DSHS DVR Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor

About the role

The job of Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor is suited for the person that has a commitment to the economic prosperity of students, youth and adults with disabilities who are seeking good-paying jobs and advancement in their careers. You provide vocational rehabilitation counseling and case management services to assist people with disabilities in obtaining and maintaining employment.

Responsibilities

• Serve a caseload of 50-110 DVR participants
• Determine each participant's eligibility for vocational rehabilitation services necessary to achieve their employment goal
• Provide vocational rehabilitation counseling and support
• Conduct comprehensive assessments of participant needs identifying the disability-related barriers to employment that require VR services
• Arrange and interpret results of diagnostic testing and other vocational rehabilitation assessment tools; obtain benefit reports and interpret results to assist and counsel participants
• Aid participants in developing and implementing an Individual Plan for Employment and monitor progress toward completion of employment goals
• Maintain close working relationships with those who jointly serve DVR participants; promote DVR programs to the public and employers and conduct outreach in the community to share information about DVR services
• Lead group orientations, workshops, and related activities to facilitate informed choices and prepare participants for employment

Requirements

• Current Certification as a Rehabilitation Counselor by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC)
• Master's degree in rehabilitation counseling, psychology, counseling, or a field related to vocational rehabilitation (such as one that promotes the physical, psychosocial, or vocational well-being of people with disabilities)
• Master's degree with at least 18 quarter or 12 semester credit hours of rehabilitation counseling courses, plus 6 months of paid/unpaid vocational counseling, job placement, vocational assessment, or other areas of rehabilitation counseling experience
• Bachelor's degree in vocational rehabilitation counseling or reasonably related field, and accepted or enrolled in a rehabilitation counseling or related master's program that will be completed within two years, plus one year paid/unpaid experience consisting of: Direct work with people with disabilities in a setting such as an independent living center
• Direct service or advocacy activities that provide you with experience and skills in working with persons with disabilities
• Direct experience as an employer, as a small business owner or operator, or in self-employment, or other experience in education, human resources, recruiting, or experience in supervising employees, training, or other activities that provide experience in integrated employment environments or in areas that assist others find employment (i.e. WorkSource)

Qualifications

• Apply technical knowledge of medical and psychological aspects of disabling conditions, labor market information, transferable skills evaluations, assistive technology, and job modifications
• Support participants in exercising informed choices to make collaborative decisions that are consistent with appropriate vocational rehabilitation practice
• Avoid managing multiple and competing priorities within prescribed time limits
• Negotiate with vendors and collaborate with other rehabilitation professionals

Skills

• Technical knowledge of medical and psychological aspects of disabling conditions, labor market information, transferable skills evaluations, assistive technology, and job modifications
• Support participants in exercising informed choices to make collaborative decisions that are consistent with appropriate vocational rehabilitation practice
• Manage multiple and competing priorities within prescribed time limits
• Negotiate with vendors and collaborate with other rehabilitation professionals

Benefits

Starting salary depends on your qualifications. Thoroughly submitted application documents will assist in determining your experience and education in this area.

Note: If the position offers benefits which differ from the following, the job posting should include the specific benefits. Insurance Benefits, Retirement And Deferred Compensation, Holidays, Sick Leave, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, and Employee Assistance Program.