Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist

Veterans Health Administration•White City, OR

13d•Onsite

About The Position

The Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist (VRS) works at the Southern Oregon Rehabilitation Center and Clinics (SORCC) in White City, Oregon, within the Behavioral Health Service Line’s Social Work and Vocational Rehabilitation division. The position provides vocational rehabilitation services throughout SORCC, its clinics, and the community, supporting Veterans in pursuing and maintaining suitable employment. Using information from treatment teams, biopsychosocial assessments, participant interviews, and other assessment tools, the VRS helps each Veteran develop vocational goals and objectives suited to their interests, skills, preferences, limitations, barriers, aptitudes, and capabilities. The VRS develops vocational rehabilitation treatment plans, identifies needed services and training, and works with community partners to connect participants with opportunities that support their goals. The VRS records assessments and evaluation results in the electronic medical record in accordance with CARE guidelines, and builds a network of employers, service providers, and other community resources. After a participant obtains employment, the VRS provides job-retention support, including scheduled follow-up, appropriate worksite meetings, and—when the participant agrees—coordination with employers or supervisors regarding accommodations and employment stability. The VRS also monitors participant progress, updates treatment plans as needed, explains program requirements, and supports Veterans throughout their job searches. The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Ad hoc telework may be authorized at the supervisor’s discretion. This is not a virtual position. Relocation, recruitment, critical skills, and permanent change-of-station incentives are not authorized.

Requirements

Meet the Individual Occupational Requirement for the GS-1715 occupational series through qualifying undergraduate or graduate education in vocational rehabilitation, vocational or educational counseling, or a related field, or through qualifying specialized experience.
Meet the GS-11 qualification requirement through one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-09, qualifying doctoral-level education, or an allowable combination of specialized experience and graduate education beyond two years.
Specialized experience, if used, must demonstrate relevant vocational rehabilitation or employment-support capabilities, such as assessing training needs, supporting competitive employment, job development and search, counseling, working with employers, and motivating Veterans to pursue employment.
Submit transcripts if education is used to meet qualification requirements.
U.S. citizenship is required.
Maintain a valid state-issued driver’s license; a driving physical may be required.
Complete the required application steps and online assessment.
Meet applicable time-in-grade requirements if a current or former federal employee to whom the requirement applies.
Complete a pre-placement physical examination and required background/security investigation.
Register for Selective Service if applicable to males born after December 31, 1959.
Participate in the Department of Veterans Affairs seasonal influenza vaccination program.
Serve the required one-year probationary period or two-year trial period.

Responsibilities

Help Veterans establish vocational goals and objectives based on assessments, interviews, treatment-team information, and individual employment-related factors.
Develop vocational rehabilitation treatment plans and determine the services participants need, such as job-seeking, résumé-development, and interview-skills training.
Coordinate with community partners to connect participants with training and opportunities that develop skills for their vocational goals.
Enter assessments and evaluation results into the electronic medical record and follow CARE guidelines.
Build and maintain a network of employment resources, including relationships with community employers and service providers.
Provide job-retention services after participants obtain community employment, including scheduled contact and appropriate worksite meetings.
With participant agreement, work with employers or supervisors to coordinate accommodations and support employment stability.
When a participant agrees to disclose disability-related needs, help employers understand the Veteran’s limitations while maintaining a positive impression of the Veteran’s ability to succeed.
Explain program requirements and monitor participant progress at regular intervals, revising vocational rehabilitation treatment plans when needed.
Help Veterans network with community contacts and personal support-group members, and provide ongoing job-search support and guidance.
Perform other administrative duties as needed to advance Compensated Work Therapy programs.