Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor

About the role

This position is located in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Southeast Network (VISN 7), VA Augusta Health Care System (VAAHCS) in Augusta, Georgia located in the Mental Health Service. Rehabilitation Counselor position within VHA Vocational Rehabilitation Service. The incumbent provides vocational rehabilitation services to Veterans with a variety of psychiatric, physical, and psychosocial challenges.

Responsibilities

• Conducts comprehensive biopsychosocial and vocational assessments using medical records, interviews, observations, and psychometric instruments.
• Develops and implements individualized, patient-centered rehabilitation treatment plans using SMART goals and provides ongoing progress evaluation.
• Selects, administers, and interprets vocational and psychological assessments, synthesizing results into treatment planning and vocational recommendations.
• Provides professional counseling, case management, and therapeutic interventions to support personal adjustment, work readiness, and independent living.
• Provides supervision and training to rehabilitation counseling trainees and contributes to professional development of peers and staff.
• Consults with interdisciplinary teams, providing expertise on vocational rehabilitation needs and barriers to employment.
• Participates in program evaluation, quality improvement activities, and compliance with accreditation standards (e.g., Joint Commission, CARF).
• Leads psychoeducational and vocational groups focused on work skills, soft skills, and independent living strategies.
• Provides job development, placement, coaching, retention, and adaptation services for Veterans with complex disabilities.
• Develops job opportunities through outreach to employers and community organizations, negotiating job accommodations and partnerships as needed.

Requirements

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:

• Knowledge of human development and behavior, medical, psychosocial, and vocational aspects of disability and differential influences of environmental 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.
• 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.

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Physical Requirements

See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service.