Psychologist II – Clinical Psychologist

Job Description

About the Company

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) is an agency committed to creating a positive impact in the lives of Texans. They offer a supportive work environment with comprehensive benefits, including 100% paid employee health insurance for full-time eligible employees, a defined benefit pension plan, generous time off, and numerous opportunities for career advancement. HHSC is dedicated to building an atmosphere where employees feel valued and supported while providing specialized care. The system (referred to as HSCS in one place, likely a typo for HHSC) comprises nine psychiatric hospitals, one youth residential treatment facility, and thirteen state-supported living centers. The psychiatric hospitals are recognized for excellence in forensic mental health and complex psychiatric care, holding accreditation from The Joint Commission, and provide recovery-oriented, science-based treatment. This specific position is located at Dallas State Hospital, a facility providing hope and healing through compassionate, innovative, and individualized care.

Job Description, Detailed

• Functional Title: Psychologist II – Clinical Psychologist
• Job Title: Psychologist II
• Agency: Health & Human Services Comm
• Department: Adm AcuteCarePsych Psychology
• Salary Range: $5,797.66 – $9,508.25 Monthly
• Shift: Day shift, Full-time, Regular position. Not eligible for telework, with up to 10% travel required.

The Psychologist II (Clinical Psychologist) performs advanced and/or managerial (senior-level) psychological work under the direction of the State Hospital Director of Psychology. This role involves coordinating psychological activities and programs, conducting psychological evaluations, diagnosing, and counseling clients, and conducting psychological research. The Psychologist provides clinical supervision, consultation, and technical assistance to program staff, and offers guidance to graduate psychology trainees as requested. The position operates under limited supervision, allowing for moderate latitude in initiative and independent judgment. It also involves active participation in disaster response, recovery, or Continuity of Operations (COOP) activation, which may require alternate shift patterns or locations.

Essential Job Functions (EJFs):

• Provides individual or group counseling for youth, adults, and families, offering therapeutic sessions to address mental health issues, improve coping strategies, and support overall well-being (20%).
• Administers and interprets psychological tests, conducting psychological assessments and diagnoses by utilizing standardized psychological tests, interpreting results, and diagnosing psychological conditions (15%).
• Supervises the work of other psychologists or mental health professionals, providing guidance, support, and ensuring work meets required standards as needed (10%).
• In conjunction with the treatment team, implements specialized treatment programs, ensuring they effectively meet patients’ unique requirements and continually monitoring their effectiveness (10%).
• In conjunction with the treatment team, develops and coordinates training programs for staff, clients, or other stakeholders to enhance understanding and skills related to psychological practices and mental health (10%).
• In conjunction with the treatment team, designs and monitors behavior modification and skill acquisition plans, assessing behaviors, creating modification plans, and helping patients acquire new skills (10%).
• Coordinates and evaluates mental health and psychological delivery services, creating and managing initiatives, assessing effectiveness, and making adjustments (10%).
• Provides training, education, and expert consultation to multidisciplinary teams and community stakeholders on psychological services through continuing education, outreach, and collaborative efforts (10%).
• Performs other duties as assigned, including disaster response and COOP activation support (5%).

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) Required:

• Knowledge of and skills in interviewing techniques with individuals and families, and knowledge of current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) diagnostic criteria.
• Knowledge of psychotherapy and empirically supported psychotherapeutic modalities such as CBT, DBT, and behavior therapy.
• Knowledge of administration, scoring, and interpretation of various psychological tests, including personality and intellectual instruments.
• Knowledge of The Joint Commission (TJC) standards and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) conditions of participation related to psychological services.
• Skills in using psychological instruments to evaluate personality, neurocognition, adaptive functioning, suicide risk, and malingering (e.g., MMPI, HCR-20, VRAG, TOMM, MFAST, SIRS).
• Ability to provide direct services in accordance with accepted professional standards.
• Ability to function as a member of the psychology management team.
• Ability to provide individual and family education regarding serious mental illness.
• Ability to complete treatment documentation in an electronic medical record using a computer.
• Ability to communicate assessment data and treatment/discharge implications to team members, courts, and patients.
• Ability to educate staff in the correct implementation of individual and group therapy programs as well as Individualized Intervention programs.
• Ability to operate a computer and applicable software.
• Ability to train and supervise the work of others.

Registrations, Licensure Requirements, or Certifications:

• Must be licensed as a Psychologist by the State of Texas or a reciprocity state.
• A doctoral degree based on a program of studies primarily psychological in nature (transcript indicates a major in psychology) or its equivalent from an accredited institution of higher education.
• Initial screening criteria require graduation from an accredited college or university with a doctoral degree in psychology.
• At least one (1) year of supervised experience by a licensed psychologist in psychological services, which may be an academic year of full-time supervised internship in an approved clinical program.
• One year of experience conducting individual and group psychotherapy with forensic populations in an inpatient psychiatric setting.

Additional Information:

Applicants must pass a fingerprint criminal background check, pre-employment drug screen, and various registry checks (CANRS, Nurse Aid, Medication Aide, Employee Misconduct, LEIE). Compliance with HHSC immunization policy and state hospital operating procedures related to immunizations is required. The position may require flexibility in work hours, overtime, and/or extended hours.