Correctional Treatment Specialist (Qualified Mental Health Professional)

Summary

Corrections professionals who foster a humane and secure environment and ensure public safety by preparing individuals for successful reentry into our communities.

Duties

Functions as a Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP) within a Bureau of Prisons (BOP) federal correctional facility.

Deliver services to inmates such as psychotherapy and consultation to help them overcome psychological problems.

Responsible for assisting in the development of mental health programs in coordination with the Chief Psychologist and in training institution staff in how to recognize and deal with emotional behavioral and/or personality disorders.

Along with all other correctional institution employees incumbent is charged with responsibility for maintaining security of the institution. The staff correctional responsibilities precede all others required by this position and are performed on a regular and recurring basis.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

Career Transition Programs (CTAP or ICTAP) : 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 or ICTAP eligibility criteria;
2. Be rated well-qualified for the position 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:
   • A copy of the agency notice (i.e. separation notice or agency RIF letter)
   • Most recent performance appraisal and
   • Most recent SF-50 showing current/former position grade promotion potential and duty location.
   • See USAJOBS Career Transition Programs for more information.

NOTE: Applicants claiming CTAP or ICTAP eligibility must complete all assessment questions to be rated under the established ranking criteria.

EEO Statement/Policy: The United States government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race color religion sex pregnancy national origin political affiliation sexual orientation marital status disability genetic information age membership in an employee organization retaliation parental
status military service or other non-merit factor. More information can be found here: U.S Department of Justice - Equal Employment Opportunity Policy

Key Requirements:

• U.S. Citizenship is Required.
• See Special Conditions of Employment Section.

Qualifications

To be considered for the position you must meet the following:

Basic Requirements:

A. Degree - that included at least 24 semester hours of course work in the behavioral or social sciences.

OR

B. Combination of education and experience - that included at least 24 semester hours of course work in the behavioral or social sciences and that provided applicants with knowledge of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a 4-year degree as shown in A above.

Evaluation of Education: Courses such as sociology correctional administration criminal justice government/political science psychology social work counseling and other related social or behavioral science courses may be used to satisfy the 24-semester-hour requirement.

Evaluation of Experience - Experience must have been gained in (1) casework in a correctional institution or in another criminal justice setting; (2) counseling in any setting provided it required diagnostic or treatment planning skills to achieve specific social or occupational goals; or (3) work treating persons in need of social rehabilitation.

AND

In addition to the Basic Requirements above you must have:

Education:

Three years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree.

Graduate Education must have been in corrections or a related field such as criminal justice sociology psychology counseling social work or other course work related to the position.

OR

Experience:

You must have 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 perform successfully the duties of the position and must typically be in or related to the position to be filled.

Some examples of this qualifying experience are:

• Experience in facilitating evidenced based individual and group treatment in a correctional setting.


• Experience performing comprehensive evaluations for adults with mental illness and/or behavioral disorders.


• Experience utilizing cognitive behavioral treatment techniques.


• Experience developing comprehensive treatment plans for incarcerated adults with mental illness and/or behavioral disorders.

OR

Combination of Education and Experience:

Combinations of successfully completed graduate level education and specialized experience may be used to meet total experience requirements. Only graduate level education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade may be combined with experience. This experience must have equipped you with the qualifications to perform the major duties of this position as described above.

AND

Selective Factors:

Applicants applying for this position MUST possess one of the following Selective the event you do not possess the Selective Factor you will be found ineligible for this position.

• A current valid unrestricted license by the State as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor Licensed Professional Counselor Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) or Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW).

If applicable credit will be given for paid or 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

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.

Additional information

Although 5 U.S.C. 3307 established a maximum entry age for original appointment to a position in a Bureau of Prisons institutions applicants applying for this series can be considered at any age.

An approved age waiver prior to entry on duty is required. Age waivers are not required for:

- Applicants with prior federal law enforcement coverage.
- Qualified Preference Eligible Veterans.

If you are above the maximum entry age and have prior federal law enforcement coverage you must submit an SF-50 to verify prior coverage.
Qualified Preference Eligible Veterans may be exempt from meeting the maximum age. Please refer to the Required Documents section for the appropriate documentation to submit to validate veteran eligibility.

Special Conditions of Employment Section:

Appointment is subject to satisfactory completion of a pre-employment and panel interview urinalysis physical and background investigation.

All applicants are subject to and must satisfactorily pass all screening requirements in relation to National Crime Information Center (NCIC) and credit check.

All applicants not currently working in an institution will be required to complete a qualification inquiry regarding convictions of misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence in order to be authorized to carry a firearm.

Successful completion of the Introduction to Correctional Techniques three-week training course at Glynco Georgia is required.

Additional selections may be made if vacancies occur within the life of the certificate.

NOTE: A RETENTION INCENTIVE UP TO 25% MAY BE OFFERED TO SELECTEE(S) WHO MEETS THE CRITERIA FOR RETENTION INCENTIVE.

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e. physical or mental) covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position after notification of the adjudication of your request you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments. ( should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government passionate about the ideals of our American republic and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Required Experience:

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