Duties

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Responsible for developing, implementing, coordinating and evaluating the specialty treatment program and for coordinating and evaluating all activities within the specialty treatment program.

Responsible for the administration, scoring, and interpretation of a wide variety of psychological testing instruments and procedures, including objective and projective instruments of personality assessment; intelligence tests; and tests and inventories of interests, aptitude, criminality, and achievement.

Plans and performs both individual and group psychotherapy on a regularly scheduled basis. Also conducts a wide variety of interviews and crisis intervention sessions on an as-needed, unscheduled basis.

Answering special requests for evaluation by institution staff (or in some cases the involved inmate) following observed bizarre behavior or thoughts, insomnia, somnambulism, psychosomatic complaints, suicidal preoccupations, depression, situational crises, long-term disciplinary and segregation cases, dangerousness, or use of illicit drugs.

Along with all other correctional institution employees, incumbent is charged with responsibility for maintaining security of the institution. The staff correctional responsibilities precede all others required by this position and are performed on a regular and recurring basis.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship is Required.
• See Special Conditions of Employment Section.
• Selective Service Requirement: http://www.sss.gov

Career Transition Programs (CTAP or ICTAP): These programs apply to Federal and/or DOJ employees who meet the definition of surplus or displaced from a position in the competitive service. To receive selection priority for this position, you must:

• 1. Meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria;
• 2. Be rated well-qualified for the position, scoring at least half of the total possible points for the vacancy KSAs or competencies; and
• 3. Submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility:
  
  • A copy of the agency notice (i.e., separation notice or agency RIF letter),
  • Most recent performance appraisal, and
  • Most recent SF-50 showing current/former position, grade, promotion potential, and duty location.
  • See USAJOBS' Career Transition Programs for more information.

NOTE: Applicants claiming CTAP or ICTAP eligibility must complete all assessment questions to be rated under the established ranking criteria.

Qualifications

To be considered for the position, you must meet the following:

Basic Requirements:

GS-12 and GS-13: Satisfactory completion of all the requirements for a doctoral degree (Ph.D. or equivalent) directly related to full professional work in clinical psychology is required.

NOTE: Applicants may have received this degree in either clinical or counseling psychology.

AND

In addition to the basic requirements, applicants must have:

Education:

GS-12 and GS-13: There is no substitution of education for specialized experience for this position.

Experience:

GS-12 and GS-13: At least one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to the next lower grade level. To be creditable, this experience must have equipped the applicant with the particular qualifications to successfully perform the duties of the position, and that is typically be in or related to the position to be filled.

Some examples of the qualifying experience are:

GS-12:

• Experience treating patients with serious mental illness, trauma disorders, and/or substance use disorders in individual and/or group therapy and/or in the context of a formal treatment program.
• Experience developing individualized treatment plans that are based on cognitive-behavioral interventions, utilize trauma-informed care, and/or skills training and which are grounded in a patient's individual treatment needs.
• Experience completing comprehensive psychological assessments for patients with serious mental illness, trauma disorders, and/or substance use disorders and writing corresponding reports associated with those assessments.

GS-13:

• Experience in developing, implementing, evaluating and coordinating treatment for those with mental health needs and for coordinating and evaluating all activities associated with the care of those with advanced mental health needs.
• Experience in conducting both individual and group cognitive behavioral psychotherapy, which include facilitating psycho-educational groups and process groups; expertise in psychotherapy specific to the special population targeted in the treatment program.
• Experience in conducting clinical interviews, reviewing records, administering and interpreting psychological tests, and utilizing information to prepare reports and making treatment recommendations to include individualized treatment plans.

Selective Placement Factor:

Applicants applying for this position MUST also possess the following Selective Factor. In the event that you do not possess the Selective Factor, you will be found ineligible for the position.

• Applicant must hold a full, current and unrestricted license to practice psychology at the doctoral level in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States (e.g., Puerto Rico) or the District of Columbia.

NOTE: All applicants must electronically upload a copy of their license at the time they apply to the vacancy announcement. The documentation provided MUST show the expiration date of the license. Failure to provide this documentation will result in loss of consideration for this position.

If applicable, credit will be given for paid and unpaid experience. To receive proper credit, you must show the actual time (such as number of hours worked per week) spent in the activities.

**Your eligibility for consideration will be based on your responses to the questions in the application.**

Education

See Qualifications Section for education requirements, if applicable.

ONLY if education is a requirement/substitution for specialized experience, applicant MUST upload legible transcripts as verification of educational requirement. Transcripts MUST be uploaded and electronically linked from USAJOBS at the time you apply and MUST include identifying information to include School Name, Student Name, Degree and Date Awarded (if applicable). All academic degrees and coursework must be completed at a college or university that has obtained accreditation or pre-accreditation status from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, Click Here.

Foreign Education: For information regarding foreign education requirements, please see Foreign Diploma and Credit Recognition at the U.S. Department of Education website: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications.

If you are selected for this position and qualified based on education (i.e. basic education requirement and/or substitution of education), you will be required to provide an OFFICIAL transcript prior to your first day on duty.

Additional information

Although 5 U.S.C. 3307 established a maximum entry age for original appointment to a position in a Bureau of Prisons institution, Applicants can be considered up to age 39. If you are above the maximum entry age and have prior federal law enforcement coverage, you MUST submit an SF-50 to verify prior coverage.

Qualified Preference Eligible Veterans may be exempt from meeting the maximum age. Please refer to the Required Documents Section for the appropriate documentation to submit to validate veteran eligibility.

Special Conditions of Employment Section:

The incumbent is subject to geographic relocation to meet the needs of the agency.

Appointment is subject to satisfactory completion of a pre-employment and panel interview, urinalysis, physical, and background investigation.

All applicants are subject to, and must satisfactorily pass all screening requirements in relation to National Crime Information Center (NCIC) and credit check.

All applicants not currently working in an institution will be required to complete a qualification inquiry regarding convictions of misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence in order to be authorized to carry a firearm.

Successful completion of the "Introduction to Correctional Techniques", three-week training course at Glynco, Georgia is required.

Additional selections may be made if vacancies occur within the life of the certificate.

NOTE: A 50% RECRUITMENT INCENTIVE MAY BE PAID TO SELECTEE(S) WHO MEETS THE CRITERIA FORRECRUITMENT BONUSES.

NOTE: A 25% RETENTION INCENTIVE MAY BE PAID TO SELECTEE(S) WHO MEETS THE CRITERIA FORRETENTION INCENTIVES.

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Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.