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Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor - Northeast

Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD)
Email

Organization: Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities

Agency Contact Name and Information: Caleb Skinner, OOD.TalentAcquisition@ood.ohio.gov

Unposting Date: Oct 10, 2024, 11:59:00 PM

Work Location: 

OOD Lakewood 

14725 Detroit Avenue Suite 202

 Lakewood 44107

Primary Location: United States of America-OHIO-Cuyahoga County-Lakewood

Other Locations: United States of America-OHIO-Medina County-Medina, United States of America-OHIO-Summit County-Akron, United States of America-OHIO-Cuyahoga County-Cleveland, United States of America-OHIO-Portage County-Kent

Compensation: $26.50/hour (unless required by legislation)

Schedule: Full-time

Work Hours: 8:00AM - 5:00PM M-F

Classified Indicator: Classified

Union: 1199

 

Primary Job Skill: Vocational Rehabilitation

Technical Skills: Budgeting, Counseling and Rehabilitation, Human Services, Public Relations, Vocational Rehabilitation

Professional Skills: Analyzation, Collaboration, Intercultural Communication, Organizing and Planning, Time Management

 Agency Overview

Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) empowers Ohioans with disabilities through employment, disability determinations, and independence. Our agency works with partners in businesses, education, and non-profit organizations to facilitate customized employment plans for Ohioans with disabilities; helps Ohio companies recruit and retain employees with disabilities; and is the sole agency determining medical and vocational Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) programs in Ohio. We help connect the people of Ohio who have disabilities with the resources, support, and opportunities that fit their unique needs, abilities, and interests so that they can find and retain meaningful employment. To learn more about what we do, please visit our website at ood.ohio.gov.

Follow us on social media @OhioOOD!

 

Job Description

Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC) Position Overview

If you are looking for a fulfilling career assisting individuals with disabilities within your community, you are in the right place! As a VRC, you will maintain a caseload of individuals with disabilities who are looking to gain job-related skills and competitive integrated employment (CIE). You will provide vocational rehabilitation (VR) counseling to participants with disabilities and work with their support teams to connect them with related programs, look at labor market information and job opportunities, discuss employment barriers and accommodations, and more. Join our dynamic team and make a real difference in the lives of Ohioans!

Candidates with the following certifications are eligible to make $28.92/hour:

Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) or Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW)

Locations Available 

  • Lakewood - 14725 Detroit Ave, Lakewood, OH 44107
  • Akron - 172 S Broadway St, Akron, OH 44308
  • Medina OMJ - 60 Public Square, Medina, OH 44256
  • Cleveland State University - 2121 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH 44115
  • Kent State University - 800 E Summit St, Kent, OH 44240

Most positions offer the flexibility of a hybrid schedule that combines working from home with regular in-office and/ or community presence. In-person work requirements may change for training, meetings, and other operational needs. Employees must reside at a location that allows for reasonable response time to workplace reporting requirements. 

Daytime travel within Ohio may be required. The selected candidate must provide own transportation or, in order to operate a state vehicle, must have a valid driver’s license.

Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor Duties

  • Interview individuals with disabilities to gather detailed information about their work history, medical situation, and more. 
  • Determine eligibility for vocational rehabilitation services. 
  • Interpret diagnostic information to determine the needs of the participant. 
  • Counsel individuals and their families concerning strengths and limitations based upon diagnostic information. 
  • Counsel individuals toward increased functioning and mutually agreeable vocational goals as well as collaborate with community providers to assist participants in achieving goals. 
  • Develop comprehensive individualized plans for employment (IPE) for participants. 

A Successful Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor

  • Is highly organized with efficient time management skills. 
  • Is able to conduct research, analyze technical material and results. 
  • Has outstanding public relations and customer service skills.
  • Has excellent interviewing techniques & computer skills.
  • Is able to work collaboratively and develop rapport.
  • Has an understanding of the local labor market. 

Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation Overview

OOD’s Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation (BVR) and Bureau of Services for the Visually Impaired (BSVI) provide vocational rehabilitation (VR) services to eligible individuals with disabilities to assist them to attain and maintain competitive integrated employment. OOD works with adults seeking to enter the workforce or retain a job, and with youth beginning at age 14 to assist them as they transition from high school into college and/or the workplace. For more information click here to view the OOD Vocational Rehabilitation Fact Sheet.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) Mission Statement

OOD is deeply committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) and is actively engaged in continual DEIA improvement. OOD is amongst the top-ranked state agencies implementing DEIA planning and programming into businesses operations and services. We strive to hire, sustain, and promote a workforce that not only embraces this mission but is also reflective of the rich diversity of the Ohioans we serve. OOD is intentional in cultivating an inclusive, diverse, equitable, and accessible environment where all voices are heard, respected, and valued, as demonstrated by the way we treat all individuals.

If you require an accommodation based on a disability for any step of the selection process, please contact OOD.DiversityandInclusion@ood.ohio.gov so proper arrangements can be made. Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.

Applications and Selections

Please ensure your online application clearly indicates how you meet minimum qualifications (MQs). Applications that fail to demonstrate how they meet minimum qualifications will not be considered. Transcripts are REQUIRED for consideration for this position. You must submit a copy of your unofficial transcript by the posting deadline by attaching directly on the Additional Attachments section of the application (Step 7) or via email to OOD.TalentAcquisition@ood.ohio.gov.

“See resume” is not a substitution for completing supplemental questions. Answers to the supplemental questions must be supported by the work experience/education sections of the application.

Applicants can check their application status and all vacancy-related email correspondence on “My Jobpage.” On the Careers.Ohio.Gov job search webpage, once signed in the link to My Jobpage is displayed under the TeamOhio logo. Applicants who require technical assistance (e.g., issues logging in or other system-related issues) should contact careers@ohio.gov. 

This position shall be filled in accordance with the provisions of the SEIU/1199 Collective Bargaining Agreement. The selection process consists of an online assessment and a remote structured interview. All communications are sent via email. Candidates should make sure their account contains an email address that is checked regularly including checking junk and/or spam.

Background Check

The final candidate selected for the position will be required to undergo a criminal background check. Criminal convictions do not necessarily preclude an applicant from consideration for a position. An individual assessment of an applicant’s prior criminal convictions will be made before excluding an applicant from consideration. 

All final applicants tentatively selected for this position may be required to complete and pass a urinalysis to test for restricted substances as a condition of employment. Testing will also be performed for the presence of marijuana. An applicant with a positive test shall not be offered employment unless the applicant submits medical documentation of legally prescribed medications or a recommendation for medical marijuana. An applicant with a positive test result will not be considered for any position with the State of Ohio for a period of one year. 

Why Work for the State of Ohio

At the State of Ohio, we take care of the team that cares for Ohioans. We provide a variety of quality, competitive benefits to eligible full-time and part-time employees*. For a list of all the State of Ohio Benefits, visit our Total Rewards website! Our benefits package includes:

  • Medical Coverage
  • Free Dental, Vision and Basic Life Insurance premiums after completion of eligibility period
  • Paid time off, including vacation, personal, sick leave and 11 paid holidays per year
  • Childbirth, Adoption, and Foster Care leave
  • Education and Development Opportunities (Employee Development Funds, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, and more)
  • Public Retirement Systems (such as OPERS, STRS, SERS, and HPRS) & Optional Deferred Compensation (Ohio Deferred Compensation)

*Benefits eligibility is dependent on a number of factors. The Agency Contact listed above will be able to provide specific benefits information for this position.

Qualifications

-Bachelor’s degree in vocational rehabilitation counseling, counseling, social work, psychology, disability studies, special education, business administration, human resources, economics or related rehabilitation or human services area AND 24 months experience direct work with individuals with disabilities (e.g. Independent Living Center) or 24 months providing direct service or advocacy activities with individuals with disabilities.

-OR Master’s degree in in vocational rehabilitation counseling, counseling, social work, psychology, disability studies, special education, or related rehabilitation or human services area; 

-OR Master’s degree in business administration, human resources, law, management, public administration or related field which provides competence in the employment sector &/or the field of disability AND 12 months direct work experience with individuals with disabilities (e.g. Independent Living Center) or 12 months experience providing direct service or advocacy activities with individuals with disabilities. 

Note: Education & experience per Code of Federal Regulations Title 34-Subtitle B-Chapter III-Part 361-Subpart B-361.18 
 
Job Skills: Vocational Rehabilitation, Counseling and Rehabilitation, Human Services, Public Relations, Budgeting, Organizing and Planning, Collaboration, Time Management, Intercultural Communication, Analyzation 

ADA Statement

Ohio is a Disability Inclusion State and strives to be a model employer of individuals with disabilities. The State of Ohio is committed to providing access and inclusion and reasonable accommodation in its services, activities, programs and employment opportunities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable laws.

Drug-Free Workplace

The State of Ohio is a drug-free workplace which prohibits the use of marijuana (recreational marijuana/non-medical cannabis). Please note, this position may be subject to additional restrictions pursuant to the State of Ohio Drug-Free Workplace Policy (HR-39), and as outlined in the posting.