Career Center

Summary

Rehabilitation Counselors in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) work with an interdisciplinary team to provide and coordinate a wide range of rehabilitation counseling services to Veterans with disabilities - including assessment - counseling and case management services - development of rehabilitation plans - and assistance in attaining and maintaining employment - independent living - and attaining personal goals.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• Education: 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
• 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
• 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)
• Certification: Current - full and unrestricted certification as a certified rehabilitation counselor (CRC) from the CRCC to practice vocational rehabilitation counseling
• Exception
• Rehabilitation Counselor 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)
• Information regarding the CRCC certification process may be found here: https://crccertification.com/get-certified/
• English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f)
• 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)
• Grade Determinations: Rehabilitation Counselor - GS-11 Experience: Completion of one year of professional experience equivalent to the next lower grade level 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
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills and Abilities: 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
• Preferred Experience: 1-2 years of experience performing employability skills training - job placement and development and counseling for persons with disabilities
• 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
• Physical Requirements: The work requires the ability use a computer and ability to navigate throughout an office building environment
• The work may require engaging Veterans in their environment
• The Candidate is expected to spend 70% for their time in the community
• This may include emergency shelters - community agencies - local businesses - veteran's residences and places not meant for habitation
• Some encounters may be outdoors during all times of the year
• There will be some walking
• standing
• bending
• carrying of light items such as papers - book - small parts
• or driving an automobile - etc
• The incumbent is required to transport veterans using a government assigned vehicle.

Duties

• Major duties include - but are not limited to: Provides developmental vocational rehabilitation services to Veterans with a wide array of psychiatric and physical disabilities and psychosocial conditions that present a myriad of barriers - to achieve competitive employment and educational and independent living goals
• Serves as a consultant to an interdisciplinary treatment team or other clinical staff as it relates to the Veteran's vocational rehabilitation needs
• Communicates appropriately with community health care professionals to provide useful input to other team members and employers concerning the Veteran
• Ensures fidelity to evidence-based and evidence-informed vocational and professional counseling practices
• Evaluates Veteran's abilities and disabilities
• monitors and records Veteran's progress to ensure goals and objectives are met
• Conducts biopsychosocial assessments using medical records - pertinent disability documentation - and observation
• Incorporates interviews into the assessment with the Veterans and their support systems to generate personal - vocational - and educational histories
• Synthesizes the information to develop case conceptualization and make clinical recommendations to facilitate treatment planning and provision
• Selects - administers - and interprets psychometric assessments and vocational instruments to evaluate abilities - transferrable skills - aptitudes - interests - values - preferences - and overall work resilience
• Customizes vocational exploration activities - including informational interviews and labor market research - to identify self-determined rehabilitation needs and goals
• Determines clinical need for and capacity to benefit from therapeutic and rehabilitation services
• Vocational programming benefits may include work restoration/resilience treatment - transitional work placement and compensation - financial benefits counseling - potential benefits protections - supported employment - and assistive technology
• Develops patient-centered treatment plans - using Specific - Measurable - Agreed upon - Realistic - and Time-based (SMART) goals - and provides regular - ongoing assessment of Veteran's progress
• Complete clinical charting and participate in professional peer reviews
• Provides job development - job placement - job coaching - job accommodation - adaptation - retention - and education services to both Veterans with disabilities and for those employers who employ these Veterans
• Conducts a job analysis to identify essential functions and develop reasonable accommodations
• Promotes employment programs to community employers to establish relationships that will result in providing work opportunities for Veterans with significant behavioral - physical - emotional and/or cognitive impairments
• Facilitates job placement for Veterans by teaching valuable job search skills - resume/application development - interview skills and basic computer skills
• Coordinate job search clubs for Veterans to improve in self-directed job search activities
• Procures and manages transitional work agreements from community - state - and federal agencies
• Monitors worksite compliance with agreements to ensure Veterans are appropriately trained and evaluated consistent with industry standards
• Devises solutions to reduce and/or eliminate barriers and meet Veterans' placement 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 - employer-desired soft skills - work and life skills fostering independence and recovery
• Provides disability education and program-specific training to staff and stakeholders
• Communicates appropriately with community health care professionals to provide useful input to other team members and employers concerning the Veteran and the family's psychosocial needs
• Provides vocational rehabilitation counseling services within various settings of the medical center and/or community
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday - 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: Not available
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 93080-0 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized