The incumbent serves as a member of the Texas Valley Coastal Bend TSES Compensated Work Therapy/Supported Employment treatment team.

Duties

Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. The Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist: maintains an effective model for integrated community/system based vocational rehabilitation services. ensures best practices that individualize services to address barriers to employment and implement solutions for successful outcomes. develops policies that lead to transitional work and supported employment placements in the community and the VA Healthcare System on a full time and part time basis. ensures policy driven services that make TSES Vocational Services available to any Veteran with a disability eligible for VA services including Veterans with psychosis, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, posttraumatic stress disorder and those served through primary care. develops and maintains internal and external marketing, partnering with business, nonprofits, State Voc. Rehab, and Dept. of Labor. develops and coordinates inter-agency cooperation. articulates and communicate to the team the assignment, project, problem to be solved, actionable events, milestones, and/or program issues under review, and deadlines and time frames for completion. leads the team in identifying, distributing and balancing workload and tasks among employees in accordance with established work flow, skill level and/or occupational specialization. makes adjustments to accomplish the workload in accordance with established priorities to ensure timely accomplishment of assigned team tasks and ensuring that each employee has an integral role in developing the final team product. trains or arranges for the training of team members in methods and techniques of team building and working in teams to accomplish tasks or projects, and provide or arrange for specific administrative or technical training necessary for accomplishment of individual and team tasks. prepares the TSES annual report and other local and national reports as required. is the primary tracker of TSES-related SAIL Measures and other applicable performance trackers. is responsible for the overall maintenance of accounting controls, billings, payroll, pay records and all CWT funds. develops estimates of budget requirements based on past history, anticipated workload and the production capability of the unit. S/he must be especially cost-conscious and find means to substantially reduce operating costs without impairing overall operation. plans, develops, and prepares budget estimates covering requirements for procurement of supplies, equipment and personnel services. assures accuracy of all financial reports connected with the program with the additional requirements for Fiscal Service at the VAHCS and program reports as required by VA Central Office. maintains program and administrative reference materials, project files and relevant back-ground documents and make available policies, procedures and written instructions from the supervisor; maintain current knowledge to answer questions from team members on procedures, policies, directives, etc. determines Transitional Work/Compensated Work Therapy Program (TWP/CWT) goals. S/he will work independently and with consultation in the development of plans for the attainment of goals. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: HR Specialist Total Rewards Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist (Supported Employment)/PD003700, PD003710, and PD003540 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 09/20/2023 You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Individual Occupational Requirements: Vocational Rehabilitation Series 1715 Education Undergraduate and Graduate Education: Major study -- vocational rehabilitation, vocational or educational counseling, or other fields related to the position; or Specialized Experience (for positions above GS-5): Examples of qualifying specialized experience include: Work that required obtaining & applying occupational information for people with disabilities, knowledge of the interrelationships of the involved professional and specialist services, and skill in employing the methodology and techniques of counseling to motivate and encourage individuals served by the program. Experience that demonstrated knowledge of the vocational rehabilitation problems characteristic of the disabled, including familiarity with available resources & skill in identifying, evaluating, and making effective use of such resources to serve individuals with disabilities; or of the disadvantaged, including knowledge of adjustment problems of the educationally or culturally disadvantaged, familiarity with available adult education and training resources, & ability to recognize problem areas needing special attention. Experience in vocational guidance or teaching in a recognized vocational rehabilitation program or school, developmental or supervisory work in programs of vocational rehabilitation or training programs for the disadvantaged, or personnel or employment placement work that provided extensive knowledge of the training & adjustment requirements necessary to place persons having disabilities or social adjustment problems. GS-7 Minimum Qualifications Requirements: Specialized Experience: one year of specialized experience, equivalent to at least the GS-05 level in the federal service, that equipped you with the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to successfully perform the duties of this position and that is typically in and/or related to the position being filled: Knowledge of the principles, theoretical concepts and practice of Evidenced-Based Vocational Assistance Processes, Compensated Work Therapy/Transitional Work, and Compensated Work Therapy/Supported Employment as well as the administrative mechanisms appropriate to the assignment. Knowledge on how to utilize assessment, interviewing skills, and refined interpersonal skills to effectively work with veteran. Knowledge of required work skills for various jobs. Case formulation involving multiple factors to arrive at an appropriate assignment and vocational treatment plan is necessary to direct appropriate treatments. Working knowledge of State agencies such as Texas Dept. of Assistive and Rehabilitation Services and the Texas Dept. of Labor & Workforce Development. Knowledge on how to assist the severely disabled veterans in gaining access to the independent living services in cooperation with the Veterans Benefits Administration. Knowledge of how to effectively provide vocational counseling of individual patients and groups of patients. Knowledge on how to conduct seminars for other professional staff, as indicated, concerning vocational rehabilitation. knowledge on how to complete full documentation of treatment procedures including functional abilities and limitations, program planning, progress notes, and follow-up reports as required. Knowledge on how to assist TSES staff in developing and writing medical center and community-based CWT contracts as appropriate. Ability to use MS Word or comparable word processing software to execute several office automation functions such as storing and retrieving electronic documents and files, activating printers, inserting and deleting text, formatting letters, reports and memoranda, and transmitting and receiving e-mail. knowledge of English grammar, accounting principles, typing skills etc. necessary to perform recurring tasks. Knowledge and experience in job development, job matching, job carving, job analysis, ability to contact and work creatively with community employers. Knowledge of a broad range of occupations, ability to identify client strengths, interests, skills and needs, ability to match clients to jobs, ability to identify and arrange long-term supports to help clients keep jobs. Knowledge of long-term mental illness and impact on vocational functioning, ability to develop and implement psychosocial skill training modules/classes on subjects such as activities of daily living, socialization skills, housing resources and vocational skills. Ability to select the pertinent techniques for data collection and to identify aspects of successful program operations that can be used for improving similar programs. Ability to utilize a variety of fact-finding techniques. Basic knowledge of the program objectives of local, state, and federal agencies to ensure that action is appropriate. Graduate Education: one year (18 Semester Hours) of Graduate Education with a Major Study of vocational rehabilitation, vocational or educational counseling, or other fields related to the position. (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED) Superior Academic Achievement: a Bachelors (Undergraduate) Degree Program with a Major Study of vocational rehabilitation, vocational or educational counseling, or other fields related to the position with an overall Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 or greater. (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED, must show date of completion and overall GPA) Specialized Experience/Graduate Education Combination: a combination of graduate education and specialized experience as described above. (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED) GS-9 Minimum Qualifications Requirements: Specialized Experience: one year of specialized experience, equivalent to at least the GS-07 level in the federal service, that equipped you with the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to successfully perform the duties of this position and that is typically in and/or related to the position being filled: Knowledge of the principles, theoretical concepts and practice of Evidenced-Based Vocational Assistance Processes, Compensated Work Therapy/Transitional Work, and Compensated Work Therapy/Supported Employment as well as the administrative mechanisms appropriate to the assignment. Knowledge on how to utilize assessment, interviewing skills, and refined interpersonal skills to effectively work with veteran. Knowledge of required work skills for various jobs. Case formulation involving multiple factors to arrive at an appropriate assignment and vocational treatment plan is necessary to direct appropriate treatments. Working knowledge of State agencies such as Texas Dept. of Assistive and Rehabilitation Services and the Texas Dept. of Labor & Workforce Development. Knowledge on how to assist the severely disabled veterans in gaining access to the independent living services in cooperation with the Veterans Benefits Administration. Knowledge of how to effectively provide vocational counseling of individual patients and groups of patients. Knowledge on how to conduct seminars for other professional staff, as indicated, concerning vocational rehabilitation. knowledge on how to complete full documentation of treatment procedures including functional abilities and limitations, program planning, progress notes, and follow-up reports as required. Knowledge on how to assist TSES staff in developing and writing medical center and community-based CWT contracts as appropriate. Ability to use MS Word or comparable word processing software to execute several office automation functions such as storing and retrieving electronic documents and files, activating printers, inserting and deleting text, formatting letters, reports and memoranda, and transmitting and receiving e-mail. QUALIFICATIONS CONTINUED IN EDUCATION SECTION

Education

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: 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.

QUALIFICATIONS CONTINUED (GS-9):

• Knowledge of English grammar, accounting principles, typing skills etc. necessary to perform recurring tasks.
• Knowledge and experience in job development, job matching, job carving, job analysis, ability to contact and work creatively with community employers.
• Knowledge of a broad range of occupations, ability to identify client strengths, interests, skills and needs, ability to match clients to jobs, ability to identify and arrange long-term supports to help clients keep jobs.
• Knowledge of long-term mental illness and impact on vocational functioning, ability to develop and implement psychosocial skill training modules/classes on subjects such as activities of daily living, socialization skills, housing resources and vocational skills.
• Ability to select the pertinent techniques for data collection and to identify aspects of successful program operations that can be used for improving similar programs.
• Ability to utilize a variety of fact-finding techniques.
• Basic knowledge of the program objectives of local, state, and federal agencies to ensure that action is appropriate.

Graduate Education: a Master's Degree or 2 years (36 semester hours) OR graduate education leading towards a Master's Degree with a Major Study of vocational rehabilitation, vocational or educational counseling, or other fields related to the position. (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED)

Specialized Experience/Graduate Education Combination: a combination of graduate education in excess of 1 year (18 semester hours) and specialized experience as described above. (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED)

GS-11 Minimum Qualifications Requirements: Specialized Experience: one year of specialized experience, equivalent to at least the GS-09 level in the federal service, that equipped you with the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to successfully perform the duties of this position and that is typically in and/or related to the position being filled:

• Knowledge of the principles, theoretical concepts and practice of Evidenced-Based Vocational Assistance Processes, Compensated Work Therapy/Transitional Work, and Compensated Work Therapy/Supported Employment as well as the administrative mechanisms appropriate to the assignment.
• Knowledge on how to utilize assessment, interviewing skills, and refined interpersonal skills to effectively work with veteran.
• Knowledge of required work skills for various jobs. Case formulation involving multiple factors to arrive at an appropriate assignment and vocational treatment plan is necessary to direct appropriate treatments.
• Working knowledge of State agencies such as Texas Dept. of Assistive and Rehabilitation Services and the Texas Dept. of Labor & Workforce Development.
• Knowledge on how to assist the severely disabled veterans in gaining access to the independent living services in cooperation with the Veterans Benefits Administration.
• Knowledge of how to effectively provide vocational counseling of individual patients and groups of patients.
• Knowledge on how to conduct seminars for other professional staff, as indicated, concerning vocational rehabilitation.
• knowledge on how to complete full documentation of treatment procedures including functional abilities and limitations, program planning, progress notes, and follow-up reports as required.
• Knowledge on how to assist TSES staff in developing and writing medical center and community-based CWT contracts as appropriate.
• Ability to use MS Word or comparable word processing software to execute several office automation functions such as storing and retrieving electronic documents and files, activating printers, inserting and deleting text, formatting letters, reports and memoranda, and transmitting and receiving e-mail.
• knowledge of English grammar, accounting principles, typing skills etc. necessary to perform recurring tasks.
• Knowledge and experience in job development, job matching, job carving, job analysis, ability to contact and work creatively with community employers.
• Knowledge on how to assist TSES staff in developing and writing medical center and community-based CWT contracts as appropriate.
• Ability to use MS Word or comparable word processing software to execute several office automation functions such as storing and retrieving electronic documents and files, activating printers, inserting and deleting text, formatting letters, reports and memoranda, and transmitting and receiving e-mail.
• Knowledge of English grammar, accounting principles, typing skills etc. necessary to perform recurring tasks.
• Knowledge of a broad range of occupations, ability to identify client strengths, interests, skills and needs, ability to match clients to jobs, ability to identify and arrange long-term supports to help clients keep jobs.
• Knowledge of long-term mental illness and impact on vocational functioning, ability to develop and implement psychosocial skill training modules/classes on subjects such as activities of daily living, socialization skills, housing resources and vocational skills.

QUALIFICATIONS CONTINUED IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION SECTION

Contacts

• Address VA TX Valley Coastal Bend HCS 2601 Veterans Drive Harlingen, TX 78550 US
• Name: VISN 17 SSU USAS Group
• Email: [email protected]