Rehabilitation Counselor II - Limited Period Positions - - Multiple Vacancies

State of Maine•Portland, ME

1d•Onsite

About The Position

This is professional services work involving the provision of rehabilitation services to persons with physical, emotional, or mental health disabilities. Work includes counseling persons with disabilities in selecting, preparing for, and following a rehabilitative program. Duties include interviewing and determining eligibility for services and developing and implementing client programs. Work is performed under limited supervision.

Requirements

Knowledge of rehabilitation services and programs.
Knowledge of agency standard operating procedures.
Knowledge of adaptive equipment, rehabilitation technologies, and laws which govern accessibility and reasonable accommodation issues.
Ability to manage a case services budget.
Ability to analyze functional capacity, identify transferable skills.
Knowledge of human growth and development as it relates to childhood and adolescent experiences and its impact on adult behavior.
Knowledge of human anatomy and physiology.
Knowledge of mental and emotional conditions affecting social and vocational adjustment.
Knowledge of state, federal and local initiatives, mandates and procedures, policies and physical accessibility codes and standards related to disabilities.
Knowledge and understanding of business culture, climate, trends, and labor market information.
Ability to detect and identify the manifestations of mental and physical disabilities as it relates to vocational and social adjustments.
Ability to perform an adaptive technology assessment and to procure necessary equipment and software based on evaluation and medical information.
Ability to perform accessibility evaluations.
Ability to use methods and techniques of vocational and professional counseling.
Ability to collect and analyze facts and date and draw appropriate conclusions.
Ability to elicit and gather appropriate information through interviewing clients.
Ability to prioritize and manage a large caseload, records, reports, caseload budget.
Ability to analyze functional capacity, identify transferable skills, and interpret medical reports.
Ability to work independently as a counselor and as a part of a multidisciplinary team.
Ability to be flexible and handle sudden change in demands.
Ability to provide crisis management including assessment of safety and mental health status and the need to de-escalate emotional and potentially violent situations.
Ability to prepare reports, plan and conduct trainings for staff, employers, families and clients in rehabilitation practices.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, clients and the community.
Ability to exercise discretion and make independent decisions.
Ability to communicate effectively.
Ability to write clearly and effectively.
A bachelor’s degree in a field related to vocational rehabilitation and 2 years of experience demonstrating knowledges and abilities in assisting individuals with disabilities, employers and other stakeholders with their employment and workforce needs.

Nice To Haves

Successful experience supporting individuals with career development.
Skilled at networking and building professional relationships with many different stakeholders.
Enjoy helping people achieve their career goals.
Developing, strengthening, and maintaining a dual customer approach
Assessing client skills and abilities in collaboration with team members
Identifying labor market needs and trends
Coaching clients to maintain employment
Professional, timely and accurate communication and documentation
Understanding barriers to employment for people with disabilities
Ethical communication founded in empathy and teamwork
Adapting to changing circumstances and priorities

Responsibilities

Counsel client in the rehabilitation process, develops a supportive relationship, and elicits client feedback and participation in order to provide rehabilitation services to clients.
Evaluates and interprets client’s medical and physical information, interviews and determines initial and continuing eligibility for services, and assesses client needs and available resources in order to develop and implement a comprehensive treatment and rehabilitation plan.
Contacts business and industry groups, advocates for clients, and offers incentives and assistance in order to place clients in jobs.
Consults with representatives of hospitals, schools, public and private agencies and employees on rehabilitation programs for clients in order to ensure program is within client’s capabilities and meets client needs.
Develops and manages a budget plan and negotiates the purchase of client services in order to ensure effective delivery of client services.
Explains rights of fair hearings and appeals and negotiates solutions and agreements with clients in order to meet client needs, agency goals, and minimize appeals.
Directs and trains support staff, case aides, Rehabilitation Counselor I’s, job developers, and coaches in order to ensure needs of the caseload and individual clients are met based on Federal and State mandated guidelines, and timeframes
Counsels and trains clients on self-employment opportunities with regards to the use of business management tools, culture, climate and trends in order to interpret and apply labor market survey results.
Manages crisis situations by determining the level of safety, mental health status, and need for crisis intervention, and de-escalates potentially violent situation in order to prevent danger to consumer, counselor or others
Consults and trains in the field including education, psychiatric, medical, social services, community organizations, and the business community in order to enhance awareness of resources and the employability of disabled citizens.
Advocates for employment, education, housing, child care, transportation, legal services guardianship, emancipation and medical/mental health treatment programs in order to implement state/federal initiatives
Coordinates training, treatment, counseling, job coaching, and related rehabilitation programs in order to assist clients.
Utilizes technical expertise in the area of adaptive equipment, technology, and physical and communication accessibility in order to assist clients.