Psychologist II - Adolescent Services

Psychologist II - Adolescent Services - (260004EB)

Worcester Recovery Center and Hospital (WRCH), operated by the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health (DMH), is seeking a full-time dedicated Psychologist II to play a crucial role in providing comprehensive mental health services to the inpatient adolescent service. This position involves performing admission assessments, specialized clinical risk assessments, and diagnostic evaluations, including psychological testing. Collaboration with interdisciplinary colleagues is essential, as you will offer consultation and deliver both individual, group, and family 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. The schedule is Monday‑Friday from 8:30 am‑5:00 pm.

• 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 support 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 (interns and/or post‑docs) and/or staff.

• Ability to apply knowledge of the symptoms of mental and/or emotional disorders (including risk assessment).
• Ability to apply knowledge of assessment techniques including interview, psychological testing and neuropsychological screening/testing.
• Ability to analyze historical, observational, interview and psychological test data to draw conclusions and make appropriate recommendations.
• Ability to apply knowledge of the theory, principles and practices of psychotherapy (and related evidence‑based practices).
• Ability to apply knowledge of motivation, basic behavioral analysis and principles associated with reinforcement techniques.
• Ability to apply knowledge of the methods of general report writing.
• Ability to apply knowledge of statistical methods and techniques including sampling.
• Ability to maintain accurate records and handle confidential matters appropriately.
• Ability to communicate effectively in writing and orally and provide consultation, training, supervision.
• Ability to make decisions, act quickly and maintain calm in crisis situations with people who are under emotional and/or physical stress.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with others and work in group situations.
• Ability to supervise un‑licensed staff and trainees by providing orientation, practical training, professional education, direction, workload management, performance evaluation and (as needed) disciplinary action.
• Ability to apply/explain the impact of laws, rules, regulations, policies, protocols, guidelines, etc. on clinical practice obligations.
• Knowledge of the ethical principles and…