VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION COUNSELOR - MASTERS - 06302026- 78759

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 with their strengths, priorities, and resources. The VR Program offers various individualized services to assist individuals with disabilities in preparing 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

• Collects 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 and guides customers towards 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 career 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 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, at their own expense, 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 Within 90 days of hire, submit a request for a pre-review, at their own expense, to the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC) that results in confirmation that they meet the eligibility criteria 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.

Overview

The VR Counselor works under the general supervision of a Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Region 7 Field Supervisor. They serve individuals with disabilities in West TN, primarily focusing on customers in Madison County, but also extending to areas such as Chester, Decatur, Hardeman, Hardin, Haywood, Henderson, and McNairy Counties. Their primary responsibility is to provide counseling and guidance to help individuals achieve their desired career goals and navigate the path to employment or re-entry into the workforce.