the following:

• Responsible for a program, project or system within an institution; positions may provide direct psychological services to clients in addition to coordinating, monitoring and managing the assigned program, project or system.
• Serves as the psychology specialist for an institutional training, reception/admissions, pre-vocational/vocational, violent geriatric behavior modification program, or to a multidisciplinary team within a correctional facility or state institution hospital.
• Functions as primary therapist, providing assessment, diagnostic, treatment, and crisis services for all those with a mental health condition while incarcerated.

Positions may report to other than psychology staff, but clinical supervision by a licensed psychologist must be available.

Performs research on causation factors in mental illness, retardation, effectiveness of therapy and therapeutic technique improvements;

As a diagnostic/admissions specialist tests, evaluates, diagnoses and determines mental level and emotional adjustment of newly committed inmates and residents; writes reports; provides consultation to treatment and custody staff;

As a training unit specialist: instructs staff in psychological treatment and training methods for entire population of institution; monitors performance of direct care staff and determines training needs; evaluates and modifies training programs; supervises students;

As head of an institution-wide program/project: plans, monitors and evaluates implementation of program/project; provides management and supervisory staff with necessary information and training in use of system or implementation of project; consults with superintendent, department heads and professional staff to achieve coordination and integration into institution program;

In Labor and Industries Rehabilitation Center, directs, administers and coordinates Emotional Impact Area Program; conducts psychological testing; counsels and teaches family and individual clients in program principles and behavioral methods and procedures;

Administers psychological tests covering academic achievement, social maturity, skills and interests;

Appraises personality of client from interviews, projective techniques, playroom observations and play group participation;

Provides all manner of psychosocial intervention to individuals and groups of patients and residents;

Consults staff members regarding treatment recommendations, precautions, test results, program planning, release planning and handling specific behavior disturbances;

Administers resocialization program for chronic patients;

Plans and implements milieu programs; participates in planning ward and unit programs;

Performs complicated research; evaluates existing programs and individual clients;

May serve as member of reception, admissions/diagnostic team or classification committee in corrections institution;

May plan curriculum and provide training or consultation to community-based agencies;

Provides mental health treatment of incarcerated individuals and Community Custody Jail violators;

Conducts intake assessments of incarcerated individuals;

Provides follow up assessment for patients determined to require continuing services;

Completes suicide risk assessments in a timely manner for patients presenting with risk for self-harm or suicide;

Develops treatment plans for patients;

Delivers evidence based or promising practice treatment in accordance with treatment plan to improve functioning within the institution and in preparation for the community, to include individual and group treatment;

Evaluates progress of treatment and recommend patients for higher levels of care when indicated;

Provides support and respond to needs of all staff when issues of mental health of an inmate are raised;

Provides or assist with transition and release planning for incarcerated individuals in conjunction with other mental health and social work team members;

Serves in a rotation with other clinicians as Mental Health Duty Officer for after-hours mental health consultations that may include some occasional requirement for onsite visits during the weekend for incident management;

Regularly consults with supervising psychologist regarding clinical decisions for high-risk patients;

Provides Crisis Intervention by responding to mental health emergencies as indicated throughout the institution; delivering crisis de-escalation services; working in an integrated team of corrections, classification, and Health Services staff to preserve the safety of incarcerated individuals house in segregation; communicating crisis resolution and follow up plans to relevant stakeholders;

May supervise lower-level staff.

There may be instances where individual positions must have additional licenses or certification. It is the employer’s responsibility to ensure the appropriate licenses/certifications are obtained for each position.

A Doctoral degree in psychology from an accredited school or department of psychology.

New class. Civil service reform replaces title and class code, formerly 38130 Psychologist 3; adopted March 10, 2005, effective June 1, 2005.
Base range salary adjustment adopted 6/30/2017, effective 7/1/2017.
Revised class series concept, definition and typical work; adopted June 22, 2023; effective July 1, 2023.