Rehabilitation Counselors (RC) 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. Rehabilitation Counselors utilize various professional counseling and clinical modalities to promote and support optimal functioning, independence, personal adjustment, and recovery.

Duties

Duties include, but are not limited to: Rehabilitation Counselors utilize various professional counseling and clinical modalities to promote and support optimal functioning, independence, personal adjustment, adaptation to disability, community reintegration, and recover. RCs at this level are expected to conduct assessments through record reviews, observations, and interviews with Veterans and their support systems to generate and document personal, vocational, and educational histories. They must be able to synthesize assessment and diagnostic information in conjunction with labor market trends and community resources to develop a customized evaluation respecting the abilities, aptitudes, interests, values, and preferences for each Veteran. Rehabilitation Counselors are nationally certified as Certified Rehabilitation Counselors (CRC) and be State licensed as Licensed Professional Counselors. Rehabilitation Counselors may be designated as a Licensed Independent Provider (LIP) when they hold State licensure and are included as a LIP in their VA medical center bylaws. The SE-SUD rehabilitation counselor helps Veterans find jobs appropriate for their interest and abilities as quickly as possible, identifies and addresses employment barriers, facilitates workplace accommodations, and provides ongoing community support as needed. Additionally, they develop, adjust, and monitor progress of the patient-centered recovery plans utilizing SMART goals, enhancing coordination of care, ensuring medical clearance, and providing optimal timing of further interventions. The SE-SUD rehabilitation counselor interacts with businesses for competitive job development, job matching and employment services, and communicates with employers, the community, treatment staff, and Veterans and their families. Incumbent is expected to complete required documentation and clinical charting as well as participate in professional peer reviews and adhere to professional rehabilitation standards of the Joint Commission and CARF. Supported Employment services entail assessment, job development, job matching, job placement, employer contacts, and on the job support, as well as crisis management by the SE-SUD rehabilitation counselor and mental health support teams. The incumbent will coordinate transportation to interviews/hiring events and complete job analyses to facilitate job coaching and retention services to aid Veterans in learning and maintaining proficiency in performance of essential job tasks. The RC will also counsel Veterans regarding importance of soft skills (e.g. personal hygiene, cooperation with co-workers, and following instructions) when employed to enhance job satisfaction and foster natural supports in the workplace. Additionally, the incumbent will provide psychoeducational groups to teach effective job search skills, employer-desired soft skills and life skills fostering independence. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 0730 - 1600 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. 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 must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). 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 or 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. Failure to Obtain Certification: In all cases, RCs must actively pursue meeting prerequisites for certification starting from the date of their appointment. This includes working towards completion of CRCC's required acceptable employment experience and completing required CRCC documentation to verify employment experience and supervision by a CRC. At the time of appointment, the RC supervisor will provide the RC with the written requirements for certification, including the time by which the certification must be obtained and the consequences for not becoming certified by the deadline. Failure to become certified within the prescribed amount of time will result in removal from the GS-0101 RC series and may result in termination of employment. Loss of Certification: An employee in this occupation who fails to maintain the required certification must be removed from the occupation, which may also result in termination of employment. Grandfathering Provision: 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). 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 mentioned above, the following criteria for each grade level must be met. Rehabilitation Counselor, GS-09: (1) Experience. None beyond the basic requirements. (2) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to meeting basic requirements the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs in their resume:(a) 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.(b) Knowledge of history, philosophy and disability rights legislation in the field of rehabilitation to apply in the practice of rehabilitation counseling.(c) 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.(d) Knowledge of caseload management strategies to maximize an individual's independent functioning from assessment through provision of post-employment services.(e) Ability to employ person-centered job development strategies to facilitate successful job placement.(f) 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. Rehabilitation Counselor, GS-11: (1) Experience: Completion of one year of professional experience equivalent to the next lower grade level directly related to the position being filled. 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. (2) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: In addition to the basic requirements and the education/experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs in their resume: (a) Knowledge of physical and psychological disabilities, appropriate accommodations and assistive technology principles to mitigate and reduce oreliminate barriers to integrate into the community.(b) Knowledge of counseling theory, medical and psychiatric terminology and signs 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.(c) 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.(d) 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.(e) 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.(f) Knowledge of marketing strategies to develop collaborative partnerships/Memorandums of Agreement within VA and local business community to enhance employment and/or work opportunities.(g) 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. Qualifications are continued in the Education section of this announcement.

Education

Qualifications Continued:

Physical Requirements: The physical demands of this position involve mostly sitting and some walking. Strenuous physical activity is not required although the incumbent is expected to withstand pressure and stress as part of their day-to-day activities. Light lifting, under 15 pounds, moderate lifting 15-44 pounds. Ability to communicate and cognitive/mental/emotional stability will be needed to perform the duties of this position

References: VA Handbook 5005 Part II, Appendix G62, Rehabilitation Counselor Qualification Standard, date July 21, 2020.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-9 to GS-11.

Preferred Experience for GS-11:

• Prior experience, in an official capacity, providing vocational rehabilitation services setting.
• Experience providing community-based case management/clinical services.
• Prior experience providing recovery-oriented substance abuse treatment services.

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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Note: The master's degree must be fully accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). Verification of accreditation may be obtained from http://www.cacrep.org/directory/. or accredited by Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Verification of accreditation may be obtained from CHEA - Find Accredited Higher Education Institutions & Programs

Note: Foreign graduates with a degree acceptable by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC).

Contacts

• Address Audie L Murphy Memorial Veterans Hospital 7400 Merton Minter Boulevard San Antonio, TX 78229 US
• Name: VISN 17 SSU USAS Group
• Email: [email protected]