Psychologist II

Commonwealth of Massachusetts • Worcester, MA

2d • Onsite

About The Position

Worcester Recovery Center and Hospital (WRCH), operated by the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health (DMH), is seeking a dedicated Psychologist II to play a crucial role in providing comprehensive mental health services. This position involves performing admission assessments, specialized clinical risk assessments, and diagnostic evaluations, including psychological testing. You will engage in acute risk assessment and treatment planning on either a continuing care or court evaluation unit. Collaboration with interdisciplinary colleagues is essential, as you will offer consultation and deliver both individual and group therapy. Working under the guidance of Psychologist IVs, your contributions will be integral to the effective delivery of psychology services. As a Psychologist II, you will practice independently, maintaining the highest professional standards and meeting all requirements of the WRCH Professional Staff Organization. This role not only demands clinical expertise but also emphasizes the importance of patient engagement, thorough documentation, and ongoing professional development. Your work will significantly impact patient care, from crisis intervention and relapse prevention to behavior analysis and therapeutic support, ensuring a holistic approach to mental health treatment and recovery. WRCH is a newly constructed, state-of-the-art psychiatric hospital, on well-manicured grounds, in the biotech park area of Worcester, adjacent to the UMass medical school and hospital. Please Note: This is a fully on-site role. Hours are Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. or 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., with Saturdays and Sundays off.

Requirements

• Applicants must have a Doctorate in Psychology from a school accredited by the American Psychological Association.
• Current and valid registration as a Psychologist by the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Psychology.
• 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.

Nice To Haves

• Proficient in diagnosing and assessing symptoms of mental and emotional disorders, including conducting risk assessments.
• Skilled in utilizing various assessment techniques, such as interviews, psychological testing, and neuropsychological screening/testing.
• Capable of analyzing historical, observational, interview, and test data to draw conclusions and make informed recommendations.
• Knowledgeable in the theory, principles, and practices of psychotherapy, including evidence-based practices.
• Experienced in applying motivation principles, behavioral analysis, and reinforcement techniques.
• Adept at general report writing and maintaining accurate, confidential records.
• Familiar with statistical methods and techniques, including sampling.
• Effective in communicating, providing consultation, training, and supervision.
• Able to make quick, calm decisions in crisis situations involving emotionally or physically stressed individuals.
• Collaborative team player with the ability to work effectively in group settings and supervise unlicensed staff and trainees.
• Proficiency with MS Office including Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Given the population served, bilingual or multilingual fluency.

Responsibilities

• Conduct admission assessments.
• Practice individual and group psychotherapy.
• Facilitate community meetings.
• Develop treatment planning within a treatment team.
• Conduct specialized risk assessments for suicide, fire setting, violence, substance abuse, and referrals to the Independent Forensic Risk Assessment (IFRA) and Mentally Ill/Problematic Sexual Behavior (MI/PSB) evaluation teams.
• Assist treatment teams with understanding and following DMH’s Inpatient Clinical Risk (ICR) policy.
• Track patients’ forensic statuses and supporting treatment teams in coordinating all needed assessments to support their transition through increased privilege levels leading to hospital discharge.
• Complete crisis and acute risk consultation and psychological testing.
• Conduct Positive Behavior Support (PBS) patient evaluation and consultation with teams.
• Supervise upper-level psychology students (practicum trainees, interns and/or post-docs).

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.
• Explore our Employee Benefits and Rewards!

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree