Rehabilitation Counselors in the Veterans Health Administration work with persons who experience functional impairments and disabilities associated with mental health, physical, and/or psychosocial challenges affecting employment, independent living, or personal adjustment. This position utilizes various professional counseling and clinical modalities to promote optimal functioning, independence, personal adjustment, adaptation to disability, community reintegration, and recovery.

Duties

At the full performance level, Rehabilitation Counselors perform a variety of duties, including but not limited to, the following: Providing training, guidance, consultation, and facilitation to VISN-wide or national Supported Employment (SE) providers on recovery-oriented rehabilitation services, evidenced-based, and evidence informed services related to Individualized Placement and Support (IPS) models within supported employment. Developing curricula and using teaching methods contextualized for adult learning styles. Applying and teaching principles and practices of the evidence-based models of IPS, and SE by engaging others in multiple training methods including hands-on, virtual, and telephone trainings. Creating and leading learning communities consisting of all SE providers by developing workshops, scheduling guest speakers, providing consultations, facilitating discussions on email groups, sharing resource materials, and facilitating networking among VISN SE sites. Leading VISN-wide Compensated Work Therapy (CWT) SE programs on best practices, use of fidelity scale to guide delivery service, and in the analysis, development, and implementation of the IPS SE model as directed by the VA Central Office (VACO). Providing technical assistance to staff and managers and collaborating with programs to prepare for periodic fidelity reviews and to staff and managers. Assisting SE providers in maintaining networks in the community with businesses and potential employers who are directly related to the interests and preferences of Veterans. Evaluating and synthesizing outcomes and making recommendations for quality assurance and performance improvements. Providing a variety of professional rehabilitation counseling services such as personal adjustment counseling, therapeutic rehabilitation interventions and case coordination services, utilizing the evident based model and professional counseling practices to aid Veterans with severe disabilities in achieving competitive employment and educational goals. Providing job development, customized employment, job carving, job coaching, job accommodation, advocacy, and adaptation services to both Veterans with severe disabilities and to education and support employers. Determining clinical need for and capacity to benefit from therapeutic and rehabilitation services to include competitive employment, assistive technology, job accommodations, disability and employment advocacy, financial benefits counseling, and potential benefits protection. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm, nights/weekends/holidays as needed. Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 0000/Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

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: 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. GRADE DETERMINATIONS. In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. Rehabilitation Counselor, GS-12 Experience. Completion of one year of professional experience equivalent to the next lower grade level directly related to the position being filled. Assignment. GS-11, at the next lower grade level: Provide personal adjustment counseling, therapeutic rehabilitation interventions and case coordination services, utilizing evidence-informed and evidence-based modalities to aid Veterans with severe disabilities in achieving competitive employment and educational and independent living goals. Conduct biopsychosocial assessments using medical records, pertinent disability documentation, observation and interviews with Veterans and their support systems to generate personal, vocational, and educational histories. Select, administer and interpret vocational instruments to evaluate abilities, aptitudes, interests, values, preferences, transferrable skills and overall work resilience. Customize vocational exploration activities for identification of self-determined rehabilitation needs and goals. Consult with interdisciplinary teams (IDT)to enhance coordination of care, ensure medical clearance, and provide for optimal timing of further interventions. Synthesize assessment information to identify barriers to employment and their vocational implications. Determine clinical need for and capacity to benefit from therapeutic and rehabilitation services to include: work restoration/resilience treatment, transitional work placement and compensation, supported employment, assistive technology, financial benefits counseling and potential benefits protections. Develop patient-centered treatment plans utilizing SMART goals and provides ongoing assessment of Veteran's progress. Procure and manage transitional work agreements from community, state and federal agencies. Monitor work site compliance with agreements to ensure Veterans are appropriately trained and evaluated consistent with industry standards. Devise 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. Provide psychoeducational groups to teach effective job search skills, employer-desired soft skills and life skills fostering independence. Complete interpretive data reports. Provide disability education and program-specific training to staff and stakeholders. May supervise vocational rehabilitation students. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all the following KSAs: Ability to apply and teach principles and practices of the evidence-based model of individual placement and support, supported employment (IPS, SE), by engaging others in multiple training methods including hands-on, virtual and telephone trainings, utilizing excellent consultative, facilitative and organizational skills as well as coaching/listening skills. Ability to conduct in person coaching, develop community-wide learning events, and lead mock SE fidelity reviews to provide feedback regarding SE program services and adherence to the SE model. Skill to apply principles and practices of IPS, SE, psychiatric rehabilitation and recovery principles, customized employment and fidelity scale measures to successfully engage Veterans and care providers in the rehabilitation process. Skill to apply advanced counseling skills, crisis intervention and personal and family counseling to intercede on behalf of Veterans, their families and significant others needing specific assistance with employment, housing and finances. Preferred Experience: Currently possess a CRC License Experience with one or more leadership positions in work history Have supervised internships and practicums for Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling students Experience working with a wide variety of disabilities References: VA handbook Qualification Standards 5005, Part II, Appendix G62, Rehabilitation Counselor Qualification Standard, Veterans Health Administration. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. Physical Requirements: The work is sedentary. Some work may require movement between offices, hospitals, warehouses, and similar areas for meetings and to conduct work. Work may also require walking/standing, in conjunctions with travel to and attendance at meetings and/or conferences away from the work site. Incumbent may carry and lift light items weighing less than 15 pounds

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

NOTE: If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application.

NOTE: The master's degree must be fully accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). Verification of accreditation may be obtained from http://www.cacrep.org/directory/. or accredited by Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Verification of accreditation may be obtained from CHEA - Find Accredited Higher Education Institutions & Programs

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

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address VA Central Texas Health Care System 1901 Veterans Memorial Drive Temple, TX 76504 US
• Name: VISN 17 SSU USAS Group
• Email: [email protected]