Psychological Services Associate 1 (Local Government) - Somerset County MH/ID
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Psychological Services Associate 1 (Local Government) - Somerset County MH/ID
Salary
$42,530.00 Annually
Location
Somerset County, PA
Job Type
Civil Service Permanent Full-Time
Job Number
CS-2025-31409-L0771
Department
Local Government
Division
HS Bedford-Somerset Co Mh/Id U
Opening Date
08/08/2025
Closing Date
8/21/2025 11:59 PM Eastern
Job Code
L0771
Position Number
80003497
Union
Non-Union
Bargaining Unit
LG
Pay Group
LG
Bureau / Division Code
88213456
Bureau / Division
Bedford-Somerset County Developmental and Behavioral Health Services
Worksite Address
245 West Race Street
City
Somerset, Pennsylvania
Zip Code
15501
Contact Name
Jen Georg
Contact Phone
814.443.4891
Contact Email
Jennifer.Georg@dbhs.co
Description
Benefits
Questions
THE POSITION
Thank you for checking out our position! 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 counseling services in an Outpatient Program to individuals of all ages. Under the guidance of a supervisor, this Therapist will establish a written goal-specific treatment plan and serve as a resource as well as collaborate and consult with colleagues, community individuals, or agencies to assist in providing the highest quality of services. This position may also provide outpatient group therapy, adult mobile mental health services, and School Based Counseling services. School Therapists work on site in schools to assess student needs, provide consultation and education to school personnel, as well as make referrals.
Full-time positions include excellent benefits such as healthcare coverage, pension plan, student loan reimbursement program, flexible spending account, and paid holidays. We encourage work/life balance with a hybrid of remote and on-site work schedules for some positions. We are a family friendly agency with paid time off, paid sick time, employee assistance program, and family medical leave.
Apply today to join us in serving the community!
DESCRIPTION OF WORK
This Psychological Services Associate will provide outpatient services in the Somerset County Outpatient Program which includes the School Based Counseling Program and Outpatient group therapy sessions. This position may also serve as a therapist for Adult Mobile Mental Health Services.
Under the guidance of the supervisor, Outpatient Services duties include:
Providing individual therapy, family therapy, couples counseling, and group counseling to people of all ages utilizing various professional techniques
Collaborating with each client and documenting within the Electronic Medical Record (EMR) a strengths-based, goal-specific treatment plan
Performing 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 mental health programs and services
Making medically necessary referrals to other programs as warranted
Coordinating care with other staff in order to assure the highest quality of services and to facilitate appropriate referrals
As needed, coordinating care with the Crisis Intervention staff in an effort facilitate crisis assessments related to voluntary hospitalizations when necessary
Attending meetings, participating in staff development trainings, and assisting with presentations/trainings to community organizations as needed
Under the guidance of the supervisor, School Based Counseling duties include:
Providing group, individual, and play therapy to children and adolescents in the school
Formulating treatment plans and maintaining consumer records
Providing consultation and education to school personnel, community individuals, and agencies relating to mental health issues and resources
Completing on-site school mental health assessments and intakes for students identified by the school
Assessing student needs and completing appropriate referrals
Coordinating with Crisis Intervention staff in handling mental health emergencies in schools
Under the guidance of the supervisor, Outpatient Group Therapy duties include:
Providing outpatient group therapy sessions to clientele in 60-90 minutes sessions focusing on topics that promote self-care, self-management, and self-recovery
Completing progress notes, treatment plans, assessments, coordination of care notes as required
Under the guidance of the supervisor, Adult Mobile Mental Health Services duties include:
Serving as primary therapist providing services in consumer homes
Providing individual, martial, and family therapy utilizing diversified professional techniques
Establishing a written goal-specific treatment plan and completing up to date clinical notes in the chart
Work Schedule and Additional Information:
This position reports to the DBHS Office for work.
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.
New staff will be 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 (https://www.employment.pa.gov/Additional%20Info/Pages/default.aspx) 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 willnot 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).
If you are claiming education in your answers to the supplemental application questions, you must attach a copy of your college transcripts for your claim to be accepted toward meeting the minimum requirements. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable.
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.pa.gov/agencies/employment/how-to-apply.html and click on Veterans.
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/testonce 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 upload a copy of your foreign credential evaluation report. We can only accept foreign credential evaluations from organizations that are members of the National Association of Credential Services (NACES). A list of current NACES members can be found by visitingwww.naces.organd clicking the Evaluation Services Link.
For additional information on foreign education credentials, please visithttps://www.employment.pa.gov/Additional%20Info/Pages/default.aspx#q3and click on Other Information. You must attach your documentation prior to the submission of your application by using the "Attachments" tab on the left. You will not be able to add a document to the application after it has been submitted.
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. Youmustcomplete the applicationandanswer the supplemental questions. Resumes, cover letters, and similar documents willnotbe 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 ourFAQ page (https://www.employment.pa.gov/Additional%20Info/Pages/default.aspx) .
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-level coursework; OR I have successfully completed an internship related to this work behavior.
D. I have NO experience, coursework, or training related to this work behavior.
05
In the text box below, please describe your experience as it relates to the level of performance you claimed in this work behavior. Please be sure your response addresses the items listed below which relate to your claim. If you indicated you have no work experience related to this work behavior, @type N/A in the box below.
The name(s) of the employer(s) where you gained this experience.
The actual duties you performed related to psychological assessment.
Your level of responsibility.
06
If you have selected the level of performance pertaining to college coursework, please provide your responses to the three items listed below. If you indicated you have no education/training related to this work behavior, @type N/A in the text box below.
College/University
Course Title
Credits/Clock Hours
07
WORK BEHAVIOR 2 - TREATMENT OF INDIVIDUALS
Treats patients/clients/inmates/family and/or staff by utilizing various psychological techniques and ongoing assessment tools to continuously update the degree of symptom(s) severity and progress; selecting the appropriate approach to use in individual and/or group therapy and planning the frequency, intensity, and duration of therapy; collaborating with other professionals/specialists in diagnostic and evaluative multi-disciplinary team meetings to discuss diagnosis, etiology, treatment disposition, and community re-entry issues; prepares progress notes, psychological reports, behavioral safety and support plans, treatment plan statements, etc. related to the mental and emotional/behavioral status of patients/clients/inmates/family and/or staff which include data on diagnosis, risk analysis, level of functioning, prognosis, and remediation.
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 treating patients/clients/inmates/family, or staff by utilizing various psychological techniques AND selecting the appropriate approach to use in individual and/or group therapy AND planning the frequency, intensity, and duration of therapy AND collaborating with other professionals/specialists in diagnostic and evaluative multi-disciplinary team meetings to discuss diagnosis, etiology, treatment disposition, and community re-entry issues AND preparing progress notes, psychological reports, treatment plan statements, etc. related to the mental and emotional/behavioral status of patients/clients/inmates/family, or staff which include data on diagnosis, risk analysis, level of functioning, prognosis, AND remediation.
B. I have professional experience related to the work behavior above which includes treating individuals OR selecting the appropriate approach to use in individual/group therapy OR collaborating with other professionals/specialists or preparing progress reports/treatment plans for individuals in a setting where the treatment options are limited to a particular @type of treatment/individual.
C. I have successfully completed college-level or graduate-level coursework; OR I have successfully completed an internship related to this work behavior.
D. I have NO experience, coursework, or training related to this work behavior.
08
In the text box below, please describe your experience as it relates to the level of performance you claimed in this work behavior. Please be sure your response addresses the items listed below which relate to your claim. If you indicated you have no work experience related to this work behavior, @type N/A in the box below.
The name(s) of the employer(s) where you gained this experience.
The actual duties you performed related to the treatment of individuals.
Your level of responsibility.
09
If you have selected the level of performance pertaining to college coursework, please provide your responses to the three items listed below. If you indicated you have no education/training related to this work behavior, @type N/A in the text box below.
College/University
Course Title
Credits/Clock Hours
Required Question
Employer
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Address
613 North Street
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, 17120
Website
http://www.employment.pa.gov
