VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION COUNSELOR - MASTERS - 06232026- 78672

About the role

This vacancy is within the Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS), Division of Rehabilitation Services. The Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Program aims to provide employment-focused rehabilitation services for individuals with disabilities, aligning these services with their strengths, priorities, and resources. The VR Program offers various individualized services to people with disabilities, preparing them for employment in the competitive labor market. These services may include counseling and guidance, training, maintenance and transportation, transition services, personal care assistance, rehabilitation technology services, job placement, postemployment services, supported employment, and independent living services.

Responsibilities

• Collections customer's medical and psychological information and determines their eligibility for services.
• Maintains awareness of local labor market trends to enhance job placement effectiveness 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, guiding customers toward suitable employment opportunities.
• Utilizes counseling and guidance to interpret and explain medical, psychological, and vocational information to customers, empowering them to make informed decisions about their goals.
• Collaborates with customers to develop and implement personalized rehabilitation and employment plans that align with their vocational and employment goals.
• Evaluates customer's progress and employment readiness, making necessary adjustments to ensure 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 resolve issues between customers and employers.
• Documents customer data, tracks case expenditures, and monitors case progress using case management systems.
• Educates employers and the public on rehabilitation services and the employment of individuals with disabilities, promoting qualified applicants to employers.
• Cultivates professional relationships with internal staff, vendors, school systems, 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 of study 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 the following courses in accordance with their education plan: Professional Orientation & Ethics in Rehabilitation Counseling, Medical & Psychosocial Aspects of Disabilities, Theories & Techniques of Counseling, and satisfactorily complete all within thirty-six months from the date of hire.
• OR Have an active Certified Rehab Counselor Certification from the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC).

Skills

• Decision Quality
• Resourcefulness
• Communicates Effectively
• Instills Trust
• Situational Adaptability
• Customer and Personal Service Skills
• Active Learning and Listening
• Complex Problem Solving
• Critical Thinking
• Judgment and Decision Making
• Time Management
• Deductive Reasoning
• Inductive Reasoning
• Problem Sensitivity
• Originality

Benefits

Salary range: $4,057.00 - $5,078.00 Monthly / $48,684.00 - $60,936.00 Annually

The position is a hybrid role.

A criminal background check is required.