The Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist carries out all duties related to attaining and maintaining competitive employment for veterans living with sever and prolonged mental illnesses who are assigned to his /her caseload through the Supported Employment Service in the Veterans Industries Program at the VA Medical Center in Butler, PA.

Duties

***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION*** This position involves a multi-grade career ladder. The major duties listed below represent the full performance level of GS-11. At the GS-9 grade level, you will perform assignments of a more limited scope and with less independence. You will progressively acquire the background necessary to perform at the full performance level of GS-11. Promotion is at the discretion of the supervisor and is contingent upon satisfactory performance, availability of higher-level work, and availability of funds. Major duties include, but are not limited to: Finds suitable employment opportunities, monitors placements, promotes successful adjustment. Develops strategies to engage clients who may be reluctant to actively pursue employment or risk a reduction of benefits. Supports clients in all work-related tasks, including but not limited to: transportation, on the job training, dealing with co-workers and supervisors, ongoing and follow along supports, and compliance with specification of appropriate clinical support(s). Maintains day-to-day contact with potential employers, placement personnel, or other likely placement resources. Networks in the local community with businesses and employers that have a job lead which are directly related to the interests and desires of the veteran. Negotiates with employers, when appropriate, to provide reasonable accommodations to meet the needs of clients, based on performing a worksite analysis. Counsels and guides clients through difficult transitions or rough spots in their adjustment to their job. Helps the employer understand the nature of the client's limitations while maintaining a positive impression of the client's capacity to succeed. Participates in employment-related training opportunities as offered and recommended by the supervisor. Assesses training needs to meet the client's vocational goals and objectives. Performs other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Full Time, Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required Physical Requirements: Although the typical work of a vocational rehabilitation specialist is primarily sedentary, this position is different because it calls for the incumbent to actually be able to attend the workplace with the veteran for a limited period of time and, if necessary, perform the job duties to demonstrate and reinforce them to the veteran. Therefore, lifting up to 50 pounds, bending, stooping, kneeling, reaching above the head, standing for long periods or walking long distances and performing repeated motions may be required. It will all depend on the veteran's needs, preferences, and job availability. Excessive standing although the typical work of a vocational rehabilitation specialist is typically performed in an adequately lighted and climate-controlled office, this position is different because it calls for the incumbent to actually be able to attend the workplace with the veteran for a limited period of time and if necessary, perform the job duties to demonstrate and reinforce them to the veteran. Therefore, the incumbent may be required to be in dry, dusty, wet, damp, freezing, sweltering temperatures and noisy, dimly lit or dark uncontrolled workplaces. It is also likely that at times, off-tours will be required in order to accommodate some veteran's working needs. Such might be required if a veteran client is working an off-shift and the vocational development specialist must attend with the veteran to assist learning skills while on the job.

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 DRIVER'S LICENSE REQUIREMENT: This position requires driving a government vehicle to perform the duties of the position; therefore, a current, valid state driver's license is required. NOTE: We cannot accept photographs, therefore; please do not submit a copy of your license with your application package. If an interview is requested, you may be required to provide a copy of your current and valid state-issued driver's license. AND GS-9 SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: You must have at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-7) in Federal Service that has equipped me with the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the duties of a Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist GS-9. Specialized experience includes: a) 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; b) 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; and c) 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. Specialized experience would typically include what is stated above, as well as, but not limited to: establishing respectful, effective relationships with patients and staff; creating individualized assessments to determine level of support necessary for patients; assisting with the development of employment opportunities through community-based job development; and maintaining a database of referral and placement outcomes in order to provide feedback to fellow collaborators. OR GS-9 EDUCATION: Successful completion of a master's or equivalent graduate degree, or two (2) full years of graduate level education leading to such a degree, or LL.B. or J.D. with a major study in vocational rehabilitation, vocational or educational counseling, or other field related to this position. This education must have been obtained at an accredited college or university. OR GS-9 COMBINATION: Equivalent combination of successfully completed graduate level 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 this position. GS-11 SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: You must have at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-9) in Federal Service that has equipped you with the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the duties of a Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist GS-11. Specialized experience includes: a) 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; b) 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; and c) 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. Specialized experience would typically include what is stated above, as well as, but not limited to:establishing respectful, effective relationships with patients and staff; creating individualized assessments to determine level of support necessary for patients; developing employment opportunities through community-based job development; monitoring performance and progress through case reviews; and maintaining a database of referral and placement outcomes in order to provide feedback to fellow collaborators. OR GS-11 EDUCATION: Successful completion of a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, or three (3) full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, or LL.M., if related, with a major study in vocational rehabilitation, vocational or educational counseling, or other field related to this position. This education must have been obtained at an accredited college or university. OR GS-11 COMBINATION: Equivalent combination of successfully completed higher level graduate education (beyond the second 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 this position. You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position: Customer ServicePartneringTherapy and Counseling 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. 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: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | International Affairs Office (ed.gov).

Contacts

• Address VA Butler Healthcare 353 North Duffy Road Butler, PA 16001 US
• Name: VHA National Recruitment Center
• Phone: (844)456-5208
• Email: [email protected]