The Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist position (VRS) position is located within Behavioral Health Service Line, Social Work and Vocational Rehabilitation Division at the VA SORCC in White City, Oregon. The Supported Employment program falls under the umbrella of the VHA Vocational Rehabilitation Services - Compensated Work Therapy program.

Duties

The VRS Supported Employment Specialist (SE) is responsible for utilizing the practices of the Individualized Placement and Support (IPS) Evidence Based Recovery Model to provide individualized job finding and job retention services to participants with significant barriers to employment. These barriers may include individuals with severe and chronic mental illness, traumatic brain injury, posttraumatic stress disorder, or those with significant physical impairments. The VRS Supported Employment Specialist works directly with participants who have been referred to the Supported Employment program by credentialed clinical providers. The VRS Supported Employment Specialist also works closely with members of the interdisciplinary team including Physicians, Therapists, Social Workers, and other care providers within the facility and in the community. The VRS works directly with community agencies, and community employers with the goal of assisting program participants in obtaining and maintaining suitable employment. The VRS ensures that activities conducted under the SE program adhere to the VA Supported Employment Fidelity Scale. Major duties includes but are not limited to: Assists the Veteran in developing vocational objectives which align with individual employment related factors such as their interests, skills, preferences, needs, limitations, barriers, and capabilities. Determines the extent to which the participant possesses the knowledge, skills, or abilities needed to meet the vocational goal and related objectives. Determines what services such as job seeking skills training, resume development, or interview skills training the participant may require to successfully obtain suitable employment. Works with community partners to assist the participant in accessing training and opportunities to develop the skills and knowledge necessary for their vocational goal. Enters initial assessments data, individualized service delivery plans, and discharge summaries into the electronic medical record. Networks with community employers, community agencies, and community businesses with the goal of developing professional relationships with these groups to assist program participants in obtaining and maintaining suitable community employment. Coordinates with various resources to locate employment opportunities in the community that will be suitable for the individual program participant from the standpoint of their individual strengths, needs abilities and preferences. Conducts rapid engagement with the program participant including engaging the program participant in conversations about work and introducing the idea of return-to-work activities early in the process. Provides support and encouragement to the program participant including assistance with submitting resumes, completing applications, and job interview preparation. Seeks opportunities to provide constructive feedback to the program participant with the goal of improving the probability of obtaining community employment. Ensures that the program participant is aware of employer's expectations, and the participant has the skills and supports to meet those expectations. Evaluates the results of the program and makes sound professional arguments for recommended changes. Other duties as assigned. Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm 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/PD90473A and PD90474A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized. Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized. Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary, although some slight physical effort may be required. A portion of time (40%-60% of time) is spent travelling by government vehicle to meet with Veterans or employers in the community or other external partners who contribute to the workforce system. The stress related to providing services to Veterans in emotional distress or who may be demanding and uncooperative, can be more significant than that of most sedentary positions.

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement, 12/23/2024. 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 within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-9 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-7. 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. 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. Driver's License Requirement: Applicants must possess a valid, unrestricted State driver's license, have a safe driving record, and demonstrate that he or she is medically qualified to operate the appropriate motor vehicle safely. Applicants are required to pass agency Government Vehicle Drivers physical examination. NOTE: We cannot accept photographs, therefore; please do not submit a copy of your driver's license with your application package. If an interview is requested, you may be required to provide a copy of your valid state-issued driver's license. Minimum Qualifications, GS-9: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-7) in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization that provided a knowledge of training practices, techniques, and requirements as they relate to vocational development or rehabilitation. Qualifying specialized experience includes: 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. Additional examples of specialized experience includes performing comprehensive assessments and developing job plans for participants to help them achieve their employment goals; documenting treatment objectives and progression through identified goals and objectives; and networking with community employers, community agencies, and community businesses to place participants in suitable community employment. OR, Education or Combination: Please refer to Education section below for details. Note: Transcripts required. Minimum Qualifications, GS-11: 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 that provided a knowledge of training practices, techniques, and requirements as they relate to vocational development or rehabilitation. Qualifying specialized experience includes: 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. Additional examples of specialized experience includes performing comprehensive assessments and developing job plans for participants to help them achieve their employment goals; identifying a broad spectrum of medical, psychological, and neurological problems and their impact on vocational functioning and psychosocial needs; applying intervention techniques and methods to defuse situations; documenting treatment objectives and progression through identified goals and objectives; and networking with community employers, community agencies, and community businesses to place participants in suitable community employment. OR, Education or Combination: Please refer to Education section below for details. Note: Transcripts required. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Education and TrainingInterpersonal SkillsTechnical CompetenceTherapy and CounselingVehicle Operation 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. 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

Continued - Minimum Qualifications, GS-9:

• Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed a master's or equivalent graduate degree or successfully completed two (2) full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree, LL.B or J.D. with a major study in vocational rehabilitation, vocational or educational counseling, or other fields related to the position. Note: Transcripts required. OR,
• Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of successfully completed graduate level (beyond the first year) and specialized experience as described above to meet total experience requirements. The education portion must include graduate courses that demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do to the work of this position (i.e., vocational rehabilitation, vocational or educational counseling, or other fields related to the position). Note: Transcripts required, and experience must be detailed in your resume to receive credit.

Continued - Minimum Qualifications, GS-11:

• Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed a Ph.D., equivalent doctoral degree, 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, or an LL.M. with a major study in vocational rehabilitation, vocational or educational counseling, or other fields related to the position. Note: Transcripts required. OR,
• Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of of successfully completed graduate level (beyond a master's degree) and specialized experience as described above to meet total experience requirements. The education portion must include graduate courses that demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do to the work of this position (i.e., vocational rehabilitation, vocational or educational counseling, or other fields related to the position). Note: Transcripts required, and experience must be detailed in your resume to receive credit.

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 White City VA Medical Center 8495 Crater Lake Highway White City, OR 97503 US
• Name: Abigail Brown
• Phone: (541) 440-1000 X40617
• Email: [email protected]