Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor 3

State of Nevada•Ely, NV

22h•Onsite

About The Position

The Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor 3 makes eligibility decisions for program services; provides eligible individuals with sufficient counseling and guidance to assist them in completing an adequate assessment of vocational needs; develops Individual Plans for Employment (IPE); manages cases in a manner that ensures timely case movement and delivery of services; ensures that accurate case documentation is in case files; ensures case expenditures are appropriate; completes required actions with sufficient written documentation and justification as needed to obtain the required number of employment outcomes; consults and collaborates with management when dealing with significant issues; provides feedback to lower level VR employees in a productive, consistent and timely manner; and provides quality customer service. Vocational Rehabilitation Supervisors and Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors manage a caseload budget; determine eligibility or ineligibility; assess vocational rehabilitation needs; develop individualized plans for employment (IPE); coordinate the delivery of services; provide counseling and advocacy services; provide appropriate job placement; and determine employment outcome in order to minimize disabling conditions and reduce dependency for individuals whose mental or physical disability presents a barrier to employment and/or self-sufficiency. Under general direction, incumbents perform the full range of duties described in the series concept at the advanced journey level and are responsible for managing the more complex and difficult cases for clients with significant disabilities and barriers to employment. Incumbents represent the agency and persons with disabilities to the community, educate the community about disability issues and agency programs, and develop available community resources by attending meetings and conferences, sitting on boards and committees, participating in required formal case reviews, and making presentations to provide interpretations of program regulations and guidelines. Work is assigned to meet agency goals and objectives. Goal attainment is determined and monitored through informational reports, formal discussions and casework review. Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor IIIs are distinguished from lower level Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors as they also function as lead workers over permanently allocated staff and are responsible for assigning and reviewing work, training, and providing input on performance evaluations.

Requirements

Master's degree from an accredited university in vocational rehabilitation counseling, health or social sciences, business administration, education, or closely related field, and two years of professional experience in vocational rehabilitation counseling which included 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 public relations activities for an assigned program.
OR Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in vocational rehabilitation counseling, health or social sciences, business administration, education, or closely related field and three years of professional experience as described above.
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 above.
Working knowledge of: federal, State and agency regulations, policies, procedures and programs; provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Workforce Investment and Opportunity Act; strategies for negotiation and conflict resolution.
Ability to: function effectively in a public relations role to include public speaking in order to foster community understanding of disability issues.
Skill in: determining eligibility and ineligibility and employment outcomes.

Nice To Haves

General knowledge of: marketing strategies and techniques for vocational rehabilitation services.

Responsibilities

Makes eligibility decisions for program services.
Provides eligible individuals with sufficient counseling and guidance to assist them in completing an adequate assessment of vocational needs.
Develops Individual Plans for Employment (IPE).
Manages cases in a manner that ensures timely case movement and delivery of services.
Ensures that accurate case documentation is in case files.
Ensures case expenditures are appropriate.
Completes required actions with sufficient written documentation and justification as needed to obtain the required number of employment outcomes.
Consults and collaborates with management when dealing with significant issues.
Provides feedback to lower level VR employees in a productive, consistent and timely manner.
Provides quality customer service.
Manages the caseload budget; projects and authorizes expenditures to assess applicants and meet client needs for physical and mental restoration, training or other vocational rehabilitation services.
Establishes priorities of case spending.
Tracks caseload expenses according to prevailing federal, State and agency policies and guidelines.
Identifies and utilizes other available financial resources to maximize the use of agency funds.
Interviews applicants to establish case histories to include family background, social characteristics, education, work experience, health history and financial status.
Identifies appropriate diagnostics, consultations, medical and psychological records needed to determine eligibility or ineligibility.
Schedules applicants for medical, psychological and vocational assessments.
Makes referrals to other social services as appropriate.
Analyzes data gathered to establish the existence of a disabling condition.
Determines physical and psychological limitations which are impediments to employment.
Determines the applicants’ need for, and ability to benefit from, vocational rehabilitation services to obtain employment for eligibility purposes and plan development.
Determines and documents ineligibility based on clear and convincing evidence which may include trial work periods.
Assesses vocational rehabilitation needs of clients; identifies medical, psychological, social, vocational, educational and other needs including unique strengths, resources, priorities and interests.
Develops an IPE; determines a realistic vocational goal with the informed choice of clients; identifies specific intermediate objectives and strategies; determines evaluation criteria and schedules; identifies service providers and coordinates service delivery.
Evaluates the effectiveness of services provided.
Ensures clients utilize available benefits and entitlements.
Provides required services.
Reviews and modifies goals and strategies as needed.
Provides ongoing service coordination and advocacy on behalf of clients to facilitate the IPE.
Performs a variety of counseling to include adjustment, family, individual and group, and career and job readiness counseling.
Coordinates job placement services.
Assesses job readiness.
Provides job seeking skills training.
Develops job placement resources by contacting local employers and private vendors to become familiar with the job market.
Provides information to local employers regarding agency program goals and State and federal employment incentives.
Advises and assists employers with appropriate work station modification to accommodate specific disabilities.
Provides on-the-job training, supportive work, selective job placement and follow-up.
Consults with doctors, psychologists, therapists, prosthesis manufacturers, hospital staffs and dentists to plan and coordinate delivery of physical and mental restoration services.
Refers clients to training programs in high schools, universities, vocational schools and arranges for mobility and independent living instruction as appropriate.
Authorizes and monitors vocational assessment and vocational adjustment services to evaluate clients' physical and mental limitations, level of vocational functioning, attitude, motivation and work tolerance.
Consults with coworkers and service providers such as social workers, veterans' representatives and school officials to coordinate areas of overlapping services.
Maintains case files and documents all activities and expenditures to include development of IPE, progress notations, correspondence, diagnostic and evaluative reports, case histories and budget status reports.
Collects, analyzes, and reports statistical and budget data related to caseloads.
Represents client and agency interests by attending meetings and community events and interacting with employers, other agencies, members of the community and local facilities and institutions.
Serves on committees and agency staffing to explore issues that impact the agency and its clientele.
Performs related duties as assigned.
Functions as lead workers over permanently allocated staff and is responsible for assigning and reviewing work, training, and providing input on performance evaluations.