Career Center

The Rehabilitation Counselor is under the Mental Health & Behavioral Science Service/VHA Vocational Rehabilitation Service. Vocational Rehabilitation Service are recovery-oriented clinical vocational rehabilitation services and offer a continuum of vocational, educational, training and employment, and therapeutic work services, including skill development and assistance with obtaining and maintaining employment for Veterans for whom the primary objective is competitive employment. 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 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 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. Exceptions for Graduate RCs. (a) 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). (b) Graduate RCs may only be appointed at the entry grade level and may not be promoted/converted until certification is obtained. (c) Temporary graduate RC appointments may not be extended beyond two years or converted to a new temporary appointment. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service. English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). Grade Determinations: Rehabilitation Counselor, GS-11 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. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of physical and psychological disabilities, appropriate accommodations and assistive technology principles to mitigate and reduce or eliminate 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. Assignment. 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. Conduct biopsychosocial assessments using medical records, pertinent disability documentation, observation and interviews with Veterans and their support systems to generate personal, vocational, and educational histories. Select, administer and interpret vocational instruments to evaluate abilities, aptitudes, interests, values, preferences, transferrable skills and overall work resilience. Customize vocational exploration activities for identification of self determined rehabilitation needs and goals. Consult with interdisciplinary teams (IDT) to enhance coordination of care, ensure medical clearance, and provide for optimal timing of further interventions. Synthesize assessment information to identify barriers to employment and their vocational implications. Determine clinical need for and capacity to benefit from therapeutic and rehabilitation services to include: work restoration/resilience treatment, transitional work placement and compensation, supported employment, assistive technology, financial benefits counseling and potential benefits protections. 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. ["Duties Include: Compensation Work Therapy/Supported Employment (SE) program caseload size is 1:20 and should not extend above 1:25 in order to maintain fidelity to the model and to provide necessary service intensity. Per Fidelity standards, the RC must also spend at least 65% of their time in the community. Individual caseload size may vary within this recommended range based on the phase of SE (job development, follow-along supports, etc.) that the patients are in. During onset of treatment, the Rehabilitation Counselor (RC) provides the patient with an Orientation to the SE program. RC will engage the Veteran several times per week, developing a relationship and completing a Vocational Assessment Profile (VAP), documented in the Veteran's electronic medical record, which addresses interest areas, personality traits, life experiences, and work environments. The VAP will describe the Veteran's optimal employment situation, factoring in symptom management and clinical consensus. The RC is encouraged to meet with the Veteran and clinicians weekly, or as needed. As job search begins, the RC will continue to have several contacts per week, as needed, directly with the Veteran, engaging in community networking, job development and employer negotiations, and assisting Veterans with job interviews. RC collaborates with the patient in the development of the Individually Written Rehabilitation Plan (IWRP); as well as inputting patient data into Northeast Program Evaluation Center (NEPEC). The RC provides assistance with job seeking skills and strategies as needed. The RC utilizes job finding techniques such as job carving to assist the patient in obtaining competitive employment. During the job seeking process, the RC works closely with interdisciplinary teams such as the three residential units within the Miami VAMC: Substance Abuse Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (SARRTP), Psychosocial Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (PRRTP, and the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder- Residential Program (PTSD RRTP); along with providers from the Mental Health Intensive Case Management (MHICM) units to assist the patient in obtaining and maintaining suitable community based employment. The RC networks with community employers, community agencies, and businesses with the goal of developing a professional relationship with these groups in order to assist patients in obtaining and maintaining competitive employment. The RC coordinates with various community and state resources to locate services and employment opportunities that are be suitable for the individual program participant from the standpoint of their particular individual needs and problems. The RC works with established programs to provide significant modifications to accommodate the patient's limitations. When the patient becomes employed, job accommodations or job coaching may be needed, as determined by the Veterans and employer in consultation with the SE RC. If job coaching is needed, the RC will have frequent contact (e.g., as much as daily, if necessary) as the patient learns the tasks of the job and acclimates to the work environment. If job coaching is not needed, follow along supports are provided based on the clinical indicators of the treatment plan and the negotiated plan developed with the Veteran and employer. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8am to 4:30pm\nTelework: Not Available\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized\nPermanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]