Child Abuse Psychologist

Child Abuse Psychologist

CPC K100 Revenue

The Child Abuse Psychologist will:

We are seeking a psychologist specialized in child abuse for the Dorothy B. Hersh Child Protection Center.

Overview

The roles of the psychologist is conceptualized as including two tiers of functioning. The first level will focus on provision of supervised services to clients of the Central New Jersey Regional Child Protection Center. These services include assessment of parents, children who are victims of abuse, and perpetrators; direct intervention (short term therapy, group therapy, crisis intervention); consultation to the Department of Pediatrics (working with nurses, physicians, and social workers); participating in team meeting; grand rounds; teaching/training, in-service training for residents and nursing students; presentations at conferences; and participating in program committees. The second level of service focuses on broader needs of the region and the provision of consultation to the community. This includes consultation to physicians, social service, and nursing staff at all medical centers in our catchment area (Middlesex, Union, Somerset, Ocean, Monmouth, Hunterdon and Mercer Counties). Similarly, consultation is provided to all child protection service agencies (i.e., DYFS) in the region. In addition, the Diagnostic Center strives to develop programs that can be shared with the other three regional diagnostic centers in the state, other social service agencies, schools, police, prosecutors, Multidisciplinary Teams, and the judicial system. As the region includes several counties in Central New Jersey and our goal is to provide service to as much of the region as possible, it is expected that the clinician who fills this position will travel to outlying program sites and help develop outreach centers throughout the region. This will include consultation, assessment, and treatment services in satellite centers.

* Conduct psychological and psychosocial evaluations of children, adolescents, and their caretakers in cases of child maltreatment and abuse.
* Consultation; crisis intervention counseling; and civil and criminal court testimony.
* Deliver educational training to community and state agencies on topics related to child maltreatment, abuse, and trauma.

Assessment Services

* Evaluation of current cognitive functioning. Evaluation is achieved via use of standardized instruments such as the WISC-III or WAIS-R, interview and additional measures of cognitive ability.
* Evaluation of current emotional functioning, i.e., mental status depression, personality style, interpersonal functioning, etc.
* Evaluation of "parenting skills" i.e., level of attachment, appropriateness of interaction, knowledge of child development, discipline skills, expectation of child's behavior, family support networks and degree of utilization.
* "Validation of Abuse" (physical and sexual), providing information regarding such things as fearfulness, defensiveness, evidence of trauma, dissociation, consistency of allegations, details provided.
* "Risk Assessment" which includes assessing family/individual needs and family/individual vulnerabilities.
* "Perpetrator Assessment" in which data can be collected to help determine consistency of perpetrator's statements, willingness to accept responsibility, victim empathy, awareness of impact of their behavior on others and interest in changing.
* "Bonding Evaluations" to attempt to answer questions about the nature of attachment between caretakers and children.
* "Forensic Evaluations" for cases expected to be in litigation.
* Assesses patient considering growth and development factors appropriate to the age (Neonates, Pediatrics, Adolescents, Adults, Geriatrics).
* Assess clients with satellite or outreach centers.
* Travel independently to all sites served by the CNJRCDC.

Direct Intervention

* Short term therapy - problem focused. Clients can be seen at the center and at outreach sites for treatment around specific issues, including parenting skills, post-partum depression, and family reunification. Treatment can be individual or group based.
* Group work which can include parenting education, groups for abusers, victim groups, groups for high risk parents who have not been abusive, mother-infant groups for parents (non-offending) of sexually/physically abused children.
* Consultation to parents, children with adjustment difficulties, nursing, medicine and social work.
* Plans care considering growth and development factors appropriate to the age of the patient (Neonates, Pediatrics, Adolescents, Adults, Geriatrics).
* Implements care considering growth and development factors appropriate to the age of the patient (Neonates, Pediatrics, Adolescents, Adults, Geriatrics).

Meetings

* Professional meetings where relevant cases are discussed will be attended as needed.
* Psychosocial - attend scheduled team meetings that include CPC staff.
* CPC case presentations - prepare and present cases to the team.
* Participates in state-wide programs such as Seniors Task Force, Child Protection Committee, etc.

Education/Training

* Presentation and supervision to students/trainees will be provided as required.
* Teaches patients considering growth and development factors appropriate to their age (Neonates, Pediatrics, Adolescents, Adults, Geriatrics).
* Participates in education and development activities and maintains professional credentialing. Demonstrates competency in knowledge and skill necessary to provide care to specific age-related populations (i.e. Neonates, Pediatrics, Adolescents, Adults, Geriatrics).

Community Liaison

* Will respond to requests for community outreach via written materials, oral presentations and personal meetings.

Record Keeping

* After meetings with clients, records will be made. These include complete reports, case notes, and chart notes.
* Ensures all procedures are performed based on established standards; demonstrates competency in performing all procedures within scope of practice; as appropriate to the ages of the patient's growth and development through the life cycle factors (Neonates, Pediatrics, Adolescents, Adults, Geriatrics) and an understanding of the range of treatment needed by these patients.

At the Dorothy B. Hersh Child Protection Center, a multidisciplinary team of health care professionals, including certified child abuse pediatricians, nurses, psychologists and social workers, offers help to children and their families in the evaluation and treatment of physical and emotional injuries caused by child abuse and neglect.

As a state-designated child protection center, Saint Peter's Dorothy B. Hersh Child Protection Center (CPC) serves seven counties in central New Jersey. The Child Protection Center provides crisis intervention, child abuse assessments and referrals to community resources.

Community Highlights

This is a thriving area that has experienced a dramatic transformation in the past few decades. New Brunswick's robust downtown area, sitting along the Raritan River, provides a walkable, urban setting with bustling restaurants, bars, grocery stores, arts, entertainment, and it's the home of Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey.

* Enjoy fine cuisine as you walk these historical streets.
* Home to several theatres including the State Theatre, museums, and local markets.
* Centrally located with access to access to New York City and Philadelphia

Requirements:

* Doctorate in child clinical, developmental, school or pediatric psychology.
* NJ license or license eligible required (supervision by a licensed psychologist will be available).
* Two (2) years of experience in the areas of assessment, child abuse (physical and/or sexual); treatment of parents and children, and consultation.
* Bilingual ability (English/Spanish) strongly preferred.
* Forensics and court experience

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