Chief Psychologist

Job Description

Job Description

Overview

Are you looking for a career you can feel good about? We hire only those that strive to do their best. By joining our family, you'll receive the honor and recognition that comes with working for the industry's global leader in evidenced based rehabilitation.

 

Who We Are:

GEO provides complementary, turnkey solutions for numerous government partners worldwide across a spectrum of diversified correctional and community reentry services. From the development of state-of-the-art facilities and the provision of management services and evidence-based rehabilitation to the post-release reintegration and supervision of individuals in the community, GEO offers fully diversified, cost-effective services that deliver enhanced quality and improved outcomes.

 

Why Work for GEO:

• We believe that work is more than a place you go to every day. It is about being inspired and motivated to achieve extraordinary things.
• Employee benefits play an important role in making The GEO Group a great place to work. At GEO, we believe in the three pillars of employee wellbeing: physical, emotional, and financial. With comprehensive benefits and competitive wages, we trust that you will find all the resources you need here to be successful.

Responsibilities

Summary
The Chief Psychologist serves as the facility’s senior psychological authority, ensuring behavioral health services are clinically appropriate, operationally effective, and compliant with applicable detention standards. The Chief Psychologist is responsible for supervising the full range of behavioral health outpatient services from initial assessment, treatment planning, counseling/psychotherapy, as well as aftercare planning as necessary, group psychotherapy, suicide risk assessment and crisis intervention in addition to services provided within the Enhanced Group Therapy Program (EGTP).

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

• The Chief Psychologist oversees and assists the Behavioral Program Manager with management duties including peer reviews and performance evaluations of all Behavioral Health clinicians.
• Supervises behavioral health staff and ensures timely, competent completion of assigned duties, required evaluations, documentation, referrals, and follow-up care.
• The Chief Psychologist establishes clear performance expectations and holds staff accountable for adherence to policy, procedures, scope of practice, and assigned responsibilities.
• Provides direct, corrective supervision when staff demonstrate noncompliance, resistance to direction, poor follow-through, or performance deficiencies; develops and monitors corrective action plans as indicated.
• The Chief Psychologist demonstrates the ability to communicate expectations clearly, address conflict 
  directly, and maintain accountability within a multidisciplinary team.
• Provides oversight of facility reports provided to the client, corporate behavioral health regarding patients with serious mental illness (SMI), psychosis, mood disorders, trauma-related disorders, behavioral disturbances, complex forensic presentations, and EGTP program.
• Leads quality improvement, policy implementation, staff training, competency development, corrective 
  action, and preparation for regulatory/accreditation audits.
• Attends Health Services and interdisciplinary meetings as required in addressing potential behavioral 
  health issues within the facility.
• Monitors and tracks compliance with ICE standards (NDS), GEO policy, ACA, and NCCHC.
• Ensures that reports are provided to the corporate level Behavioral Health Vice President and Managers as requested.
• In a proactive manner, develops plans to ensure compliance with client standards and GEO policy or develops plans to improve compliance following any potential audit findings.
• In addition to administrative responsibilities, the Chief Psychologist provides clinical services as necessary which include clinical interviews, individual and group psychological interventions, screenings, and evaluations while also determining appropriate behavioral health services and treatment plans to address a patient’s specific treatment needs in accordance with the mission of the outpatient behavioral health program and policies.
• Prepares all related behavioral health documentation in accordance with applicable organizational standards in a clear, thorough, and timely manner.
• Consults with Behavioral Health, Psychiatry, Security, Medical, and other departments as needed in patient-related behavioral health concerns.
• Responds to psychological emergencies and provides crisis intervention as required up to and including psychiatric hospitalization, placement under observation due to suicide risk or inability to adjust within general population due to symptoms of mental illness, and referral to higher level of care.
• Conducts and oversees suicide risk assessments, suicide-watch placement/discontinuation, post-watch follow-up, crisis evaluations, and safety planning.
• Ensures appropriate assessment and documentation for restrictive housing unit/special management unit (RHU/SMU) placement, PREA-related encounters, behavioral concerns, vulnerability/risk assessments, and restrictive housing monitoring.
• Ensures behavioral health staff practice within professional scope and appropriately coordinate with psychiatry, medical, custody, ICE, and facility leadership.
• Initiates and actively tracks Higher Level of Care (HLOC) referrals through disposition, ensuring timely communication with ICE/ERO and other stakeholders, continued clinical monitoring while placement is pending, appropriate escalation when delays occur, and continuity of care through transfer or alternative treatment planning. ICE standards specifically contemplate transfer when behavioral-health needs exceed the facility’s treatment capabilities.
• Ensures appropriate identification, assessment, documentation, referral, and ongoing monitoring of detainees who meet or may meet Franco-Gonzalez criteria, including serious mental disorders or impairments affecting communication, memory, reasoning, intellectual functioning, or ability to meaningfully participate in immigration proceedings.
• Maintains oversight systems to ensure Franco-Gonzalez, HLOC, suicide prevention, SMI, PREA, and other high-risk referrals with documented follow-up and staff accountability for required clinical actions and timelines.
• Conducts post-release planning and communicates with community-based treatment facilities for referral and continuity of care as appropriate.
• Available for emergency calls and/or telehealth services after routine business hours as necessary.
• Performs other duties as assigned

Qualifications

Minimum Requirements

• Doctoral degree (Ph.D., Psy.D.) in clinical or counseling psychology who has full licensure as a psychologist under Statutes governing the state where the facility is located.
• Qualified Behavioral/Mental Health supervisor preferred or at least three years’ experience in supervising other licensed psychologists, social workers, or counselors preferred. 
• One (1) year experience providing behavioral health services in an institutional setting is 
  preferred.
• Ability to work in crisis situations in a professional and mature manner.
• Strong leadership, motivational, and clinical skills.
• Must be able to work individually and in a team environment.
• Above average verbal and writing skills.
• Must be able to develop clear and concise reports in a timely manner.
• Ability to work with computers and the necessary software typically used by the department.