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.

Persons legally authorized to work in the U.S. under federal law, including Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients, are eligible for employment unless prohibited by other state or federal law.

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.

Revised Legal Requirements; effective June 6, 2024, due to adopted legislative action.