PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSISTANT - UNDERFILL

Job Summary

Southern Nevada Adult Mental Health Services (SNAMHS) is currently recruiting Psychological Assistant positions. Incumbents may be progressed to Licensed Psychologist 1 upon receipt of licensure as a psychologist in the State of Nevada. This position is based at Stein Forensic Hospital in Las Vegas, a secure inpatient facility that provides competency restoration services for individuals with alleged criminal charges who have been court ordered into forensic custody. Psychological Assistants at Stein will learn about psychology's intersection with the criminal justice system, will learn to conduct competency evaluations, risk assessments, psychological testing for forensic contexts, and will learn additional forensic topics, including expert testimony. Under the direct clinical supervision of a Licensed Psychologist, Psychological Assistants at SNAMHS provide psychological testing, evaluation, counseling, developing behavioral intervention strategies, consultation, and group and individual psychotherapy in inpatient and outpatient settings. Incumbents will provide crisis intervention, help develop safety plan recommendations for patients, and conduct patient interviews. At SNAMHS, psychological assistants are members of interdisciplinary treatment teams along with psychiatry, social services, nursing, and case workers. Incumbents will demonstrate interest in working with a marginalized, underserved, and diverse client population. Psychological Assistants may provide clinical supervision for trainees at multiple levels of training, including assisting with training doctoral interns who are placed at SNAMHS through the APA-accredited Nevada Psychology Internship Consortium (NV-PIC) and serve on committees for SNAMHS. This is a full-time position with anticipated work schedule of 8a-5p Mon-Fri, with Sat/Sun off. Incumbent will work an innovative variable schedule and is exempt from overtime pay. As condition for continued employment, the incumbent must complete and maintain all position and agency required trainings and certifications. Licensed Psychologists provide psychological testing, evaluation, psychotherapy, counseling, and consultation to clients or inmates in residential, inpatient and outpatient settings, at a mental health, intellectual disabilities, or correctional facility, or in other settings where psychological services are provided. Professional duties are performed in accordance with license requirements of the State of Nevada Board of Psychological Examiners.

Essential Qualifications

An active doctoral psychology internship agreement and/or a certificate of successful completion of a doctoral psychology internship program is required at the time of application.

Job Duties

Administer, score and interpret a wide variety of diagnostic and projective tests in order to evaluate and diagnose clients, patients, parolees, students or inmates; write comprehensive psychological reports to include test results, clinical observations, findings and recommendations; document services provided in client charts. Provide crisis intervention services; de-escalate clients who are hostile, combative or physically aggressive, following established agency policies; refer clients to community resources or other agencies; arrange for residential or inpatient admissions as necessary. Participate in treatment team meetings to discuss the status and progress of clients and recommend specific courses of treatment; develop treatment plans or individualized functional analysis programs; provide individual, family and group therapy and substance abuse counseling utilizing a variety of psychotherapeutic techniques. Perform psycho-sexual evaluations on sex offenders to include diagnostic classification and a report summary identifying the diagnosis, risk assessment, mental health assessment, education level, family and medical history, statement of amenability to treatment, and suggested treatment interventions. Review psychosocial assessments written by other clinicians to monitor and evaluate treatment effectiveness, determine eligibility for program services or benefits applying the appropriate laws and regulations; consult with treating clinicians; ensure service delivery goals are met; and documentation is completed according to agency policy and applicable regulations and/or accreditation requirements. Record information necessary to bill for services and recommend third party payments as appropriate. Provide oral and written court testimony as a witness regarding the mental status of clients and evaluation findings which may include recommendations for involuntary commitments. Plan, develop and coordinate program services to meet the needs of the population served; participate in committees and facility activities in developing service delivery needs assessments and evaluations, policies and procedures; assist in writing and administering grants; prepare documentation required for budget development and monitor expenditures; and participate in accrediting and quality review programs. Develop and conduct presentations or training programs for clients, families, community groups and agency staff as assigned. Perform related duties as assigned. Under the direct clinical supervision of a Licensed Psychologist, incumbents perform the duties described above in a trainee capacity. Incumbents may be automatically progressed to Licensed Psychologist I upon receipt of licensure as a psychologist in the State of Nevada.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Working knowledge of: American Psychological Association Code of Ethics and State laws and regulations related to the practice of psychology; reference books including psychological treatment, diagnostic and statistical manuals; theories, principles and practices of psychological testing and interpretation of test results. General knowledge of: types, etiology, and treatment of mental disorders; clinical assessment methods; detailed therapeutic principles and techniques used in providing psychological services to clients with mental illness, intellectual and related disabilities; psychopharmacology; crisis intervention techniques ; agency and community resources; normal and abnormal human behavior and development; educational and learning disorders; client rights and confidentiality of information. Ability to: establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, inmates, co-workers, and the public; conduct clinical and mental status evaluations and interviews; administer, score and interpret psychological tests; communicate test results in written and oral form; diagnose mental illness, intellectual and related disabilities; assess client behavior and develop goals for therapy; and facilitate therapeutic individual, group, and family counseling sessions.

The State of Nevada is an equal opportunity employer dedicated to building diverse, inclusive, and innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. All applicants are considered without regard to race, color, national origin, religion or belief, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, domestic partnership, genetic information (GINA), or compensation and/or wages.

Benefits include:

• Health Insurance: Medical, dental, life, and disability insurance programs for employees and their dependents/family are offered through the Public Employees' Benefits Program (PEBP).
• Vacation: Accrual of three weeks of annual leave each year.
• Sick Leave: Accrual of three weeks of sick leave each year.
• Holidays: 12 paid holidays per year.
• Retirement: Participation in the Nevada Public Employees Retirement System (PERS). Employees do not contribute to Social Security but will contribute to PERS if their position is at 50% or more full-time equivalency. For more information on how PERS service may impact Social Security benefits, visit the SSA publication (Download PDF reader).
• Deferred Compensation: The State offers a voluntary Deferred Compensation Program .
• No Nevada state income tax.
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness: Eligible due to public sector employment.
• Longevity Payments Eligibility: Employees who have received a performance rating of "standard" or better and have completed eight (8) or more years of continuous service are eligible for longevity pay.

Additional benefits may apply to employees covered under a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), depending on their designated bargaining unit. For more information, visit the Labor Relations Unit (LRU).

For more details about your rights and responsibilities as a State of Nevada employee, please review the State of Nevada Employee Handbook (PDF) (Download PDF reader).

*** State Holidays The holiday schedule for State employees is established by the Legislature.

The following are legal holidays:

January 1.............................................. New Year's Day

Third Monday in January.................. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday

Third Monday in February................ Washington's Birthday

Last Monday in May........................... Memorial Day

June 19................................................ Juneteenth Day

July 4.................................................... Independence Day

First Monday in September.............. Labor Day

Last Friday in October....................... Nevada Day

November 11........................................ Veterans' Day

Fourth Thursday in November........ Thanksgiving Day

Friday following the Fourth Thursday in November...................... Family Day

December 25........................................ Christmas Day

When January 1, June 19, July 4, November 11, or December 25 falls on a Saturday, the preceding Friday is the observed legal holiday. If these days fall on Sunday, the following Monday is the observed holiday. Eligibility for holiday pay is covered by the provisions of NAC 284.255