Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor 3

State of Nevada•Las Vegas, NV

13h

About The Position

The Department of Employment, Training & Rehabilitation (DETR) is recruiting Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor 3s for vacancies in the Las Vegas area. Under general direction, incumbents perform the full range of vocational rehabilitation counselor duties at an advanced journey level and manage complex, difficult cases involving clients with significant disabilities and barriers to employment. The role makes program eligibility decisions; provides counseling and guidance; assesses vocational needs; develops Individual Plans for Employment (IPEs); coordinates services; manages caseload budgets and case progress; maintains accurate documentation; and takes required actions to support employment outcomes. The Counselor 3 also mentors Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor 2 staff, handles challenging cases, and participates in special projects. As a lead worker, the incumbent assigns and reviews work, provides training, and offers input on performance evaluations for permanently allocated staff. The position represents the agency and people with disabilities in the community, promotes understanding of disability issues and agency programs, and develops community resources through meetings, conferences, committees, case reviews, and presentations.

Requirements

Master's degree from an accredited university in vocational rehabilitation counseling, health or social sciences, business administration, education, or a closely related field, plus two years of professional vocational rehabilitation counseling experience as described in the posting; OR
Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in vocational rehabilitation counseling, health or social sciences, business administration, education, or a closely related field, plus three years of professional vocational rehabilitation counseling experience as described in the posting; OR
One year of experience as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor II in Nevada State service; OR
An equivalent combination of education and experience above the bachelor's degree level as described in the posting.
The specified professional experience includes making eligibility, ineligibility, and employment outcome determinations by applying federal, state, and agency regulations, policies, and procedures for a public vocational rehabilitation program; negotiating and resolving conflicts; and performing community outreach and public relations activities for an assigned program.
Working knowledge of federal, State, and agency regulations, policies, procedures, and programs; the Americans with Disabilities Act; the Workforce Investment and Opportunity Act; and negotiation and conflict-resolution strategies.
General knowledge of marketing strategies and techniques for vocational rehabilitation services.
Ability to function effectively in a public relations role, including public speaking, to foster community understanding of disability issues.
Skill in determining eligibility, ineligibility, and employment outcomes.

Responsibilities

Manage the caseload budget, project and authorize expenditures, set spending priorities, track expenses, and identify other financial resources.
Interview applicants and gather case-history information; identify needed records and assessments; schedule assessments and make referrals to other social services.
Analyze gathered information to determine disabling conditions, employment impediments, eligibility, and applicants’ need and ability to benefit from vocational rehabilitation services.
Determine and document ineligibility, including when supported by clear and convincing evidence and trial work periods.
Assess clients’ vocational rehabilitation needs, including their strengths, resources, priorities, interests, and medical, psychological, social, vocational, and educational needs.
Develop and maintain IPEs, establish vocational goals and objectives, coordinate service delivery, evaluate service effectiveness, and revise goals and strategies as needed.
Provide ongoing service coordination, client advocacy, adjustment, family, individual, group, career, and job-readiness counseling, and coordinate job placement services.
Assess job readiness, provide job-seeking skills training, develop placement resources, work with employers, advise on workplace modifications, and provide or coordinate on-the-job training, supportive work, selective placement, and follow-up.
Consult with medical and rehabilitation professionals and coordinate physical and mental restoration services, training, mobility instruction, independent-living instruction, vocational assessment, and vocational adjustment services.
Coordinate overlapping services with coworkers and service providers, including social workers, veterans’ representatives, and school officials.
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 client and agency interests at meetings and community events; interact with employers, agencies, community members, and local institutions; serve on committees and agency staffing.
Represent the agency and people with disabilities in the community, educate the community about disability issues and agency programs, develop community resources, attend meetings and conferences, participate in formal case reviews, and make presentations on program regulations and guidelines.
Assign and review work, train permanently allocated staff, and provide input on performance evaluations.
Mentor Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor 2 staff, handle challenging cases, participate in special projects, and perform related duties as assigned.