VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION COUNSELOR - BLIND SERVICES - 07142026- 79135

About the role

The Tennessee Department of Human Services, Division of Rehabilitation Services, Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Program seeks to provide employment-focused rehabilitation services for individuals with disabilities. The VR Program offers a range of individualized services to prepare people with disabilities for employment in the competitive labor market. Services include counseling and guidance, training, transportation, transition services, personal care assistance, job placement, postemployment services, supported employment, and independent living services.

Responsibilities

• Collects customer's medical and psychological information and determines their eligibility for services.
• Maintains awareness of local labor market trends to enhance job placement and improve employment outcomes.
• Conducts assessments to evaluate customer's skills, abilities, occupational interests, and goals.
• Reviews assessment data to identify appropriate goals and opportunities and guides customers toward suitable employment opportunities.
• Utilizes counseling and guidance to interpret and explain medical, psychological, and vocational information to customers.
• Empowers customers to make informed decisions regarding their goals.
• Evaluates customer's progress and employment readiness and modifies plans as necessary to achieve successful outcomes.
• Schedules appointments, training sessions, and assessments to facilitate customer participation in vocational programs.
• Requests authorizations for services provided and ensures vendors receive payment.
• Investigates complaints to address customer and employer concerns.
• Documents customer data, tracks case expenditures, and monitors case progress in case management systems.
• Educates employers and the public about rehabilitation services and the employment of individuals with disabilities, promoting qualified applicants to employers.
• Cultivates professional relationships with internal staff, vendors, schools, agencies, institutions, employers, and community organizations to identify potential applicants or available resources and promote rehabilitation services.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Rehabilitation Counseling OR Master's or doctoral degree in a related field with coursework emphasizing rehabilitation, counseling, disability, therapy, health, employment, wellness, or human development.
• Within 90 days of hire, submit an educational plan for approval and apply for admission to an accredited university for enrollment of additional required courses.
• Within six months of hire, enroll in and satisfactorily complete the following courses within thirty-six months from the date of hire: Professional Orientation & Ethics in Rehabilitation Counseling, Medical & Psychosocial Aspects of Disabilities, Theories & Techniques of Counseling.
• OR Within 90 days of hire, request a pre-review, at their own expense, to the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC) that confirms eligibility to test for the Certified Rehab Counselor Certification and provide official notification from the CRCC.
• OR Have an active Certified Rehab Counselor Certification from the CRCC.
• Necessary special qualifications: Complete a criminal history disclosure form in a manner approved by the appointing authority; agree to release all records involving their criminal history to the appointing authority; supply a fingerprint sample prescribed by the TBI based criminal history records check; possess a valid motor vehicle operator's license at the time of appointment in some positions.

Skills

• Decision Quality
• Resourcefulness
• Communicates Effectively
• Instills Trust
• Situational Adaptability

Benefits

Hybrid position. Salary range: $4,057.00 - $5,078.00 monthly, $48,684.00 - $60,936.00 annually. Criminal background check required.

Pay

$4,057.00 - $5,078.00 Monthly

Schedule

Hybrid schedule.