Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor 2

State of Nevada•Carson City, NV

About The Position

The Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation is hiring a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor 2 in Carson City, Nevada. Under general direction, this journey-level counselor manages a caseload and makes independent decisions throughout the vocational rehabilitation process, including encumbering funds for case services and participating in formal case reviews. Eligibility determinations, Individual Plans for Employment (IPEs), progress, and case-closure decisions are subject to supervisory review. The incumbent may assign and review support staff work and will be mentored by a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor 3. The counselor determines eligibility for program services; counsels and guides eligible individuals through assessment of vocational needs; develops IPEs; manages cases to support timely movement and service delivery; maintains accurate case documentation; ensures expenditures are appropriate; and completes required actions and documentation to obtain employment outcomes. The role supports individuals whose mental or physical disabilities present barriers to employment or self-sufficiency, with the aim of minimizing disabling conditions and reducing dependency. The position manages case budgets, assesses client needs, coordinates rehabilitation and related services, provides counseling and advocacy, facilitates job readiness and placement, and determines employment outcomes. The counselor works with clients, employers, medical and other service providers, community organizations, and agency staff.

Requirements

Master's degree from an accredited university in vocational rehabilitation counseling, health or social sciences, business administration, education, or a closely related field, and one year of qualifying professional vocational rehabilitation counseling experience; OR bachelor's degree in one of those fields and two years of qualifying experience; OR one year as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor I in Nevada State service; OR an equivalent combination of education and experience above the bachelor's degree level.
Qualifying experience includes making eligibility, ineligibility, and employment-outcome determinations by applying federal, state, and agency regulations, policies, and procedures for a public vocational rehabilitation or similar program; negotiating and resolving conflicts; and conducting community outreach and public-relations activities for an assigned program.
Working knowledge of diagnoses and treatment processes; work assessment, adjustment, and readiness; medical and psychological reference materials and fee schedules; disability-related medical, social, and psychological issues; career counseling and assessment; disability counseling; and vocational consultation and employer services.
General knowledge of employment incentive programs for people with disabilities, vocational evaluation instruments, vocational rehabilitation technology and equipment, and barriers to independent living and assessment resources.
Ability to develop and implement individualized vocational rehabilitation plans; project, authorize, and prioritize service expenditures; motivate employers to hire people with disabilities; synthesize complex technical and medical information; apply regulations and policies to eligibility and employment-outcome decisions; manage a caseload budget; assess comparable services and benefits; and work across disciplines.
Skill in conducting job modification and restructuring assessments, labor-market surveys, job-seeking skills training, job analysis, and transferable-skills analysis for selective placement.

Responsibilities

Manage caseload budgets, project and authorize expenditures, prioritize case spending, track expenses, and identify other financial resources.
Interview applicants and gather case-history information, identify needed records and assessments, schedule evaluations, and make appropriate referrals.
Analyze gathered information and determine eligibility or ineligibility, including documenting ineligibility when supported by clear and convincing evidence.
Assess clients’ vocational rehabilitation needs, strengths, resources, priorities, and interests.
Develop, implement, review, and modify Individual Plans for Employment (IPEs), including vocational goals, objectives, strategies, evaluation criteria, service providers, and schedules.
Coordinate and evaluate rehabilitation services, ensure clients use available benefits and entitlements, and provide required services.
Provide ongoing service coordination, advocacy, adjustment and other counseling, career and job-readiness counseling, and coordinate job placement services.
Assess job readiness, provide job-seeking skills training, develop job-placement resources, and work with employers on employment incentives and workplace modifications.
Provide or coordinate on-the-job training, supportive work, selective job placement, and follow-up.
Consult with medical and rehabilitation professionals and coordinate physical and mental restoration services, training, mobility, and independent-living instruction.
Authorize and monitor vocational assessment and adjustment services and coordinate overlapping services with coworkers and other providers.
Maintain case files and document activities, expenditures, IPE development, progress, correspondence, reports, case histories, and budget status; collect, analyze, and report caseload statistics and budget data.
Represent clients and the agency at meetings and community events, interact with employers and community organizations, and serve on committees and agency staffing.
Perform related duties as assigned.