This position is a Rehabilitation Specialist assigned to the Mental Health Service Line. This position requires innovative strategies, interventions, and approaches in working with Veterans with complex medical, mental health, and psychosocial histories. The primary purpose of the position is to obtain and maintain employment for Veterans through vocational assessment, treatment planning and educational preparation for competitive employment and/or Transitional Work Experience (TWE).

Duties

**Additional selections may be made from this announcement** Administrative Responsibilities (10%) - Adheres to Medical Center policies. Utilizes Automated Data Processing (ADP) system in accordance with established procedures and documents all Veteran encounters CPRS. Adheres to Medical Center ADP Security policy. - Employee monitors and designs quality control measures in the areas of treatment services, skills, and documentation. - Educates and orients new staff members as deemed necessary and suitable to establish and support cohesive work relationships. - Employee will perform other administrative duties as delegated by the program director, with the primary reference of carrying out the policies and procedures of this VA HCS and the Mental Health Service Line. - Establishes training programs to meet the vocational needs of Veterans served in the MHSL (i.e., literacy training, customer service training, effective communication, etc.). Finds suitable employment opportunities. Monitors placement, promoting successful adjustment. Clinical Responsibilities (70%) - Provides assessment, education, and training in resume writing, employment applications, building references, interviewing skills, work readiness skills, social skills acquisition, cultural diversity in the workplace, and career progression outlook. - Counsels and guides Veterans with dependency, difficult emotional and economic problems through difficult transition or rough spots in the adjustment to the job. Helps the employer understand the nature of the client's limitations while maintaining a positive impression of the client's capability to succeed. - Provide direct linkage from MHSL programs to community services that support Veterans' vocational and employment goals. - Develop strategies to engage Veterans who may be reluctant to actively pursue employment or risk a reduction of benefits. - Support Veterans in all work related tasks, including but not limited to, transportation, on the job training, support with co-workers and supervisor negotiations, ongoing and follow along supports, and compliance with specification of appropriate clinical support(s). - Provide clinical services and appropriate clinical documentation. Ensure timely and accurate entry into VA data systems and review the data to improve performance and delivery of services to Veterans. - Contributes actively to multidisciplinary treatment team meeting where clinical concerns, strategies, progress, and needed support are shared by treatment team members. This is includes contributing to treatment plans in the required computer programs (e.g., MH Suite). - Develops training strategies to motivate Veterans who have been out of the work arena for some time to gain the necessary work habits needed to return to competitive employment; to consider the difficulty in employment placement based on their disability; and assigns Veteran to training program(s) that best meets their needs. Other Key Responsibilities (20%) - Pursues employment contacts for community jobs and small business opportunities based on and supports individual Veterans' interest. This includes knowledge of companies and/or agencies that work with individuals with complex legal histories. - Coordinates with various resources to locate a training facility in the community that meets the Veterans' needs. - Establishes training programs to satisfy common needs of the client base (i.e., literacy training, customer service training, effective communications, etc.). Finds suitable employment opportunities. Monitors placement, promoting successful adjustment. - Ability to complete a worksite analysis and negotiate reasonable work accommodations and/or modifications to meet the Veterans' needs. - Maintains day-to-day contact with potential employers, placement personnel, or other likely placement resources. Oversees the placement program, evaluates the results of the program, and makes sound professional arguments for recommended changes. Reports program progress in accordance with established procedure(s). The Incumbent must be skilled in marketing Veterans to potential employers based on their current skills and abilities. - Communicates vocational rehabilitation strategies and Veteran's progress to the team. Participates in appropriate job-related training opportunities as offered and recommended by the supervisor. - Notifies and obtains approval from the Supervisor regarding any significant modifications to the placement contract prior to its implementation. Evaluates the results of the program and makes sound professional arguments for recommended changes. Performs other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday; 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: Ad-hoc Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 58011F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Requirements

Qualifications

Basic Requirements: Citizenship. Candidates must be a citizen of the United States. Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified candidates in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a). Education. (1) 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 (2) 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(3) 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(4) 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. English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). Must pass a background check. Grade Requirements: GS-11 Rehabilitation Counselor Assignments. This is the journey level for this assignment. Provide personal adjustment counseling, therapeutic rehabilitation interventions and case coordination services, utilizing evidence-informed and evidence-based modalities to aid Veterans with severe disabilities in achieving competitive employment and educational and independent living goals. Develop patient-centered treatment plans utilizing SMART goals and provides ongoing assessment of Veteran's progress. Procure and manage transitional work agreements from community, state and federal agencies. Monitor work site compliance with agreements to ensure Veterans are appropriately trained and evaluated consistent with industry standards. Devise solutions to reduce and/or eliminate barriers and meet Veterans' placement needs which may require substantial modification to environmental or functional demands within a work setting. Provide psychoeducational groups to teach effective job search skills, employer-desired soft skills and life skills fostering independence. Complete interpretive data reports. Provide disability education and program-specific training to staff and stakeholders. May supervise vocational rehabilitation students. 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. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 1. Knowledge of physical and psychological disabilities, appropriate accommodations and assistive technology principles to mitigate and reduce or eliminate barriers to integrate into the community. 2. 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. 3. 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. 4. 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. 5. 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. 6. Knowledge of marketing strategies to develop collaborative partnerships/Memorandums of Agreement within VA and local business community to enhance employment and/or work opportunities. 7. 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. References: VA Handbook 5005/133, Part II, Appendix G62, Rehabilitation Counselor Qualification Standard. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is a GS-11.

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

Contacts

• Address Atlanta VA Medical Center 1670 Clairmont Road Decatur, GA 30033 US
• Name: Jenna McCarthy
• Email: [email protected]