Rehabilitation Counselor

Veterans Health Administration • Columbus, OH

2h

About The Position

Rehabilitation Counselors in the Veterans Health Administration work with people whose mental health, physical, or psychosocial challenges affect employment, independent living, or personal adjustment. The counselor uses professional counseling and clinical modalities to support functioning, independence, adaptation to disability, community reintegration, and recovery. This developmental position provides vocational and personal adjustment counseling, therapeutic rehabilitation interventions, and case coordination to Veterans with significant disabilities. Services support competitive employment, education, and independent-living goals through evidence-informed and evidence-based practices.

The counselor assesses Veterans’ abilities, needs, and progress; develops patient-centered treatment plans; and coordinates with interdisciplinary treatment teams, community health professionals, employers, and other partners. The role also includes vocational exploration, job development and placement, coaching and retention support, employer outreach, and recommendations for job accommodations. The full performance level is GS-11; selection may be at GS-09 or GS-11. The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Telework is available on an ad hoc basis, but the position is not virtual.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for non-citizen appointments when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• A qualifying master's degree in rehabilitation counseling, clinical rehabilitation counseling, counseling, or a related field, meeting the accreditation and course-content criteria stated in the announcement; qualifying foreign degrees may be accepted under CRCC standards.
• Current, full, and unrestricted Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) certification from the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC), unless qualifying for the graduate RC temporary appointment exception or applicable grandfathering provision.
• For GS-11 based on experience: one year of professional experience equivalent to the next lower grade level and directly related to the position. Alternatively, the stated qualifying doctoral degree may satisfy the education route.
• Demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities applicable to the selected grade, including disability and vocational rehabilitation knowledge; assessment and service planning; caseload management; job development; accommodations and assistive technology; evidence-based counseling; suicide-related terminology and signs; career development and job analysis; labor-market assessment; marketing and partnership development; and military culture and Veterans’ needs.
• Meet applicable pre-employment conditions, including background/security investigation, onboarding, identification requirements, seasonal influenza vaccination, and a pre-placement physical examination.
• Serve the stated one-year probationary period or two-year trial period, as applicable.
• Meet physical requirements, including ability to use a computer and navigate office and community environments; the role may involve walking, standing, bending, carrying light items, driving, and transporting Veterans in a government-assigned vehicle.
• Pass a driver's physical sufficient to meet applicable policies if required to transport Veterans.

Responsibilities

• Provide vocational and personal adjustment counseling, therapeutic rehabilitation interventions, and case coordination to Veterans with severe disabilities.
• Use evidence-informed and evidence-based counseling and rehabilitation practices to support employment, education, independent living, adjustment to disability, and community reintegration goals.
• Consult with interdisciplinary treatment teams and clinical staff on Veterans’ vocational rehabilitation needs and communicate relevant information to community health professionals, team members, and employers.
• Assess Veterans through biopsychosocial interviews, review of medical and disability records, observation, and consultation with support systems; synthesize findings into case conceptualizations and clinical recommendations.
• Follow suicide-risk and prevention protocols, including administering the CSSRS, and refer Veterans for further assessment when indicated.
• Select, administer, and interpret psychometric and vocational assessments to evaluate abilities, transferable skills, aptitudes, interests, values, preferences, and work resilience.
• Customize vocational exploration, including informational interviews and labor-market research, to identify rehabilitation needs and goals.
• Determine clinical need and capacity to benefit from therapeutic and rehabilitation services, including work restoration, transitional work, benefits counseling, supported employment, and assistive technology as appropriate.
• Develop patient-centered treatment plans with SMART goals and regularly assess progress; complete clinical charting and participate in professional peer and case reviews.
• Provide job development, placement, coaching, accommodation, adaptation, retention, and education services to Veterans and their employers.
• Conduct job analyses to identify essential job functions and reasonable accommodations; recommend worksite modifications or alternative vocational goals based on work history and functional capacities.
• Promote employment programs to community employers and build relationships that create work opportunities for Veterans with significant impairments.
• Teach job-search skills, resume and application development, interview skills, and basic computer skills; coordinate job-search clubs.
• Apply knowledge of military culture and Veterans’ transition to civilian occupations when advising Veterans returning to community-based work.
• Serve or chair task groups or administrative committees on behalf of VHA Vocational Rehabilitation Service and adhere to Joint Commission and CARF rehabilitation standards.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package available to eligible employees and their families.
• Potential credit toward annual leave accrual for prior federal employment or military service, subject to request and approval.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level