Job Description
The Department of Youth Services (DYS) is the juvenile justice agency for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. We work with young people who are detained or committed and provide detention, custody, diagnosis, education and support to young people ages 12-21. Most of the youth served are between the ages 14 and 18. The Department promotes positive change for the youth committed to our care, and has been on the forefront of de-institutionalization, in part, by providing adolescent-focused rehabilitation to youth in residential treatment.
The Department of Youth Services employs staff in various professions and backgrounds in order to engage young people in strategies that support positive youth development. As a key member of the residential team, direct-care staff must monitor and provide on-site and immediate intervention of DYS youth in our residential facilities.
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For additional information about the Department of Youth Services and its programs please watch: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gyP0kCJ181nBakh9Cc0pNNEyPw7kAoI6/view
The Department of Youth Services (DYS) is seeking a dynamic, experienced and licensed Psychologist to fill the role of the Regional Clinical Coordinator- Southeast Region. The selected candidate will develop and oversee the psychological services that Southeast Region DYS programs (both state and provider) provide to the youth in its care, participate as a senior staff member of the DYS Southeast Regional team, and provide interagency consultation and planning.
The Regional Clinical Coordinator receives clinical supervision from the Agency's Director of Clinical Services and clinically supervises the Clinical Directors from the Southeast Regional programs which include: pre-trial detention (bail), assessment, secure and staff secure residential treatment programs.
Duties and Responsibilities (these duties are a general summary and not all inclusive):
- Direct the psychological services provided to youth in the care of DYS in their region, including: diagnostic evaluations, counseling services, treatment planning and crisis intervention and planning.
- Responsible for ensuring the access and coordination of behavioral health services for youth residing in the community and assigned to the Department's District Offices.
- Review the psychological needs of youth detained or committed to the Southeast Region through the process of: supervision of the Clinical Directors, reviewing critical incident data, developing treatment plans for high profile youth with serious emotional disorders; and overseeing referrals of youth for specialized services, such as forensic evaluations, sex offender specific treatment etc.
- Evaluate the assessment needs of detained youth by consistently examining the intake and screening process for all Southeast Region committed youth to ensure consistency and adherence to DYS policies.
- Analyze the counseling services provided to DYS youth in detention, locked secure treatment sites and residential group care programs, to determine their efficacy and consistency of service delivery.
- Provide training to DYS clinical and administrative staff on clinical related topics, such as Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), suicide prevention, sex offender and violent offender treatment, and family counseling services.
- Develop and maintain interagency collaborations with other state agencies within the Southeast Region to develop resources for treatment of DYS youth.
- Assist Community Reentry Staff in the linkage with Mass Health Payers and Network Providers ensuring access to behavioral health services within the Southeast Region.
- Provide annual reports to the Regional Director and Director of Clinical Services of their assessment of the clinical quality and service delivery within the Region and make recommendations for program and policy improvement.
Required Qualifications:
- Proficient in the theory, principles, and practices of psychotherapy and developmental psychology including therapeutic techniques used in psychotherapy such as analytic, existential, nondirective, behavior modification.
- Demonstrated proficiency of the principles, practices, and techniques of counseling, motivation and reinforcement techniques, interviewing techniques.
- Ability to identify types and symptoms of mental and/or emotional disorders.
- Understanding of psychological research principles, methods, techniques as well as statistical methods, techniques and statistical sampling.
- Experience with principles and practices of tests and measurements used in ascertaining intelligence, aptitudes, personality, and related mental and physical traits including WAIS, WISC, Rorschach, and Thematic Apperception Test.
- Ability to administer, score, and interpret the results of intelligence, aptitude, and personality tests.
- Ability to communicate effectively, interact with people who are under emotional and/or physical stress, make decisions, act quickly, and maintain a calm manner in stressful and/or emergency situations.
- Capacity to supervise, including planning and assigning work according to the nature of the job to be accomplished, the capabilities of subordinates and available resources; controlling work through periodic reviews and/or evaluations; determining subordinates' training needs and either providing or arranging for such training; motivating subordinates to work effectively; determining the need for disciplinary action; and either recommending or initiating disciplinary action.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience in the treatment, counseling and/or rehabilitation of juvenile/adult offenders in a residential setting.
- Proven practice working with adolescents and their families, expertise in crisis stabilization and management.
- Familiarity of principles and practices of the juvenile justice system, including considerable knowledge of state laws pertaining to juvenile justice and juvenile rights as well as Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT).
- Experience working with female adolescents.
- Clinical Psychology Licensure.
- Thoroughness, independence, excellent organizational and written/oral communication skills.
- Strong clinical and organizational skills directly related to the functions of the Department of Youth Services.
- Ability to develop individualized treatment plans taking into account client needs and available services, using a full range of appropriate treatment modalities (including crisis intervention, psychotherapy, family therapy, supportive therapy, intermittent therapy, and/or behavior therapy).
- Demonstrated knowledge of substance abuse assessment training, Suicide Prevention/Intervention strategies.
- Proficient usage of Microsoft Office products including Word, Outlook, and Excel.
Special Requirements:
- Must have a valid License in Clinical Psychology
- Minimum Age Requirement: 21 years
- Must be able to perform the physical requirement of the job (i.e. Ability to properly restrain or subdue youth through appropriate use of handcuffs or other restraint techniques) if necessary.
- Able to talk and/or hear, stand and walk, run, kneel and climb stairs, as well as lift, carry, push, or pull up to 55 pounds with or without assistance and with or without the use of devices and/or equipment to assist in the lifting effort.
- Based on assignment, incumbents may be required to possess a current and valid motor vehicle driver's license at a class level specific to assignment.
- Upon hire, incumbents must complete and maintain a valid certification in crisis intervention, suicide prevention, Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), Automated External Defibrillator (AED) and first aid.
Working Conditions:
- Incumbents may be exposed to verbal and/or physical confrontations and potentially dangerous environments.
- Incumbents may be required to physically restrain youth.
- Incumbents typically work a standard work week (five 7.5-hour shifts); however, they may be required to work extended hours, nights, holidays or weekends.
- Incumbents may be required to travel in-state and based on assignment may be required to travel out of state.
Schedule
• 8:45AM - 5:00PM, Saturday and Sunday off
About the Department of Youth Services:
As the Juvenile Justice agency for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the Department of Youth Services promotes positive change in the youth in our care and custody. Our mission is to make communities safer by improving the life outcomes for youth in our care. We achieve our mission through investing in highly qualified staff and a service continuum that engages youth, families, and communities in strategies that support positive youth development. For more information, please go to: https://www.mass.gov/orgs/department-of-youth-services.
PRE-HIRE PROCESS:
Candidates must pass a pre-employment screening which includes:
- Drug Screening
- Psychological Screening
- Medical Examination
- Physical Abilities Test (PAT)
If you would like more information, please log on to the DYS website www.mass.gov/dys to access detailed information on the Pre-Employment process.
PRE-OFFER PROCESS:
A criminal background check will be completed on the recommended candidate as required by the regulations set forth by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services prior to the candidate being hired. For more information, please visit http://www.mass.gov/hhs/cori.
Education, licensure and certifications will be verified in accordance with the Human Resources Division's Hiring Guidelines.
Education and license/certification information provided by the selected candidate(s) is subject to the Massachusetts Public Records Law and may be published on the Commonwealth's website.
If you require assistance with the application/interview process and would like to request an ADA accommodation, please click on the link and complete the ADA Reasonable Accommodation Online Request Form
For questions, please the contact the Office of Human Resources at 1-800-510-4122 and select option #4.
Qualifications
First consideration will be given to those applicants that apply within the first 14 days.
Minimum Entrance Requirements:
Applicants must have a Doctorate in Psychology from school accredited by the American Psychological Association.
Applicants must also have at least three years of years of full-time, or equivalent part-time, professional experience as a Licensed Psychologist in the application of psychological principles and techniques in a recognized agency providing psychological services or treatment, of which (B) at least one year must have included supervision over Post-doctoral Psychologists-in-training and/or Psychological Assistants.
Special Requirements:
Current and valid registration as a Psychologist by the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Psychology.
Based on assignment, must meet the eligibility requirements for Designated Forensic Psychologist in 104 CMR 33.04(3)(b).
Based on assignment, travel may be required. Those employees who elect to use a motor vehicle for travel must have a current and valid Massachusetts Motor Vehicle Operator's license or the equivalent from another state.
Comprehensive Benefits
When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future.
Want the specifics? Explore our Employee Benefits and Rewards!
Title 101 CMR 23.00 ("Regulation") requires certain agency staff to have received the COVID-19 vaccination and Influenza vaccination, or have taken required mitigation measures, to prevent viral infection and transmission in State Hospitals and State Congregate Care Facilities. The Regulation applies to this position. Successful candidates will be required to acknowledge and attest to your vaccination status for both COVID-19 and Influenza.
An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer. Females, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.
The Commonwealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role.