Rehab Counselor (Vocational Rehabilitation)
About The Position
The Rehab Counselor provides individualized vocational rehabilitation counseling and employment planning for people with disabilities enrolled in employU Connects. The contractor conducts participant intake assessments and develops Individualized Plans for Employment (IPEs), recommends and coordinates services, monitors participant progress, verifies employment outcomes, and reviews provider deliverables for invoice authorization. Services are delivered virtually and in person throughout the assigned area. Qualified contractors may also be separately assigned vocational evaluations. This is an independent contractor role with flexible, nonexclusive assignments. Assignment volume depends on program needs, participant referrals, and contractor capacity; no minimum workload is guaranteed. The contractor supplies a computer, phone, reliable internet access, and transportation. employU provides access and training for required CRM and program systems. Compensation is deliverable-based for intake and IPE work, hourly for authorized case management and follow-up outside defined deliverables, and may include separate compensation for vocational evaluations.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling, Psychology, Social Work, Human Services, Special Education, Counseling, or a closely related field.
- At least two years of professional experience in vocational rehabilitation, disability employment services, employment counseling, or related case management.
- Experience conducting assessments, identifying employment barriers, and developing individualized employment or service plans.
- Comfort using web-based case management or CRM systems, electronic documentation, virtual meeting tools, and common office applications.
- Ability to complete applicable background screening before providing participant services.
- Reliable transportation and availability for in-person meetings throughout Orange, Osceola, Seminole, and Lake Counties, primarily at employU offices, with occasional public or community meeting locations.
- Provide a computer, phone, reliable internet access, and transportation.
- Ability to safeguard participant information, communicate professionally with individuals with disabilities, and fulfill accepted assignments in a timely manner.
Nice To Haves
- Master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling or a related field.
- Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) credential.
- Florida Division of Vocational Rehabilitation counseling experience and experience developing IPEs.
- Ability to administer vocational assessments and prepare vocational evaluation reports.
- Experience serving transition-age youth.
Responsibilities
- Contact newly assigned participants within one business day to introduce services and schedule an initial appointment.
- Conduct virtual or in-person intake interviews and gather employment history, strengths, barriers, interests, and other relevant information.
- Develop individualized, person-centered IPEs identifying employment goals, needed supports, and recommended services.
- Complete intake and IPE deliverables within 10 business days when no vocational evaluation is needed, or within 15 business days when one is required, subject to participant availability and documented exceptions.
- Recommend and coordinate referrals for employment services, WIPA benefits counseling, pre-placement training, vocational evaluation, and other appropriate supports.
- Review each service provider’s monthly progress report and associated case notes at least once each month.
- Contact each active participant at least monthly through an appropriate method and document the contact and review.
- Coordinate with employment specialists, benefits counselors, instructors, and other providers when progress slows, concerns arise, or plans need adjustment.
- Review provider progress notes, supporting deliverables, and documented billable outcomes for completeness and consistency with the IPE.
- Independently confirm reported job placements with participants, including whether they are working, satisfied with the placement, and consider it an appropriate fit.
- Approve eligible provider invoices after satisfactory verification, enter the required invoice date in employU’s CRM for Finance processing, and return incomplete items for correction.
- Document case progress, review decisions, service plan changes, and case closure outcomes as applicable.
- Communicate with the employU Connects Coordinator about assignments, participant issues, documentation needs, and service questions.
- Use required systems to maintain accurate, timely, and confidential participant records and comply with applicable grant procedures.
- When qualified and separately assigned, conduct vocational evaluations, typically within 10 business days, and submit the report before the related IPE is finalized.
- Complete applicable background screening before providing participant services.
- Safeguard participant information, communicate professionally with individuals with disabilities, and fulfill accepted assignments in a timely manner.
- Travel locally for assigned in-person appointments in the service area.
