VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION COUNSELOR - MASTERS - 06302026 - 78801

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. Services 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 local labor market trends to facilitate effective job placement and maximize employment outcomes.
• Conducts assessments to evaluate customer's skills, abilities, occupational interests, and goals.
• Uses counseling and guidance to interpret and explain medical, psychological, and vocational information to customers, empowering them to make informed decisions concerning 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 and amends plans as needed to ensure successful outcomes.
• Arranges 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 customer and employer concerns. Documents customer data, processes 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

• Education and Experience: Master's degree in Rehabilitation Counseling OR Master's or doctoral degree in a related field of study with course content 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.
• 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.
• Have an active Certified Rehab Counselor Certification from the CRCC.

Required 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.

Competencies (KSA's)

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

Knowledges

• Customer and Personal Service

Skills

• Active Learning and Listening
• Complex Problem Solving
• Critical Thinking
• Judgment and Decision Making
• Time Management

Abilities

• Deductive Reasoning
• Inductive Reasoning
• Problem Sensitivity
• Originality

Tools & Equipment

• General Office Equipment
• Computer/Laptop/Tablet
• Multifunction Printer (print/copy/scan/fax)
• Cell Phone