Evaluations

The focus of the Pre-Employment Psychological Evaluation (PEPE) is to: (1) screen-out candidates who may have mental or emotional disorders and/or job-relevant psychopathology which threaten psychological stability, as well as (2) assess normal-range personality traits and characteristics or psychological suitability. Resources available regarding PEPE’s for peace officers can be found in the CA POST Peace Officer Psychological Screening Manual (link provided under "Resources") Dr. Roland has conducted over 4000 of these evaluations for over 60 public service agencies. She is compliant with POST’s continuing education requirements, exceeding the requirement of obtaining 12 hours of relevant education or training every two years. Our office is currently offering remote testing with in-person interviews. We are partnering with WeProctor, a remote proctoring services utilizing registered Psychological Testing Technicians to proctor remote examinations. After testing has been completed applicants will meet with Dr. Roland for the interview portion of the process. For a Full PEPE to be conducted the agency must have first extended a bona fide Conditional Offer of Employment to the candidate and we must receive their completed background at the time of scheduling.

"A psychological fitness-for-duty evaluation (FFDE) is a formal, specialized examination of an incumbent employee that results from: (1) objective evidence that the employee may be unable to safely or effectively perform a defined job and (2) a reasonable basis for believing that the cause may be attributable to a psychological condition or impairment. The central purpose of an FFDE is to determine whether the employee is able to safely and effectively perform his or her essential job functions.” (www.theiacp.org) Dr. Roland follows the guidelines presented by the IACP as a best practice approach. The first step in a FFDE always relies on consultation with the employer to assess whether or not the referral is meritorious, what other potential options may be available to meet employer/employee needs, ensuring there are no conflicts of interest, and that the FFDE can be conducted impartially, objectively and lawfully. If you have questions about an employee’s behavior or functionality, please call the office for an initial consultation.

When an employer has questions or concerns regarding the behavior of an individual and its potential impact on the workplace, it’s prudent to seek consultation and consider options. Workplace violence, threats made by employees as well as threats against employees should be taken seriously and investigated in a timely manner. While there can be a nexus between fitness-for-duty evaluations and threat assessments, this is not always the case. An organized approach utilizing psychological tools and methods may help organizations mitigate, reduce and/or negate the risk associated with these cases. Please call for a consultation if you have questions about threats, behaviors or actions in the workplace that raise concerns about the safety of your employees or customers.