Duties
Responsible for developing, implementing, coordinating and evaluating the specialty treatment program and for coordinating and evaluating all activities within the specialty treatment program.
Responsible for the administration, scoring and interpretation of a wide variety of psychological testing instruments and procedures. Plans and performs both individual and group psychotherapy on a regularly scheduled basis. Also conducts a wide variety of interviews and crisis intervention sessions. Participates as a member of an interdisciplinary unit team in developing, implementing, and assessing program needs and goals.
Plans and performs both individual and group psychotherapy on a regularly scheduled basis.
Directly responsible for development, evaluation and coordination of residential and nonresidential treatment programs (if applicable) and for designing individual treatment plans. Treatment modalities and techniques used include (but are not limited to) behavior therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, insight-oriented psychotherapy, behavioral group psychotherapy, biofeedback, crisis intervention, assertiveness training, social skills therapy, substance abuse education, individual psychotherapy, and pre-release planning.
Along with all other correctional institution employees, incumbent is charged with responsibility for maintaining security of the institution. The staff's correctional responsibilities precede all others required by this position and are performed on a regular and recurring basis.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
- U.S. Citizenship Required
- See Special Conditions of Employment Section
Career Transition Programs (CTAP): These programs apply to Federal and/or DOJ employees who meet the definition of surplus or displaced from a position in the competitive service. To receive selection priority for this position, you must:
- 1. Meet CTAP eligibility criteria;
- 2. Be rated well-qualified for the position with a score of 85 or above based on scoring at least half of the total possible points for the vacancy KSAs or competencies; and
- 3. Submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP eligibility.
NOTE: Applicants claiming CTAP eligibility must complete all assessment questions to be rated under the established ranking criteria.
Qualifications
To be considered for the position, you must meet the following qualification requirements:
Basic Requirements:
Degree: Satisfactory completion of all the requirements for a doctoral degree (Ph.D. or equivalent) directly related to full professional work in clinical psychology is required.
NOTE: Applicants may have received this degree in either clinical or counseling psychology.
AND
In addition to the basic requirements, applicants must have:
Education:
GS-12 and GS-13: There is no substitution of education for specialized experience for this position.
Experience:
GS-12 and GS-13: At least one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to the next lower grade level. To be creditable, this experience must have equipped the applicant with the particular qualifications to successfully perform the duties of the position, and that is typically be in or related to the position to be filled.
Some examples of the qualifying experience are:
GS-12:
- Experience treating patients with serious mental illness, trauma disorders, and/or substance use disorders in individual and/or group therapy and/or in the context of a formal treatment program utilizing evidenced based treatment.
- Experience developing individualized treatment plans that are based on cognitive-behavioral interventions, the illness management and recovery model, and/or social skills training and which are grounded in a patient's individual treatment needs.
- Experience completing comprehensive psychological assessments for patients with serious mental illness, trauma disorders, and/or substance use disorders and writing corresponding reports associated with those assessments.
GS-13:
- Experience in developing, implementing, evaluating and coordinating residential and/or nonresidential treatment program and for coordinating and evaluating all activities within a specialty treatment program.
- Experience in conducting both individual and group cognitive behavioral psychotherapy, which include facilitating psycho-educational groups and process groups; expertise in psychotherapy specific to the special population targeted in the treatment program.
- Experience in conducting clinical interviews, reviewing records, administering and interpreting psychological tests, and utilizing information to prepare reports and making treatment recommendations to include individualized treatment plans.
AND
Selective Factor:
GS-12 and GS-13: Applicants applying for this position MUST also possess the following Selective Factor. In the event that you do not possess the Selective Factor, you will be found ineligible for the position.
- Applicant must hold a full, current and unrestricted license to practice psychology at the doctoral level in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States (e.g., Puerto Rico) or the District of Columbia.
NOTE: All applicants must electronically upload a copy of their license at the time they apply to the vacancy announcement. The documentation provided MUST show the expiration date of the license. Failure to provide this documentation will result in loss of consideration for this position.
If applicable, credit will be given for paid and unpaid experience. To receive proper credit, you must show the actual time (such as number of hours worked per week) spent in the activities.
**Your eligibility for consideration will be based on your responses to the questions in the application.**
Education
See Qualifications Section for education requirements, if applicable.
ONLY if education is a requirement/substitution for specialized experience, applicant MUST upload legible transcripts as verification of educational requirement. Transcripts MUST be uploaded and electronically linked from USAJOBS at the time you apply and MUST include identifying information to include School Name, Student Name, Degree and Date Awarded (if applicable). All academic degrees and coursework must be completed at a college or university that has obtained accreditation or pre-accreditation status from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, Click Here.
Foreign Education: For information regarding foreign education requirements, please see Foreign Diploma and Credit Recognition at the U.S. Department of Education website: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications.
If you are selected for this position and qualified based on education (i.e. basic education requirement and/or substitution of education), you will be required to provide an OFFICIAL transcript prior to your first day on duty.
Benefits
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
If your composite score exceeds the average score for this job, your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your online assessment responses and utilized to determine whether you meet the job qualifications listed in this announcement. If your selections are not supported by your application materials, your responses may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this job. If you are found to be among the top candidates, you will be referred to the selecting official for employment consideration.
There are several parts of the application process that affect the overall evaluation of your application:
- Your resume, which is part of your USAJOBS profile;
- Your responses to the eligibility questions;
- Your responses to the online assessment;
- Your supporting documentation, if required.
Time-in-Grade: Federal employees must meet time-in-grade requirements for consideration. You must meet all qualification requirements upon the closing date of this announcement.
If you applied to more than one grade level, BE ADVISED that you may be selected at ANY grade level for which you applied and are found qualified (i.e., if the job is announced at the 9/11 grade levels and you apply for the GS/GL-9 and the GS-11,and you are found qualified at BOTH grade levels, you may be selected at either grade level).
What Competencies/Knowledge, Skills and Abilities are Required for this Position?
The following Competencies/Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA's) are required:
GS-12 and GS-13
- Ability to oversee and supervise a mental health treatment program in a correctional setting.
- Skill in conducting individual and group psychotherapy on offenders with a serious mental illness
- Ability to conduct psychological assessments of offenders with serious mental illness.
- Ability to make sound decisions and act quickly in critical circumstances.
- Knowledge of the research and literature associated with treatment of persons with serious mental illness.
- Ability to supervise and develop the potential skills of subordinates.
You may preview questions for this vacancy.
How to Apply
You must apply through the online application system at www.USAJOBS.gov. Follow the prompts to register, answer a few questions and submit all required documents.
Limit your resume to 2 pages. If the only resume(s) received is/are longer than two pages, your application is ineligible for further consideration. Submission of a resume alone is not a complete application. This position may require the completion of additional forms and/or supplemental materials as described under the Required Documents section. Please carefully review the complete job announcement and the "How to Apply" instructions. Failure to provide the required information and/or materials will result in your application not being considered for employment.
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Required supporting documentation must be electronically uploaded or transferred from USAJOBS (uploaded).
All required supporting documentation MUST be received by the Consolidated Staffing Unit by 11:59 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, on the closing date of the vacancy announcement. You MUST include the vacancy announcement number on your supporting documentation.
Supporting documentation for announcements with an application limitation MUST be uploaded the same day you apply, as these positions may close earlier than stated in the announcement.
Paper applications: If applying online is impossible, please contact the Consolidated Staffing Unit at the telephone number listed below, prior to the closing date of the announcement for the alternate application procedure.
If applicable see Notice for Preference Eligible Veterans Applicants.
Contact for Assistance in Applying On-Line:
DOJ, Federal Bureau of Prisons
Consolidated Staffing Unit
346 Marine Forces Drive
Grand Prairie, TX 75051
E-Mail: BOP-HRM-HRSC-ConsolidatedStaffingUnit-S@bop.gov
Phone: 972-352-4200
How do I Apply for this Position if I am a Current Public Health Service Commissioned Officer?
- Submit a complete/detailed resume or curriculum vitae.
- Address selective factor, if required.
- Resume or curriculum vitae must contain all information listed in the Qualifications Section.
- Submit supporting documents (i.e. transcripts, certification, registration, and/or license, if applicable).
Your completed application packet must be submitted to the Consolidated Staffing Unit by 11:59 p.m., Eastern Standard Time (EST), on the closing date of the vacancy announcement.
You must include the last four digits of your social security number and the vacancy announcement number on your application packet. DO NOT SUBMIT AN APPLICATION ON-LINE.
Next steps
We will notify you of the outcome after each step of the application process has been completed. Normally, Selecting Officials will make a selection within 90-days.
When deemed necessary, the selection process may be extended up to 180-days from the date the certificate(s), (Exception, Best Qualified Lists) is/are generated to make a selection.