Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor I, II, III

State of Delaware•Dover, DE

About The Position

The Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor coordinates and provides rehabilitation services that help eligible individuals with disabilities achieve employment. The role determines eligibility for vocational rehabilitation services by applying statutory and regulatory standards to applicants’ medical, psychological, educational, and vocational information. Counselors engage with participants throughout the rehabilitation process, provide and document vocational counseling and guidance, and identify services needed to achieve competitive integrated employment consistent with each participant’s abilities, priorities, career pathway, and the local labor market while addressing employment barriers. The position provides specialized rehabilitation counseling and support to clients and their families; conducts interviews and assessments; develops employment rehabilitation plans; coordinates services with agencies and community resources; monitors progress and adjusts services; and maintains case records and reports. The posting describes three levels in the series, with progressively higher education and experience requirements. The position is eligible for telework under the State of Delaware’s Alternative Work Arrangement Policy; further details are provided at interview.

Requirements

Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor I: Bachelor’s degree or higher in Rehabilitation Counseling, Social, Health or Behavioral Science, Education, or a related field.
Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor I: Coursework, training, and/or work experience in case management, including assessing, planning, developing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating services to meet an individual’s human-service needs using counseling or interviewing techniques and resources such as service plans or case management systems.
Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor I: Coursework, training, and/or work experience in health or human services, including applying theories, principles, laws, and practices of programs and services that assist individuals, families, or communities.
Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor I: Coursework, training, and/or work experience in narrative report writing.
Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor II: Bachelor’s degree or higher in Rehabilitation Counseling, Social, Health or Behavioral Science, Education, or a related field.
Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor II: One year of experience performing vocational rehabilitation work to assist eligible individuals in achieving employment, including comprehensive assessments, eligibility determinations, rehabilitation plans, and career counseling, training, or job placement services.
Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor II: One year of case-management experience assessing, planning, developing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating options and services to meet an individual’s human-service needs, using effective counseling or interviewing techniques and resources such as service plans or case management systems.
Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor II: One year of experience preparing case summaries and reports that accurately document findings, supporting facts, and recommendations.
Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor II: Six months of experience ensuring compliance with vocational rehabilitation laws, rules, regulations, standards, policies, and procedures.
Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor III: Master’s degree or higher in Rehabilitation Counseling, Social, Health or Behavioral Science, Education, or a related field.
Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor III: Two years of experience performing vocational rehabilitation work to assist eligible individuals in achieving employment, including comprehensive assessments, eligibility determinations, rehabilitation plans, and career counseling, training, or job placement services.
Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor III: Two years of case-management experience assessing, planning, developing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating options and services to meet an individual’s human-service needs, using effective counseling or interviewing techniques and resources such as service plans or case management systems.
Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor III: Two years of experience preparing case summaries and reports that accurately document findings, supporting facts, and recommendations.
Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor III: One year of experience ensuring compliance with vocational rehabilitation laws, rules, regulations, standards, policies, and procedures.
Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States.
A satisfactory criminal background check is required as a condition of hire.

Responsibilities

Provide specialized vocational rehabilitation services, counseling, and support to clients and family members to promote successful employment and greater independence.
Conduct interviews and comprehensive assessments of clients’ aptitudes, abilities, education, interests, and other relevant information.
Obtain and evaluate employment, medical, psychological, psychiatric, social, educational, and vocational information to determine eligibility, service provision, client needs, and appropriate resources.
Develop employment rehabilitation plans that identify services, establish performance measures, and set goals aligned with clients’ abilities and priorities.
Identify barriers to employment and work with clients to develop strategies to overcome them.
Provide individualized career counseling, guidance, and job training; participate in job development and placement, including contacting prospective employers, placing clients in jobs, and evaluating placement outcomes.
Ensure compliance with agency, state, and federal laws, rules, regulations, professional mandates, and best practices.
Coordinate and integrate services with other agencies, medical facilities, educational institutions, and community resources to meet client goals and needs.
Track and monitor progress through regular client contact and make necessary adjustments to services or plans.
Prepare and maintain records and reports that accurately document case details and outcomes.
Use automated case management systems and computer software to research, review, analyze, document, and report client information.
Meet with clients and family members by telephone, email, and in person.
Communicate and interact effectively with people across cultures and ranges of ability, genders, ethnicities, ages, and races.
Perform other related duties as required.