This position is located within the Community Integration Section of Psychology Service at the G.V. Sonny VA Medical Center Compensated Work Therapy Program (CWT) in Jackson, MS. The Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist carries out all duties related to attaining and maintaining competitive employment for veterans living with severe and prolonged mental health conditions and substance use conditions.

Duties

***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION*** Major duties include but are not limited to: Provides services to individuals whose employability or job adjustment is impaired by physical, mental, emotional or other disability; or by a lack of basic education and job skills; Promotes optimal occupational functioning of veterans within the community, in the context of prescribed job development interventions specified in the veterans' treatment plan; Determines the vocational goals and objectives of the veteran by interviewing them or based on a referral from a professional staff member; Determines the extent to which the veteran possesses the knowledge, skills or abilities necessary to meet the goals or objectives; Coordinates with various resources to locate a training facility in the community that will be specifically suitable from the standpoint of the particular needs and problems of the individual; Finds suitable employment opportunities, monitors placement and promotes a successful adjustment; Maintains awareness and fosters community contacts; Maintains day-to-day contact with potential employers, placement personnel, or other likely placement resources; Oversees the placement program with supervisory input; Locates, evaluates and recommends approval of any new placement facilities proposed; Counsels and guides employee through difficult transition or rough spots in the adjustment to the job; Reviews and advises supervisor of any significant modifications to the placement contract; Evaluates the results of the program and makes sound professional arguments for recommended changes with supervisory input; Helps the veteran resolve emotional and economic problems, uses judgement in determining when professional aid is required and is responsible for arranging the services while encouraging the veteran to accept assistance; Acts as the primary point of contact between the veteran and the agency during periods of training and work adjustment; and Performs other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 7:30am to 4:00pm Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required

Requirements

Qualifications

English Language Proficiency: In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), No person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. You must be proficient in basic written and spoken English in order to meet the requirements of this position. ~AND~ To qualify for this position at the GS-9 level, you must meet one of the following: Experience: You must have at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-7) in the Federal Service that has given you the particular knowledge, skills and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of a Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist. Specialized experience may include: Work that required obtaining and 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 and 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, and 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 and adjustment requirements necessary to place persons having disabilities or social adjustment problems. NOTE: Experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week. ~OR~ Education: Successful completion of a master's or equivalent graduate degree or two (2) full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree with a major study in vocational rehabilitation, vocational or educational counseling, or other fields related to the Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist position. NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. ~OR~ Combination: Equivalent combinations of successfully completed progressively higher-level graduate education (beyond the first year) and specialized experience, as described above, which meet the total experience requirements for this grade level. The education portion must include graduate courses that demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist position. NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position: CommunicationEducation and TrainingInterpersonal EffectivenessProblem SolvingVeteran and Customer Focus IMPORTANT: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. All experience listed on your resume must include the month and year start/end dates. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Physical Requirements: Standing, stooping, bending, walking, sitting for extended periods of time and lifting are required. There is a minimal period of time (25 percent) spent driving a motor vehicle and traveling in the local area. The work generally is performed in an office setting and various locations in the greater Jackson metro area as well as affiliated Community Based Outpatient Clinics involving everyday risks and discomforts and normal safety precautions except for visits to employment opportunity worksites. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Education

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

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 GV Sonny Montgomery VAMC 1500 East Woodrow Wilson Drive Jackson, MS 39216 US
• Name: VHA National Recruitment Center
• Phone: (844)456-5208
• Email: [email protected]