Public Safety Psychologist

The Travis County Sheriff’s Office Public Safety Psychologist provides psychological expertise to support the recruitment, selection, wellness, and readiness of employees within a corrections and law enforcement agency. The position combines pre-employment psychological assessment with organizational support, supervisor support, employee wellness, training, and crisis response.

Approximately 60% of the position is dedicated to conducting pre-employment psychological evaluations. The remaining responsibilities focus on supporting the organization's broader staff wellness and behavioral health efforts, with particular emphasis on consultation, prevention, early intervention, education, and connection to appropriate external resources.

The psychologist works closely with the Wellness and Peer Support Program and serves as a psychological subject-matter expert to supervisors, leaders, and other designated agency partners. The position provides limited short-term crisis and therapeutic support when appropriate but is not intended to function as the primary ongoing mental health provider for employees.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:

This is a job classification within the Social Services job family. This classification serves as the primary Psychologist for a corrections and law enforcement agency. This classification may require a flexible work schedule in order to meet the needs of the department.

 Pre-Employment Psychological Assessment:

Training and Education

 

Supervisor and Leadership Consultation

• Serve as a psychological resource to supervisors and managers regarding employee behavioral, emotional, and workplace concerns. Provide practical guidance and training on recognizing signs of distress, initiating supportive conversations, responding to crises, and connecting employees with appropriate resources.
• Provide consultation to supervisors regarding appropriate responses to employees experiencing stress, distress, trauma, or other behavioral health concerns.
• Assist supervisors in identifying situations that may benefit from wellness resources, Peer Support referrals, Employee Assistance Programs, therapeutic services, or other external resources or support.
• Consult with leadership regarding organizational factors that may affect employee psychological health, engagement and well-being.

 

Staff Wellness and Organizational Support

• Work collaboratively with the Peer Support Program to help develop, implement, and evaluate employee wellness initiatives.
• Provide psychological expertise related to mental health, trauma, stress, critical incidents, suicide prevention, and other behavioral health topics.
• Assist in identifying emerging employee wellness needs and developing appropriate prevention and early-intervention strategies.
• Contribute to wellness communications, educational materials, presentations, and employee outreach.
• In collaboration with the Trauma Informed Program Administrator, participate in multidisciplinary wellness planning and initiatives involving Peer Support, Chaplaincy, Human Resources, occupational health, and other agency partners.
• Assist in identifying and developing relationships with external behavioral health providers who understand law enforcement and corrections culture.

 

Crisis Support and Referral

• Provide brief, crisis-oriented psychological support in collaboration with Peer Support to employees following critical incidents, traumatic events, or other significant personal or workplace stressors.
• Provide initial assessment, stabilization, supportive intervention, and resource navigation when appropriate.
• Determine when an employee's needs exceed the scope of agency-based support and facilitate connection to appropriate external behavioral health services.
• Emphasize timely referral and continuity of care rather than ongoing treatment within the agency.
• Maintain relationships with qualified external mental health providers and specialized resources familiar with corrections, law enforcement and telecommunications populations.
• As appropriate and consistent with confidentiality requirements, coordinate with Peer Support and other internal resources to promote continuity of support.
• Participate in critical incident response and post-incident support as needed in collaboration with the Critical Incident Stress Management Team. 

 

Scope of Clinical Services

• The psychologist provides consultation, education, brief supportive intervention, crisis response, and referral services within the agency. The position is not intended to serve as the primary ongoing therapist for agency employees.
• When an employee requires ongoing psychotherapy, specialized treatment, psychiatric services, or other care beyond the scope of brief agency-based support, the psychologist will facilitate referral to an appropriate external provider or resource.
• Provides court testimony as an expert witness, if necessary, to include Civil Service Commission testimony.
• Serves on various committees, as required.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Education and Experience:
Ph.D. degree in Psychology AND two (2) years of experience in assessment and counseling.

Licenses, Registrations, Certifications, or Special Requirements:
Licensed to practice as a Psychologist in the State of Texas issued by the Texas State Medical Board of Psychology.
Valid Texas Driver's License.
Applicants are required to attach a resume with the online application. 

Preferred:
Three (3) years or more experience in treatment of trauma using an evidence-based method.
EMDRIA Certification in EMDR (being an EMDRIA Certified Therapist, or an EMDRIA Approved Consultant in EMDR). Experience in treatment of law enforcement personnel.


Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of:

• Psychological assessment and selection practices applicable to corrections, telecommunications, and law enforcement career fields.
• Understanding of the unique occupational stressors and culture of correctional, telecommunications, and law enforcement environments.
• Trauma, critical incident response, suicide prevention, stress, burnout, and behavioral health.
• Community behavioral health resources and referral networks.
• Psychology, psychometry, psychopathy and physiological principles.
• Diagnostic criteria.
• Psychological evaluation methods.
• Policies, procedures, rules and regulations.
• Knowledge of and adherence to HIPAA and other federal and state laws requiring the confidential handling of certain health information.

Skill in:

• Using psychological evaluation and assessment techniques and apply mediation procedures.
• Interpreting diagnostic evaluations and analyzing behavior.
• Preparing and maintaining accurate records, files and reports.
• Supervising and training employees.
• Interacting effectively with all levels of management, employees and outside contacts.
• Exercising independent judgment under minimal supervision.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong consultation, training, and relationship-building skills.

Ability to:

• Plan and direct psychological activities and research.
• Organize workloads.
• Provide psychological counseling.
• Provide practical consultation to supervisors and leaders.
• Work collaboratively across organizational departments and multidisciplinary teams.
• Plan, assign and/or supervise the work of others.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with County employees and officials, representatives of outside agencies, and the general public.
• Translate psychological concepts into practical, accessible information for public safety personnel.
• Establish trust and maintain appropriate professional boundaries within a corrections and law enforcement environment.

Physical requirements include the ability to lift/carry up to 35-100 pounds occasionally, visual acuity, speech and hearing, hand and eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to operate a computer and office equipment. Subject to standing, sitting, walking, climbing stairs, bending, stooping, crouching, kneeling, pushing, pulling, reaching, twisting, balancing, repetitive motion, client/customer contact, squatting, and occasional indoor/outdoor activities to perform the essential functions. 

Travis County employees play an important role in business continuity. As such, employees can be assigned to business continuity efforts outside of normal job functions.

Work Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 - 5:00 PM

Location: Austin, Texas

Department: Sheriff

Criminal, Credit, Driving, Education, Employment Checks Required.

Drug and Alcohol Test Required. 

For updates or questions on this position, contact [email protected].

This job description is intended to be generic in nature. It is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The essential duties, functions and responsibilities and overtime eligibility may vary based on the specific tasks assigned to the position.