Upcoming Filing Cutoff Dates:

• 6/21/2024
• 7/5/2024
• 7/19/2024
• 8/2/2024
• 8/16/2024
• 9/6/2024
• 9/20/2024
• 10/4/2024
• 10/18/2024
• 11/1/2024
• 11/15/2024
• 12/6/2024
• 12/20/2024

Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) must be received or postmarked by the filing date indicated above. Applications postmarked, personally delivered or received via interoffice mail after the filing date will be processed in the next group.

The information below will help you determine which classification(s) is(are) appropriate for you. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications as stated on this bulletin to compete in this examination.

Open and Open, Non-Promotional Examination(s):

• SENIOR PSYCHOLOGIST (HEALTH FACILITY) (SPECIALIST) - Open

For all Classifications, once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 6 months:

Exam Code(s):

2489

For SENIOR PSYCHOLOGIST (HEALTH FACILITY) (SPECIALIST), once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 6 months:

Exam Code(s):

• EX-02489

Submit an Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) to apply for this examination.

Electronic applications can be submitted through your account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov.

You may apply by mail to:

• Department of State Hospitals
  Department of State Hospitals - Sacramento
  Human Resources Office
  1215 O Street, MS 17
  Sacramento, CA 95814
  

Indicate the Examination Code and Classification(s) on your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678).

You may drop off your application and any applicable or required documents at:

• Department of State Hospitals
  Department of State Hospitals - Sacramento
  Human Resources Office
  1215 O Street, MS 17
  Sacramento, CA 95814
  8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Indicate the Examination Code and Classification(s) on your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678). All applicants must provide proof of identification. Accepted forms of identification are: 1) a photo identification card or 2) two forms of signed identification.

If you require assistance or alternative testing arrangements due to a disability, indicate on your application that you need reasonable accommodation. You will be contacted by a representative of the testing department to make the necessary arrangements. If you have not been contacted by the time you receive notification of testing, please contact the testing department listed in the Contact section of this bulletin.

If you are unable to submit your application or complete the test due to a disability, please contact the testing department listed in the Contact section of this bulletin.

All applicants must meet the education and/or experience requirements as stated on this exam bulletin to be accepted to the examination.

Unless otherwise stated in the Minimum Qualifications, qualifying experience may be combined on a proportionate basis if the requirements stated below include more than one pattern and are distinguished as "Either" 1, "or" 2, "or" 3, etc. For example, applicants possessing qualifying experience amounting to 50% of the required time of Pattern 1 and additional experience amounting to 50% of the required time of Pattern 2 may be accepted to an examination as meeting 100% of the overall experience requirement.

License: Possession of a valid license as a Psychologist issued by the California Board of Psychology and possession of an earned Doctorate Degree in Psychology from an educational institution meeting the criteria of Section 2914 of the Medical Board of California's Business and Professions Code.

Individuals who do not qualify for licensure by the California Board of Psychology or who are in the process of securing this license will be admitted into the examination and may be appointed, but must secure a valid license within three years of an appointment or the employment shall be terminated. For persons employed less than full time, an extension of a waiver of licensure may be granted for additional years proportional to the extent of part-time employment, as long as the person is employed without interruption in service, but in no case shall the waiver exceed five years.

(Unlicensed individuals who are recruited from outside the State of California and who qualify for licensure may take the examination and may be appointed for a maximum of two years at which time licensure shall have been obtained or the employment shall be terminated. Additionally, they must take the licensure examination at the earliest possible date after the date of employment.)

and Experience: Either

1. One year of experience in the California state service performing the duties of a Psychologist (Health Facility) (any specialty), or Staff Psychologist (any specialty); or

2. Two years of postdoctoral, postinternship experience in the practice of psychology involving assessment and treatment and either training, research, consultation, or program planning in mental health services.

Applicants must submit their exam application AND complete the exam during the same cut-off period. For example, if you submit your exam application on July 8, 2024 (which is after the July 5, 2024 cut-off) you must complete the exam by July 19, 2024. Filing cut-off dates are listed at the beginning of the exam bulletin.

This examination consists of the following component(s):

Components that are due with your application will be scored and will count toward your final examination result. Failure to submit these items may result in disqualification or elimination from the examination.

A final score of 70% must be attained to be placed on the eligible list.

Complete and submit the following items with your application. These will be scored and count toward your final examination result. Failure to submit these items will result in disqualification from the examination.

Senior Psychologist (Specialist) Exam: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TM2XG8C

In addition to evaluating the applicant's relative knowledge, skill and ability as demonstrated by quality and breadth of education/experience, emphasis in each test component will be on measuring competitively, relative to job demands, each applicant's:

Knowledge of: Principles, techniques, and trends in psychology with particular reference to normal and disordered behavior, human development, motivation, personality, learning, individual differences, adaptation, and social interaction; methods for the assessment and modification of human behavior; characteristics and social aspects of mental and developmental disabilities; research methodology and program evaluation; institutional and social process; group dynamics; functions of psychologists in various mental health services; current trends in the field of mental health; professional training; and community organization and allied professional services.

Ability to: Provide professional consultation; teach and participate in professional training; recognize situations requiring the creative application of technical skills; develop and evaluate creative approaches to the assessment, treatment, and rehabilitation of mental disabilities, to the conduct of research, and to the development and direction of a psychology program; plan, organize, and conduct research, data analysis and program evaluation; conduct the more difficult assessment and psychological treatment procedures; analyze situations accurately and take effective action; and communicate effectively.

A Servicewide Open eligible list for the SENIOR PSYCHOLOGIST (HEALTH FACILITY) (SPECIALIST) Classification will be established for:

• State of California

The names of successful competitors will be merged onto the eligible list(s) in order of final score regardless of test date. Eligibility expires 12 months after it is established. Applicants must then retake the examination to reestablish eligibility.

Veterans' Preference will be granted for this examination. Veterans' Preference is an assistance program for veterans, veteran widows and widowers, and spouses of 100% disabled veterans who seek employment with the state. Veterans' Preference is also extended to currently serving military members nearing their retirement or separation date.

You are not eligible for Veteran's Preference if you are:

• A veteran who has been dishonorably discharged or released.
• A veteran, widow or widower of a veteran, or spouse of a 100 percent disabled veteran who currently has permanent civil service status. (Permanent civil service status is the status of an employee who is lawfully retained in his/her position after completion of the applicable probationary period. This does not include limited term).

Veterans' Preference is codified in Government Code Sections 18973 – 18979.

Veteran status is verified by the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR). Directions to apply for Veterans' Preference are on the Veterans' Preference Application (Std. Form 1093), which is available at www.CalCareers.ca.gov, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Career Credits are not granted for examination(s) administered on an Open basis or a Promotional basis.

Instructions: Rate your knowledge and experience performing specific job-related tasks.

1. Provide clinical services in the form of structured psychological interventions (e.g., individual or group psychotherapy, behavior therapy) in order to diagnose and provide treatment planning for patients’ mental, emotional, behavioral, and developmental disorders and disabilities.
2. Perform psychological and/or risk assessments of patients’ cognitive, personality, behavioral-functional, risk, or neuropsychological status using variety of assessment measures.
3. Analyze and interpret a variety of psychological test instruments to obtain information on individuals' intelligence, achievements, interests, and personalities.
4. Monitor and track aggregate databases to track completed assessments or ongoing assessments and ensure accurate and timely information at all times.
5. Review and verify assessment results of completed personality or neuropsychological and forensic reports to ensure correct assessments are done, interpretation is completed accurately, and correct norms are used.
6. Identify treatment needs and develop individualized treatment plans/programs to assist with making dispositional decisions as appropriate.
7. Design, implement, and monitor the effectiveness of psychologically sound treatment interventions and individualized behavioral programs using effective strategies to assist in de-escalation in aggressive behavior.
8. Perform or review various assessments (e.g., Suicide Risk Assessments (SRA), Violence Risk Assessments (VRI)) on all patients to determine the level of risk.
9. Gather and analyze data using assessments or research to evaluate the performance of various treatment programs and determine impact and assess alternatives for resolution.
10. Interact with patients to assist them in gaining insight, defining goals, and planning action to achieve effective personal, social, educational, and vocational development and adjustment.
11. Research various studies of psychopathology, psychometric assessment, psychological intervention, and behavioral prediction in order to improve the quality of treatment provided to patients.
12. Develop program evaluation to assist with professional, interdisciplinary, and facility-wide committee efforts and other activities to ensure efficient unit operations.
13. Oversee the completion of all patient referrals for various psychological, neuropsychological, and forensic assessments to determine treatment needs in order to appropriately refer patients to appropriate unit or delivery services.
14. Provide assessment recommendation and consultation regarding complex diagnostic and treatment issues.
15. Provide feedback to patients regarding findings of psychological assessments/evaluations and document process for treatment interventions.

Instructions: Rate your knowledge and experience performing specific job-related knowledge and abilities.

1. Knowledge of normal and disordered behavior, human development, motivation, personality, learning, individual differences, adaptation, and social interaction to determine diagnosis.
2. Knowledge of crisis management and risk assessment (e.g., violence risk, suicide risk) to help define direction and development of patient treatment.
3. Knowledge of methods for the assessment and modification of human behavior.
4. Knowledge of techniques of psychological assessment including clinical interviewing, mental status examination, scoring, administration, and interpretation of psychological tests.
5. Knowledge of program evaluation to assess patients, implement treatment programs, and treatment strategies.
6. Knowledge of research methodology to compile information for projects and programs.
7. Knowledge of behavioral management principles to understand patient challenges in order to develop treatment strategies to assist patient.
8. Knowledge of techniques and problems in developing, coordinating, and evaluating a specialized psychological treatment program.
9. Knowledge of group dynamics with particular reference to human development, motivation, personality, learning, individual differences, adaptation, and sociocultural interactions to deliver patient treatment.
10. Knowledge of principles, techniques, and problems in developing and coordinating a specialized psychological treatment program.
11. Knowledge of characteristics and social aspects of mental disorder and intellectual disability.
12. Knowledge of program evaluation to ascertain treatment effectiveness.
13. Knowledge of the laws, civil and penal codes, forensic institutions, and their relationships to the applicable commitments, treatment, and disposition of committed patients.
14. Ability to interpret data obtained through formal data gathering techniques to determine the most appropriate recommendation or inform treatment planning.
15. Ability to write reports using a variety of data and relevant information.

• Department of State Hospitals
• State of California

Questions regarding this examination should be directed to:

California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice). TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.

Examination and/or Employment Application (STD 678) forms are available at the California Department of Human Resources, local offices of the Employment Development Department, and through your CalCareer Account (www.CalCareers.ca.gov).

If you meet the requirements stated on this examination bulletin, you may take this examination, which is competitive. Possession of the entrance requirements does not assure a place on the eligible list. Your performance in the examination described in this bulletin will be rated against a predetermined job-related rating, and all applicants who pass will be ranked according to their scores.

Department of State Hospitals reserves the right to revise the examination plan to better meet the needs of the service, if the circumstances under which this examination was planned change. Such revision will be in accordance with civil service laws and rules and all applicants will be notified.

General Qualifications: Applicants must possess essential personal qualifications including integrity, initiative, dependability, good judgment, the ability to work cooperatively with others, and a state of health consistent with the ability to perform the assigned duties of the class. A medical examination may be required. In open examinations, investigation may be made of employment records and personal history and fingerprinting may be required.

Eligible Lists: Eligible lists established by competitive examination, regardless of date, must be used in the following order: 1) sub-divisional promotional, 2) departmental promotional, 3) multi-departmental promotional, 4) service-wide promotional, 5) departmental open, 6) open. When there are two lists of the same kind, the older must be used first. Eligible lists will expire in one to four years unless otherwise stated on the bulletin.

High School Equivalence: Equivalence to completion of the 12th grade may be demonstrated in any one of the following ways: 1) passing the General Education Development (GED) Test; 2) completion of 12 semester units of college-level work; 3) certification from the State Department of Education, a local school board, or high school authorities that the competitor is considered to have education equivalent to graduation from high school; or 4) for clerical and accounting classes, substitution of business college work in place of high school on a year-for-year basis.

Accepted applicants must provide proof of identification at each in-person test session. Acceptable identification consists of a photo identification card or two forms of signed identification.