Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor

Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor I, II, III

Join the DOL team!

The Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor will facilitate the transition of students with disabilities aged 14-22 from school to community. The incumbent will coordinate transition and Pre-ETS activities with the student, parent/guardian, educators, and service providers to help transition-age youth with disabilities develop skills and habits for adult life to increase their chance of future employment and access to post-secondary education. Pre-ETS activities will encompass the following core areas: job exploration and counseling, workplace readiness training, work-based learning experiences, counseling on post-secondary education or training, self-advocacy, and peer mentoring.

Career Ladder - Upon satisfactory completion of department promotional standards and job requirements, employees may be eligible to be promoted to the next level.

Essential Functions are fundamental, core functions common to all positions in the class series and are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all job duties for any one position in the class.  Since class specifications are descriptive and not restrictive, employees can complete job duties of a similar kind not specifically listed here.

• Provides specialized vocational rehabilitation services, counseling, and support to clients and family members that promote successful employment and greater independence. 
• Conducts interviews and completes comprehensive assessments to identify a client’s aptitudes, abilities, education level, interests, and to gather or verify other relevant data.
• Obtains and evaluates employment, medical, psychological, psychiatric, social, educational, and vocational information to determine eligibility for and provision of vocational rehabilitation services and identify client needs and appropriate resources. 
• Develops employment rehabilitation plans that identify services, establish performance measures, and outline goals that align with each client’s abilities and priorities.
• Identifies barriers to client employment, such as inaccessible work sites, inflexible schedules, or transportation problems, and works with clients to develop strategies for overcoming these barriers.
• Provides individualized services such as career counseling, guidance, and job training, and participates in job development and placement programs including contacting prospective employers, placing clients in jobs, and evaluating placement outcomes.
• Ensures compliance with agency, state, and federal laws, rules, regulations, professional mandates, and best practices.
• Coordinates and integrates a variety of services with other agencies, medical facilities, educational institutions, and community resources to meet client employment goals and needs.
• Tracks and monitors progress in achieving identified goals and performance measures through regular contact with clients and makes necessary adjustments. 
• Prepares and maintains a variety of records and reports that clearly and accurately document details and outcomes of each case. 
• Uses automated case management systems and computer software to research, review, analyze, document, and report on client information.  
• Meets with clients and family members through telephone, email, and in-person interactions. 
• Communicates and interacts effectively with people across cultures, ranges of ability, genders, ethnicities, ages, and races.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Job Requirement Series - Applicants must have education, training and/or experience demonstrating competence in each of the following areas:

 Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor I

1. Possession of a Bachelors degree or higher in Rehabilitation Counseling, Social, Health or Behavioral Science, Education, or related field.
2. Coursework, training, and/or work experience in case management such as assessing, planning, developing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating options and services to meet an individual’s human service needs using effective counseling or interviewing techniques as well as other available resources such as service plans or case management systems.
3. Coursework, training, and/or work experience in health or human services work such as applying theories, principles, laws and practices of health or human services programs and services that assist with and improve life for individuals, families, or communities such as financial support, employment, unemployment, housing, health care, disease prevention, substance abuse, child protective services, physical/mental health treatment and prevention or vocational rehabilitation.
4. Coursework, training, and/or work experience in narrative report writing.

Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor II

1. Possession of a Bachelors degree or higher in Rehabilitation Counseling, Social, Health or  Behavioral Science, Education, or related field.
2. One year of experience in performing vocational rehabilitation work to assist eligible individuals achieve employment by providing services such as conducting comprehensive assessments, determining eligibility, developing rehabilitation plans, and coordinating or directly providing career counseling, training, or job placement services.
3. One year of experience in case management such as assessing, planning, developing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating options and services to meet an individual’s human service needs using effective counseling or interviewing techniques as well as other available resources such as service plans or case management systems.
4. One year of experience in preparing case summaries and reports that clearly and accurately document findings, supporting facts, and recommendations.
5. Six months’ experience in ensuring compliance vocational rehabilitation laws, rules, regulations, standards, policies and procedures.

 Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor III

1. Possession of a Masters degree or higher in Rehabilitation Counseling, Social, Health or Behavioral Science, Education, or related field.
2. Two years’ experience in performing vocational rehabilitation work to assist eligible individuals achieve employment by providing services such as conducting comprehensive assessments, determining eligibility, developing rehabilitation plans, and coordinating or directly providing career counseling, training, or job placement services.
3. Two years’ experience in case management such as assessing, planning, developing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating options and services to meet an individual’s human service needs using effective counseling or interviewing techniques as well as other available resources such as service plans or case management systems.
4. Two years’ experience in preparing case summaries and reports that clearly and accurately document findings, supporting facts and recommendations.
5. One year of experience in ensuring compliance vocational rehabilitation laws, rules, regulations, standards, policies and procedures.