Rehabilitation Counselor

About the role

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment.

Qualifications

• Education: A master's degree in rehabilitation counseling or clinical rehabilitation counseling from a rehabilitation counseling program accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
• If the applicant's degree was granted prior to July 1 - 2017 - the program must be accredited by the Council on Rehabilitation Education
• A master's degree in counseling or clinical rehabilitation counseling from a college or university accredited by a national or regional accrediting body accredited by Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)
• A master's or doctoral degree in a related field of study with course content that emphasized rehabilitation, counseling, disability, therapy, health, employment, wellness, or human development from a college or university accredited by a national or regional accrediting body accredited by CHEA
• Foreign graduates with a degree acceptable by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC)
• Certification: Current, full and unrestricted certification as a certified rehabilitation counselor (CRC) from the CRCC to practice vocational rehabilitation counseling
• Exceptions for Graduate RCs: RC graduates from an approved counseling or rehabilitation counseling program who otherwise meet the basic qualification requirements and the additional degree requirements for CRC certification by the CRCC - but do not possess the required certification - may be appointed, pending certification, as a graduate RC on a full-time temporary appointment not-to-exceed two years under the authority of 38 U.S.C.7405(a)(1)(D)
• Graduate RCs may only be appointed at the entry grade level and may not be promoted/converted until certification is obtained
• Temporary graduate RC appointments may not be extended beyond two years or converted to a new temporary appointment
• May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria)
• Experience: None beyond the basic requirements
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to meeting the experience or educational requirements for this grade level - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs

Skills

• Knowledge of human development and behavior, medical, psychosocial, and vocational aspects of disability and differential influences of environmental and cultural factors to assist persons with disabilities in determining suitable vocational goals
• Knowledge of history, philosophy, and disability rights legislation in the field of rehabilitation to apply in the practice of rehabilitation counseling
• Ability to synthesize assessment and diagnosis information in conjunction with labor market trends and community/educational resources to develop an effective individual service delivery plan
• Knowledge of caseload management strategies to maximize an individual's independent functioning from assessment through provision of post-employment services
• Knowledge of assessment tools and methods, functional capacity evaluations, and specific vocational preparation to evaluate transferrable skills, residual capacities, and needs for accommodations and assistive technology
• Knowledge of counseling theory, medical and psychiatric terminology, and signs and symptomology of suicidal and homicidal ideations, to communicate appropriately with community health care professionals to provide useful input to other team members and employers in relation to the Veteran and/or his/her family's psychosocial needs and to recommend and help implement suitable treatment plans
• Ability to use evidence-based and evidence informed vocational and professional counseling practices to include individual placement and support (IPS), customized employment, and supported employment models and motivational interviewing skills to promote self-awareness, adjustment to disability, enhanced job retention, and successful integration to the community
• Knowledge of career development processes and job analysis methodology to determine essential functions of jobs, worksite modifications, and/or alternative vocational goals given the work history and residual functional capacities of individuals with disabilities
• Knowledge of marketing strategies to develop collaborative partnerships/Memorandums of Agreement within VA and local business community to enhance employment and/or work opportunities
• Knowledge of military culture and specific factors and dynamics associated with Veterans, particularly combat Veterans, to assist those who are returning to community and community based-work

Benefits

The physical demands of the position are sedentary to light - however - the complexities of the program and treatment required by the patients can create extremely stressful situations. In addition to performing work in office settings - the position requires that the employee visit patient at CWT worksites around the Medical Center. The position also requires that the incumbent drive on a regular basis - in developing community work experiences and jobs, networking, and providing follow-up support to veterans who are in training and employment situations.

Duties

• Provide a variety of professional rehabilitation counseling services such as personal adjustment counseling, therapeutic rehabilitation interventions and case coordination services, utilizing evidence-informed and evidence-based modalities and professional counseling practices to aid Veterans with severe disabilities in achieving competitive employment and educational and independent living goals
• Conduct biopsychosocial assessments using medical records, pertinent disability documentation, observation and interviews with Veterans and their support systems to generate personal, vocational, and educational histories
• Selects, administers, and interprets vocational and other psychometric instruments to evaluate abilities, transferrable skills, functional capacity, labor market analyses, aptitudes, interests, values, preferences, and overall work resilience and synthesize into an interpretive data report
• Administers Measurement Based Care instrument to track progress throughout treatment and adjust goals and services as needed
• Consult with interdisciplinary teams to enhance coordination of care, ensure medical clearance, and provide for optimal timing of further interventions
• Determine clinical need for and capacity to benefit from therapeutic and rehabilitation services to include work restoration/resilience treatment, transitional work placement and/or competitive employment, assistive technology, financial benefits counseling and potential benefits protections
• Develop patient-centered treatment plans utilizing Specific, Measurable, Agreed Upon, Realistic, and Time-based (SMART) goals and provides ongoing assessment of Veteran's progress
• Procure and manage transitional work agreements from community, state, and federal agencies
• Monitor worksite compliance with agreements to ensure Veterans are appropriately trained and evaluated consistent with industry standards
• Provide psychoeducational and/or psychotherapeutic groups to facilitate effective job search skills, employer-desired soft skills, work and life skills fostering independence and recovery
• Provide job development, customized employment, job carving, job coaching, job accommodation, advocacy, and adaptation services to both Veterans with severe disabilities and to educate and support employers
• Provide disability education and program-specific training to staff and stakeholders
• Provide supervision to graduate level rehabilitation counseling students from an accredited affiliated educational institution, including educational experiences, and in-service education for trainees, rehabilitation staff, and other disciplines
• Serve or chair task groups or administrative committees on behalf of VHA VocRehab Service
• Participate in professional peer review and individual case review and that of other professional disciplines as appropriate
• Other related duties as assigned