Rehabilitation Counselor

Full Job Description

This position is organizationally located at the Clement J. Zablocki VAMC in Milwaukee, WI as part of the Mental Health Division with the in the VHA Vocational Rehabilitation Service (VHA VR).

VHA VR Service includes: Vocational and Educational Assistance, and Compensated Work Therapy (CWT).

The Rehabilitation Counselor will provide services based on needs of the veterans and programs at that time.

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic Requirements: May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

Education: Must possess a master's degree in rehabilitation counseling or clinical rehabilitation counseling from a rehabilitation counseling program accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).

If the applicant's degree was granted prior to July 1, 2017, the program must be accredited by the Council on Rehabilitation Education.

OR Must possess a master's degree in counseling or clinical rehabilitation counseling from a college or university accredited by a national or regional accrediting body accredited by Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).

OR Must possess a master's or doctoral degree in a related field of study with course content that emphasized rehabilitation, counseling, disability, therapy, health, employment, wellness, or human development from a college or university accredited by a national or regional accrediting body accredited by CHEA.

OR Foreign graduates with a degree acceptable by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC).

English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).

Certification: Current, full and unrestricted certification as a certified rehabilitation counselor (CRC) from the CRCC to practice vocational rehabilitation counseling.

Exceptions for Graduate RCs.(a)RC graduates from an approved counseling or rehabilitation counseling program who otherwise meet the basic qualification requirements and the additional degree requirements for CRC certification by the CRCC, but do not possess the required certification, may be appointed, pending certification, as a graduate RC on a full-time temporary appointment not-to-exceed two years under the authority of 38 U.S.C.

§ 7405(a)(1)(D).b) Graduate RCs may only be appointed at the entry grade level and may not be promoted/converted until certification is obtained(c) Temporary graduate RC appointments may not be extended beyond two converted to a new temporary appointment.

GS 9 Grade Determinations: Experience. None beyond the basic requirements. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs).

In addition to meeting the experience or educational requirements for this grade level, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Knowledge of human development and behavior, medical, psychosocial, and vocational aspects of disability and differential influences of environmental and cultural factors to assist persons with disabilities in determining suitable vocational goals.

Knowledge of history, philosophy and disability rights legislation in the field of rehabilitation to apply in the practice of rehabilitation counseling.

Ability to synthesize assessment and diagnosis information in conjunction with labor market trends and community/educational resources to develop an effective individual service delivery plan.

Knowledge of caseload management strategies to maximize an individual's independent functioning from assessment through provision of post-employment services.

Ability to employ person-centered job development strategies to facilitate successful job placement.

Knowledge of assessment tools and methods, functional capacity evaluations and specific vocational preparation to evaluate transferrable skills, residual capacities and needs for accommodations and assistive technology.

GS-11 Grade Determinations: Experience: Completion of one year of professional experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-9) directly related to the position being filled.

OR Education: A doctoral degree in rehabilitation counselor education or related field (e.g.

rehabilitation psychology) from a CACREP accredited institution or from an institution accredited by a national or regional accrediting body accredited by CHEA.

In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Knowledge of physical and psychological disabilities, appropriate accommodations and assistive technology principles to mitigate and reduce or eliminate barriers to integrate into the community.

Knowledge of counseling theory, medical and psychiatric terminology and signs and symptomology of suicidal and homicidal ideations, to communicate appropriately with community health care professionals to provide useful input to other team members and employers in relation to the Veteran and/or his/her family's psychosocial needs and to recommend and help implement suitable treatment plans.

Ability to use evidence-based and evidence informed vocational and professional counseling practices to include individual placement and support (IPS), customized employment and supported employment models and motivational interviewing skills to promote self-awareness, adjustment to disability, enhanced job retention and successful integration to the community.

Knowledge of career development processes and job analysis methodology to determine essential functions of jobs, worksite modifications and/or alternative vocational goals given the work history and residual functional capacities of individuals with disabilities.

Ability to administer and interpret a wide variety of assessment methods including transferrable skills and labor market analyses to evaluate for individual interests, aptitudes and abilities and to identify suitable vocational goals for the development of an effective individual service delivery plan.

Knowledge of marketing strategies to develop collaborative partnerships/Memorandums of Agreement within VA and local business community to enhance employment and/or work opportunities.

Knowledge of military culture and specific factors and dynamics associated with Veterans, particularly combat Veterans, to assist those who are returning to community and community based-work.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS 11.

The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS 9 to GS 11. Physical Requirements: The physical demands of the work are generally minor.

The work is primarily sedentary, although the stress involved in dealing continually with persons in emotional distress and who may be uncooperative and occasionally assaultive makes this work notably more demanding than most sedentary positions.

The incumbent may be expected to assume an irregular tour of duty, which may include evening hours and weekends. Major Duties:

Major Duties of the Vocational Rehabilitation Service Rehabilitation Counselor Include: Provides personal adjustment counseling, therapeutic rehabilitation interventions, and case coordination services.

Uses evidence-informed and evidence-based modalities to aid Veterans integrate successfully into the community.

Serves Veterans who have myriad barriers to overcome and achieve competitive employment, educational, and independent living goals.

Conducts biopsychosocial assessments to generate personal, vocational, and educational histories.

Selects, administers, and interprets vocational and other psychometric instruments to evaluate abilities, transferrable skills, functional capacity, labor market analyses, aptitudes, interests, values, preferences, and overall work resilience and synthesize into an interpretive data report.

Customizes vocational exploration activities and Administers Measurement Based Care (MBC) instrument to track progress throughout treatment and adjust goals and services as needed.

Consults with interdisciplinary teams to enhance coordination of care, to ensure medical clearance and provide for optimal timing of further interventions.

Determines clinical need for and capacity to benefit from therapeutic and rehabilitation services Develops patient-centered treatment plans Devises solutions to reduce and/or eliminate barriers or employment needs which may require substantial modification to environmental or functional demands within a work setting.

Provides psychoeducational and/or psychotherapeutic groups to facilitate effective job search skills, job clubs, employment workshops, employer-desired soft skills training, work and life skills fostering independence and recovery.

Provides job development, customized employment, job carving, job coaching, job accommodation, advocacy, and adaptation services.

Provides disability education and program-specific training to staff and stakeholders.

Uses rehabilitation counseling theory, medical and psychiatric terminology, and symptomology and signs of suicidal and homicidal ideations to provide effective services.

Provides professional recommendations and guidance regarding the career development processes and job analysis methodology to determine essential functions of jobs, worksite modifications and/or alternative vocational goals given the work history and residual functional capacities of individuals with disabilities.

Utilizes knowledge of the military culture, military transition to civilian occupations, and specific factors and dynamics associated with Veterans, particularly combat Veterans, to advise those who are returning to the community, and community-based work.

Performs other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Full Time 7:30 am - 4:00 pm Telework: ADHOC Based on VHA Policy Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized