Summary

This Rehabilitation Counselor position is located at Jesse Brown VA Medical Center within VHA-Vocational Rehabilitation Service - which is part of the Mental Health Service Line. The Rehabilitation Counselor will work with Veterans possessing significant employment barriers - which include physical and/or mental health impairments; educational - cognitive and job skill deficits; substance use disorders; and legal backgrounds.

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic Requirements:

• The following are the basic requirements and qualifications for this position: English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f) 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)
• Basic Education Requirement: The following is the basic educational requirement for a Rehabilitation Counselor at the GS-9 grade level
• -A master's degree in rehabilitation counseling or clinical rehabilitation counseling from a rehabilitation counseling program accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
• Note: If the degree was granted prior to 7/1/2017 - the program must be accredited by the Council on Rehabilitation Education
• Transcripts Required
• OR -A master's degree in 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)
• Transcripts Required
• OR -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
• Transcripts Required
• OR -Foreign graduates with a degree acceptable by Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC)
• Transcripts or other documentation required
• Certification: Current - full and unrestricted certification as a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) from the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC) to practice vocational rehabilitation counseling
• Copy of Certification Required
• Certification Exceptions for Graduate Rehabilitation Counselor (RC): 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 USC 7405(a)(1)(D)
• -Graduate RCs may only be appointed at the entry grade level (GS-9) and may not be promoted/converted until certification is obtained
• -Temporary graduate RC appointments may not be extended beyond two years or converted to a new temporary appointment
• Grandfathering Provision: All individuals employed as RCs within VHA on the effective date of this qualification standard (7/21/2020) are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title - series - and grade held including positive education and certification
• Grade Determination: In addition to the basic requirements above the following is the amount of experience or education required to qualify for this position at the GS-9 or GS-11 grade levels
• GS-9 Level Experience: None beyond the basic requirements above
• In addition to meeting the experience or educational requirements for this grade level - candidates must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of human development and behavior - medical - psychosocial - and vocational aspects of disability and differential influences of environmental and cultural factors to assist persons with disabilities in determining suitable vocational goals
• Knowledge of history - philosophy and disability rights legislation in the field of rehabilitation to apply in the practice of rehabilitation counseling
• Ability to synthesize assessment and diagnosis information in conjunction with labor market trends and community/educational resources to develop an effective individual service delivery plan
• Knowledge of caseload management strategies to maximize an individual's independent functioning from assessment through provision of post-employment services
• Ability to employ person-centered job development strategies to facilitate successful job placement
• Knowledge of assessment tools and methods - functional capacity evaluations and specific vocational preparation to evaluate transferrable skills - residual capacities and needs for accommodations and assistive technology
• Grade Determinations: GS-11 Level Experience: Completion of one-year (1) year of professional experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-9) directly related to the position being filled
• OR GS-11 Level 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 crediting body accredited by CHEA
• In addition to meeting the experience or educational requirements for this grade level - candidates must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of physical and psychological disabilities - appropriate accommodations and assistive technology principles to mitigate and reduce or eliminate barriers to integrate into the community
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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
• Knowledge of marketing strategies to develop collaborative partnerships/Memorandums of Agreement within VA and local business community to enhance employment and/or work opportunities
• 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
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-9 to GS-11
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Service.

Duties

• MAJOR DUTIES: -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
• -Customize vocational exploration activities for identification of self-determined rehabilitation needs and goals
• -Synthesize assessment information to identify barriers to employment and their vocational implications
• -Complete interpretive data reports
• Provide disability education and program specific training to staff and stakeholders
• -Participate in program evaluation and improvement efforts - especially for accrediting bodies such as The Joint Commission and the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities
• -Accept additional assignments as determined by the Program manager
• Work Schedule: Monday- Friday 8:00am- 4:30pm Telework: Ad-hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 00101F - 00102F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized