GLA is recruiting for rehabilitation counselors as part of the President Biden Administration's priorities on substance use disorder (SUD) treatment and its emphasis on employment of persons in recovery from SUD. Rehabilitation Counselors in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) 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.

Duties

Duties to include the following: Provide initial intake screenings and assessment of Veterans which incorporate vocational assessment, physical/medical exam information, a complete psychosocial history, and urine toxicology results for use by the multidisciplinary team in developing treatment plans. Independently assesses and makes recommendations to the treatment team regarding Veterans' eligibility and need for treatment. When there are concerns about eligibility or appropriateness for treatment, they document rationale for decisions to admit or decline admission for services. Develop individualized treatment plans within EHR/MH Suite using measurable treatment goals and objectives Collaborate and coordinate care across multidisciplinary teams and service as a liaison within the VA health care setting as well as community for necessary medical, mental health, or legal resource needs which arise. Facilitate psychoeducation and discussion groups designed to educate Veterans on various aspects of chemical dependency. Provide family psychoeducation and consultation to significant others or family members involved in Veterans' care. Provided crisis intervention for Veterans in psychological distress (within scope of practice) and coordinate appropriate prevention services and collaboration with Suicide Prevention Provide individual and group counseling services using behavioral principles and evidence-based methods to treat substance abuse and co-occurring disorders. In rehabilitation or other program settings, provide initial orientation and education to Veterans regarding standards of behavior, expectations, and plans for evaluating progress. (j) Conduct pre-discharge assessments (as appropriate to assigned programs) and make recommendations to the treatment team regarding readiness for change, and (k) Provide discharged coordination utilizing facility/community resources to address housing, medical, vocational and ongoing mental health needs. Maintain knowledge of substance abuse programming and resources within the community and VA (e.g., Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, SMART Recovery) to facilitate Veterans. In rehabilitation or other program settings, facilitate discharge planning, post- rehabilitation placement, and aftercare services through VA and community resources. Perform additional duties or quality improvement projects assigned or delegated by Mental Health leadership or program/clinic supervisors. Serve as a collaborator and coordinator of care within VA multidisciplinary teams and serve as a liaison with the VA health care setting and community for necessary medical, mental health, or legal resource needs which arise. Participate with the multidisciplinary team to ensure compliance with Joint commission/CARF adherence and improvement activities. Participate in improvement projects as assigned by analyzing problems, interpreting and adapting guidelines from policies, regulations, and precedents in order to make recommended systems improvements. Physical Requirements: Light lifting (under 15 pounds); light carrying (under 15 pounds); reaching above shoulder; use of fingers; both hands required; walking; standing; hearing (aid permitted). Travel throughout the Greater Los Angeles community visiting community-based outpatient clinics, schools, businesses and/or employees are essential requirements for this position. Work Schedule: Monday Thru Friday, 8:00am to 4;30pm Telework: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 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. Applicants who meet the requirements for CRC but are not yet certified are eligible at the GS-9 level and have 2 years to attain certification. NOTE: This only applies to the past, current, and upcoming VA Health Professional Trainees (HPT). HPT is an individual appointed to temporary positions in one or more VHA medical facilities performing clinical or research training experiences to satisfy program or degree requirements or receiving VA Health Professional Scholarship Program. HPTs can be either VA-paid or Without Compensation (WOC).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. English Language Proficiency: Candidates will not be appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C. chapters 73 or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA who is not proficient in written and spoken English. 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 r 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. Exceptions for Graduate RCs: RC 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). Graduate RCs may only be appointed at the entry grade level and may not be promoted/converted until certification is obtained. Temporary graduate RC appointments may not be extended beyond two years or converted to a new temporary appointment 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: In addition to the basic requirements you must meet the following requirements: GS-9Experience: None beyond the basic requirements. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of human development and behavior, medical, psychosocial, and vocational aspects of disability and differential influences of environmental and cultural factors to assist persons with disabilities in determining suitable vocational goals. Knowledge of history, philosophy and disability rights legislation in the field of rehabilitation to apply in the practice of rehabilitation counseling. Ability to synthesize assessment and diagnosis information in conjunction with labor market trends and community/educational resources to develop an effective individual service delivery plan. Knowledge of caseload management strategies to maximize an individual's independent functioning from assessment through provision of post-employment services. Ability to employ person-centered job development strategies to facilitate successful job placement. Knowledge of assessment tools and methods, functional capacity evaluations and specific vocational preparation to evaluate transferrable skills, residual capacities and needs for accommodations and assistive technology. GS-11 (Full Performance Level):Experience: Completion of one year of professional experience equivalent to the next lower grade level directly related to the position being filled. Such experience would typically consist of: Provide vocational and personal adjustment counseling, case management and transferrable skills analyses to aid Veterans with severe disabilities in pursuit of their self-determined employment, educational and independent living goals; conduct assessments through record reviews, observations and interviews with Veterans and their support systems to generate and document personal, vocational and educational histories; Facilitating job placement for Veterans by teaching valuable job search skills, resume/application development, interview skills and basic computer skills; coordinating transportation to interviews/hiring events. (Experience must be well documented within resume) ------ 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. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate 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 sign 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: Current, valid, drivers license. References: VA Handbook 5005/113, Part II, Appendix G62 Dated 7/21/2020.

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 Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System 11301 Wilshire Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90073 US
• Name: Sherrie Wilkerson
• Email: [email protected]