PSYCHOLOGY DIRECTOR 45062

7/1/89 A

This is the director level class within the Psychology Management series. Positions in this class administer and direct a comprehensive psychological services program in an institutional environment serving a diverse patient population. Duties include responsibilities for policy development, quality assurance, and supervision of professional psychological staff. The Psychology Director class is distinguished from the Psychology Supervisor class by the responsibility for directing the full realm of psychological services designed to meet the needs of a variety of client groups.

Complexity of Work: Performs work of considerable difficulty in the administration of a program of psychological services for a variety of client groups. Develops, administers, and monitors program and compliance requirements. Determines policies which govern psychological services. Develops standards for delivery of services; and monitors compliance and takes necessary corrective action. Directs the work of psychological staff to ensure appropriate client care and adequacy of services delivered. Performs the employee relations management functions for staff supervised. Participates in the development of clinical services goals and objectives; may provide direct psychological services to clients; may conduct or supervise research projects; may develop departmental budgets; may oversee forensic evaluations; and may lecture psychiatry medical students.

Supervision Given: Supervises professional psychological staff who develop and implement treatment programs, provide assessment and testing, individual and group therapy, crisis intervention, and consultation training.

Supervision Received: Receives administrative direction from a clinical director, facility director of central administrative official. Positions in this class plan, develop and organize work within very broad program and policy parameters.

Scope: Work affects the psychological services program in an institutional environment which in turn affects the well-being of a large number of clients.

Impact: Work has serious impact on the services developed and deceleration of maladaptive behaviors of clients. Inappropriate program development could result in negative mental or physical impact on clients and could be costly to the agency in terms of resources and community image.

Personal Contacts: Frequent internal contacts with psychological staff, program and departmental managers, clinic and program staff, and central office staff. External contacts with program and department managers in other state agencies, community services boards, Boards of Medicine and Psychology, and families of clients to discuss services and provide and/or obtain information.

Knowledge: Considerable knowledge of psychological service delivery, diagnostic evaluations, treatment, testing and evaluation; clinical psychology; administration of mental health services; supervision; psychological research; and crisis counseling.

Skills: None identified for this class.

Abilities: Demonstrated ability to organize, plan, develop, implement, and evaluate a comprehensive program of psychological service delivery; to write quality assurance reports; supervise the work of professional staff; and to provide psychotherapy in group and individual settings.

QUALIFICATIONS GUIDE*

Licenses or Certification: Licensed as a clinical psychologist or psychologist, clinical may be required in accordance with the Attorney General's interpretation of Section 54.1-3601.4 of the Code of Virginia. A license may also be required in accordance with Section 19-2.169.5 of the Code of Virginia.

Education or Training: Graduation from an accredited college or university with advanced course work in psychology, such as would be received in a Psychology Ph.D. program.

Level and Type of Experience: Experience in program development, implementation, and evaluation of various psychological services; and directing a psychological program.

An equivalent combination of training and experience indicating possession of the preceding knowledge and abilities may substitute for this education and experience.

This class replaces the Psychologist D class. It was established in June 1989 as a result of the statewide Classification Review/Specification Update Program.