The Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist (VRS)/ Transitional Work (TW) Specialist is assigned to the Therapeutic Supported Employment Services/ Compensated Work Therapy Program (TSES/CWT), which is located in the Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Recovery Section (PSRR) of Mental Health Services in the VA Eastern Colorado Healthcare System (ECHCS). The incumbent provides a wide range of vocational services to veteran patients with disabilities of varying type and severity.

Duties

Clinical Responsibilities: Receives and responds in a timely manner to referrals of veterans who are interested in vocational rehabilitation services. Performs initial vocational assessments examining work history, previous education and training, sources of income, transportation issues, disabling conditions, vocational needs/goals, and other factors. The VRS works directly with community agencies, and community employers with the goal of assisting Veterans in obtaining and maintaining suitable employment. The VRS will be required to adapt the best practices of supported employment to meet the needs of 2 Veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. With the ability to utilize CWT services, Veterans will be better able to obtain and maintain community-based employment. The VRS is responsible for interviewing potential Veterans referred to the CWT program (via medical orders and SF 513 consult with appropriate clearance to work in the community), and for developing a vocational assessment to identify individual's strengths and areas of vocational interests. The VRS will utilize Motivational Interviewing techniques to ensure the highest level of services. The VRS utilizes gathered information to assist the Veteran in identifying occupational areas in which they would like to target their job search activities. For the majority of types of cases established training facilities and institutions previously approved for use in the program are available and adequate, but for the rest of cases there is a need to negotiate training from unique sources. The VRS will provide assistance with job seeking skills and strategies as needed. The VRS will be responsible for assisting veterans in understanding financial benefits entitlement programs and housing eligibility requirements and the effects of working on their entitlement. The VRS will monitor the Veteran's progress, provide feedback and provide any assistance in the job seeking process. The VRS will utilize job development techniques such as job carving to assist the Veteran in obtaining community employment. Refers veterans not suited for the TW program to other appropriate TSES programs. Networks within the Community: Collaborates and coordinates with both internal and external customers to develop new training opportunities to address gaps in available training programs and services. May be required to work collaboratively with an interdisciplinary team such as the PTSD RRTP, TBI, SUD, HUD/VASH or MHICM teams. Initiates contacts with local businesses and governmental agencies that provide work opportunities for veterans upon TW completion in addition to networking with employers/ services interested in contracting with the TW program. Engages in travel outside the medical center to meet with employers, representatives of community agencies, and veterans participating in 4 vocational training or employment. Maintains and upgrades professional knowledge and skills through participation in appropriate training and continuing education activities. Program Coordination: The incumbent will be responsible for the organization, planning and implementation of the TW best practices as outlined with VA Central Office TSES/CWT/TW programs. Ensures that vocational services are provided in a manner consistent with VA policies, CARF standards, and Joint Commission standards. Prepares reports having to do with the TW program. Regularly monitors and evaluates activities involved the ongoing examination of the vocational services provided, identification of deficiencies in the services provided, and improvement of the quality of services. Reviews the work of lower-graded staff and provides guidance in areas they are unfamiliar or where there is not establish course of action. Work Schedule: Telework: VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist (TW Coordinator)/PD116740 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Authorized 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, 11/14/2023. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-9. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. Individual Occupational Requirements This Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist Series, 1715, has individual occupational requirements, as described below: Education: Undergraduate and Graduate Education: Major study -- vocational rehabilitation, vocational or educational counseling, or other fields related to the position. OR, Specialized Experience: 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. In addition to the Individual Occupational Requirements you must also qualify based on the below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-9 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Facilitates drafting Memorandums of Agreement (MOA) with the employers/services and ensures that these employers receive proper support and training; Aids in drafting and adhering to policies/ procedures for TW program operations; Assists in enveloping the TW budget and managing payroll/invoicing process; Performs vocational assessments/ plans examining work history, interests, strengths, needs, and abilities related employment goals; Assists veterans in identifying occupational areas to target their job search activities and assists with job seeking strategies; Utilize job development techniques to assist the Veteran in obtaining community employment at the completion of TW; Works closely with interdisciplinary teams to assist veteran in addressing barriers to employment; Assists with monitoring TW program spending and coordinates with Fiscal department to ensure payments for services are received. OR, EDUCATION: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a doctoral degree OR three (3) 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 position OR a LL.M. (if related). (Transcripts Required) OR, COMBINATION OF EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond graduate education directly related to the work of the position and specialized experience, as outlined above. (Transcripts Required) You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Critical ThinkingInterpersonal EffectivenessManages and Organizes InformationPsychologyTechnical CompetenceTherapy and Counseling 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; religions; 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. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. 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. Physical Requirements: The physical demands of the position are sedentary to light. In addition to performing work in office settings, the position requires that the employee visit patients at TSES/CWT worksites around the Medical Center and in the community. The driving of government vehicles on station and in the community is required. 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

To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree.

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 Eastern Colorado HCS Denver 13611 E. Colfax Ave Aurora, CO 80045 US
• Name: Ryan Franklin
• Phone: 501-918-1270
• Email: [email protected]