Rehabilitation Counselor I

The Department of Labor and Employment keeps Colorado strong and competitive. We connect workers with great jobs and assist those who have been injured on the job. We help people who are unemployed through no fault of their own by providing temporary wage replacement and we ensure fair labor practices. We provide an up-to-date and accurate picture of the economy that helps in decision making. And we protect the workplace – and Colorado communities – with a variety of consumer protection and safety programs.

This is a values-driven organization, committed to accountability, agility, collaboration, and respect.

We believe in outstanding customer service, an inclusive culture, continued process improvement and in our role as a trusted and strategic partner. Recognizing that knowledgeable employees drive our success, we are seeking dedicated individuals who exhibit our shared values and our passion for quality and excellence in all we do.

 

Description of Job

Rehabilitation Counselor I Salary: $53,484.00 - $59,688.00 Annually 

The Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) assists people with disabilities to succeed at work and live independently. We believe that anyone with a disability who wants to work, can work, regardless of the type or severity of their disability. We work closely with a variety of partners and stakeholders, including our vendors, employers, state and federal agencies, Workforce Centers and Centers for Independent Living. The Division is innovative, always working to improve its services. DVR uses public funds to provide our services, so it is important that this money be used responsibly according to our policy, and state and federal rules and regulations. 

Effective implementation of the rehabilitation process includes the following activities: 

 

The primary focus of a Rehabilitation Counselor is to assist persons with disabilities to achieve and maintain successful employment outcomes through the application of the rehabilitation process. 

This work unit exists to assist persons with disabilities including youth who experience barriers to employment or independent living to attain a level of functioning that will enable them to enter, re-enter, or maintain employment and enhance skills necessary for living independently.

This position provides rehabilitation services to all eligible and potentially eligible persons within an assigned referral area. This involves determination of eligibility, development of Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE), and the provision of services such as pre-employment transition services, counseling and guidance, educational/skills training, physical and mental restoration, and job placement assistance that will lead toward the successful rehabilitation of the individual in a suitable employment setting.

Provide rehabilitation services to all eligible persons within an assigned referral area. This involves determination of eligibility, development of Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE), and the provision of services such as counseling and guidance, educational skills training, physical and mental restoration, and job placement assistance that will lead toward the successful rehabilitation of the individual in a suitable employment setting.

 

Schedules and completes intake process, obtains client's medical, social and vocational history. Analyzes data to determine what further data needs to be collected. Arranges for and schedules general medical examinations, specialty examinations, vocational assessments, psychological testing, etc. Request existing information where available after securing appropriate release of information forms.

 

Compiles and analyzes gathered data to determine that apparent and suspected disabilities have been identified and evaluated. Follows up on all recommendations made by physicians, converts and translates data gathered into functional limitations and makes determination if applicant's condition constitutes a vocational barrier. Certifies applicant as eligible or ineligible and follows due process insuring client's rights. Makes determination of severe disability and places client in proper category of priority.

 

Develops certification stating functional limitations; identifies and states specific vocational limitations: develops strategy to determine what services need to be provided to overcome vocational barriers. This is done by using expertise in areas of medical aspects vocational and psychological assessment and knowledge of individual differences to compile an eligibility statement. Eligibility statement requires synthesis and interpretation of all gathered information into a form that assesses client's vocational limitations, assets, interests, and expectations.

 

Counsels with clients and provides vocational guidance to develop a viable Individualized Plan of Employment (IPE) that will supply appropriate services to overcome the vocational barriers. Uses expertise of what available resources can be used to meet this goal, and provides counseling and guidance in a process that assures that the vocational goal is realistic and suitable. Establishes evaluation criteria for measuring progress toward goal, sets time frames and identifies service providers.

 

Initiates plan for meeting established vocational goals and intermediate objectives. Locates, arranges for, provides brokers, develops, creates, contracts for, and authorizes services to meet the individual needs of each client. Identifies and assigns fiscal responsibility of all involved, including locating comparable benefits, determining client's ability for financial participation, and enacting any cooperative arrangements with other agencies.

 

Monitors the provision of services during the life of the IPE to ensure the quality of effectiveness of services toward meeting the vocational goal. Is responsible for the financial accountability of services provided as well as assuring that comparable benefits and resources are developed and used when possible as "first dollar." Ensures that all planned services are provided; that new services are not needed or, if needed, amends the IPE to include newly identified services, and that client is meeting evaluation criteria stated on the IPE.

 

Provides services such as selective placement, job-seeking skills training, and job placement assistance to clients to meet outcomes of IPE. Utilizes knowledge of the world of work, local labor market trends, etc., to assist client to enter employment and determine that employment is substantial and suitable for individual. Monitors contacts with employers and conducts on-going meetings.

 

Manages caseload to assure client movement through the vocational rehabilitation process. Maintains integrity of program, fiscal rules, policy and procedures. Follows all areas of due process and keeps documentation current in each case file; manages case service budget to assure funds judicially expended. Involves and notifies clients of all decisions which affect them and provides them with methods to appeal decisions if there is a disagreement.

 

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Master's degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from a program fully accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Education Programs (CACREP), or for graduation prior to July 1, 2017, accredited by the Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE)

 OR 

Possession of a current certification in Vision Rehabilitation Therapist from the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professionals (ACVREP), or a Commission on Rehabilitation Counseling Certification credential (CRCC)

 

 OR

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Master's degree in Counseling, Psychology, Special Education, Social Work, Behavioral Science, Disability Studies or closely related human services field AND two (2) years of experience providing services to individuals with disabilities appropriate to the work assignment.