Rehabilitation Counselor

Veterans Health Administration•Salisbury, NC

24d•Onsite

About The Position

This position is located within Salisbury VA Vocational Rehabilitation Service. Its recovery-oriented clinical vocational rehabilitation programs offer vocational, educational, training, employment, and therapeutic work services. The Rehabilitation Counselor provides professional counseling, assessment, case coordination, and therapeutic rehabilitation services to Veterans with severe disabilities to support competitive employment, education, and independent living goals. Services use evidence-informed and evidence-based practices and may include work restoration and resilience treatment, transitional work, supported or competitive employment, assistive technology, benefits counseling, and employment accommodations. The position is full-time, Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Ad-hoc telework may be available based on service needs; this is not a virtual position. A driver's license is required. The position's full performance level is GS-11, and selection may be at GS-9 through GS-11. The position requires a master's degree in a qualifying counseling or related field and current, full, unrestricted Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) certification, subject to the stated exception for eligible graduate rehabilitation counselors appointed temporarily while pursuing certification. Applicants must meet the grade-specific experience, education, and competency requirements.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship, except as permitted under the stated statutory provision for non-citizens when qualified candidates cannot be recruited.
Master's degree in rehabilitation counseling or clinical rehabilitation counseling from a qualifying accredited program; alternatively, a qualifying master's degree in counseling or clinical rehabilitation counseling, a master's or doctoral degree in a related field with specified relevant course content, or a foreign degree acceptable to CRCC.
Current, full, unrestricted Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) certification from CRCC, except that eligible graduates may qualify for a full-time temporary appointment not to exceed two years while obtaining certification.
For GS-09: no experience beyond the basic requirements; demonstrate the specified knowledge and abilities in disability and human development, rehabilitation history and disability rights, service planning, caseload management, job development, and assessment and accommodation methods.
For GS-11: one year of professional experience equivalent to the next lower grade and directly related to the position, or a qualifying doctoral degree in rehabilitation counselor education or a related field.
For GS-11: demonstrate the specified knowledge and abilities in disabilities and accommodations, counseling and psychiatric concepts, evidence-based vocational counseling, career development and job analysis, assessment and labor-market analysis, partnership development, and Veterans' military lifestyle and needs.
Proficiency in written and spoken English.
Valid driver's license required.
Meet application and assessment requirements, undergo a background/security investigation, complete onboarding, and participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
Serve a one- or two-year trial period, during which continued employment is subject to written certification that it advances the public interest.
Meet applicable education-recognition requirements; foreign education used to qualify must be accompanied by a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency and transcript.

Responsibilities

Provide personal adjustment counseling, therapeutic rehabilitation interventions, and case coordination using evidence-informed and evidence-based approaches.
Conduct biopsychosocial assessments using records, disability documentation, observation, and interviews with Veterans and their support systems.
Select, administer, and interpret vocational instruments and other assessment methods to evaluate abilities, aptitudes, interests, values, preferences, transferable skills, and work resilience.
Customize vocational exploration activities to identify self-determined rehabilitation needs and goals.
Consult with interdisciplinary teams to coordinate care, ensure medical clearance, and determine appropriate timing for interventions.
Synthesize assessment information to identify employment barriers and their vocational implications.
Determine clinical need for and capacity to benefit from therapeutic and rehabilitation services, including work restoration or resilience treatment, transitional work, supported or competitive employment, assistive technology, benefits counseling, and potential benefits protections.
Develop patient-centered treatment plans with SMART goals and assess Veterans' progress.
Assist with, procure, and manage transitional work agreements with community, state, and federal agencies.
Develop solutions to reduce or eliminate barriers and meet placement needs, including substantial modifications to work environments or functional demands.
Provide psychoeducational or psychotherapeutic groups addressing job-search skills, employer-desired soft skills, work skills, and life skills that foster independence and recovery.
Provide job development, customized employment, job carving, job coaching, accommodations, advocacy, and adaptation services to Veterans and educate and support employers.
Provide disability education and program-specific training to staff and stakeholders.
Use rehabilitation counseling theory, medical and psychiatric terminology, and knowledge of suicidal and homicidal ideation signs and symptoms to provide effective services.