State of Maryland

22

PROFESSIONAL SERVICE     BARGAINING UNIT: S       NCP

A Psychologist Correctional is the professional and administrative of work as the Director of a Psychology Services Unit in a correctional institution. Employees in this classification are responsible for the activities of the unit which are determined by the program objectives of the institution and are designed to address psychological problems in a correctional setting. Employees in this classification are responsible for providing psychological consultation, for integrating the psychological services with other disciplines in the institution and may also provide diagnostic assessments in complex cases and participate in psychotherapeutic activities, research and/or training. Employees in this classification provide close supervision and training to unlicensed members of the psychology staff and administrative supervision to other professional and clerical employees assigned to the unit.

Employees in this classification receive direction from a designated official of the institution. Work effectiveness and adherence to overall objectives is determined through conferences, review of communications and evaluation of program results.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the class specification.

The Psychologist, Correctional is differentiated from the Psychology Associate Doctorate, Correctional in that the Psychologist, Correctional is a licensed Psychologist and performs staff Psychologist work in correctional settings while the Psychology Associate, Doctorate Correctional has a Doctorate degree and performs, non-licensed professional psychology associate staff work in correctional settings.

Directs the program of a Psychology Services Unit in a correctional setting;

Plans, organizes, schedules and directs the work of professional and clerical personnel;

Coordinates the psychological services program with other disciplines and integrates new policies and procedures into existing programs;

Provides direct psychological services in the most complex cases;

Conducts group therapy sessions;

Administers and interprets psychological tests for selected inmates;

Participates in the evaluation of inmates with relation to the diagnosis, treatment and/or guidance indicated for the individuals tested;

Directs and collaborates with other professionals carrying out psychological research in a correctional setting;

Prepares psychological statistical and other reports containing findings, conclusions and recommendations;

Communicates with lay and professional groups to explain the program and to establish better relations with the general public;

Keeps abreast of professional literature and attends special conferences and seminars;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge, at the extensive level of preparation, of the theories, principles and practices of psychology, including psychological interviewing techniques, diagnostic evaluation and psychotherapy as applied in a correctional setting;

Knowledge of the attitude of persons serving sentences in correctional institution;

Knowledge of the methods and objectives of a correctional institutional program;

Knowledge of the theories, principles and practices of modern parole and probation;

Knowledge of the principles and methods of program administration and employee supervision;

Ability to supervise professional and clerical personnel;

Ability to instruct others in psychological work;

Ability to assist in coordinating the psychological program with the other activities within the institution;

Ability to work effectively with security personnel and members of other professional services;

Ability to properly interpret psychological information and to make sound recommendations;

Ability to plan and carry out complex psychological research;

Ability to meet any situation with tact, diplomacy, understanding, fairness and good judgment.

Education:    A Doctorate degree in psychology or a related field from an accredited college or university accepted by the Maryland Board of Examiners of Psychologists.

Experience: Two years of experience rendering psychological services or engaged in psychological research.

Note: Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a commissioned officer in Clinical Psychology classifications or Psychology specialty codes in the Psychology field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience and education. 

Candidates for this classification must be licensed by the Maryland Board of Examiners of Psychologists prior to permanent appointment to a position.  Applicants who do not have a license may also apply before receipt of the required license but the application will be designated in pending status by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).  When the license has been obtained, submit a copy of the license to DBM to remove the pending status from the application.

Candidates for this classification, prior to probationary appointment, must meet all selection standards as set forth in the Code of Maryland Regulations for the Maryland Correctional Training Commission. Candidates who receive a probationary appointment must satisfactorily complete a prescribed training program prior to permanent appointment. Selection standards of the Correctional Training Commission may be obtained from the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering group of used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Professional Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Professional Service positions.  Some positions in Professional Service classifications may be designated as Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is not assigned to a bargaining unit, as indicated by the designation of S (Supervisor), M (Manager), T (Agency Head), U (Board or Commission Member), W (Student), X (Used by Agency or Excluded by Executive Order), or Z (Confidential).  As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.

This classification is one level in a Non-Competitive Promotion (NCP) series.  NCP promotions are promotions by which employees may advance in grade and class level from trainee to full performance level in a classification series.  In order to be non-competitively promoted to the next level in a NCP series, an    employee must: 1) perform the main purpose of the class, as defined by the Nature of Work section of the class specification; 2) receive the type of  supervision defined in the class specification and 3) meet the minimum qualifications of the classification.

Jul 2 1992 12:00AM

September 4, 2020 

Director, Division of Classification and Salary