Summary

Rehabilitation Counselors in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) work with an interdisciplinary team to provide and coordinate a wide range of rehabilitation counseling services to Veterans with disabilities - including assessment - counseling and case management services - development of rehabilitation plans - and assistance in attaining and maintaining employment - independent living - and attaining personal goals. Recruitment/Relocation incentive approved for highly qualified applicants.

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.

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• Education: A master's degree in rehabilitation counseling or clinical rehabilitation counseling from a rehabilitation counseling program accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
• If the applicant's degree was granted prior to July 1 - 2017 - the program must be accredited by the Council on Rehabilitation Education
• OR A master's degree in counseling or clinical rehabilitation counseling from a college or university accredited by a national or regional accrediting body accredited by Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).A master's or doctoral degree in a related field of study with course content that emphasized rehabilitation - counseling - disability - therapy - health - employment - wellness - or human development from a college or university accredited by a national or regional accrediting body accredited by CHEA
• OR Foreign graduates with a degree acceptable by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC)
• Certification: Current - full and unrestricted certification as a certified rehabilitation counselor (CRC) from the CRCC to practice vocational rehabilitation counseling
• English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f)
• May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria)
• Grade Determinations GS-11: Experience/Education: Completion of one year of professional experience equivalent to the next lower grade level directly related to the position being filled
• OR A doctoral degree in rehabilitation counselor education or related field(e.g
• rehabilitation psychology) from a CACREP accredited institution or from an institution accredited by a national or regional accrediting body accredited by CHEA
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills and Abilities: In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Knowledge of physical and psychological disabilities - appropriate accommodations and assistive technology principles to mitigate and reduce or eliminate barriers to integrate into the community
• Knowledge of counseling theory - medical and psychiatric terminology and signs and symptomology of suicidal and homicidal ideations - to communicate appropriately with community health care professionals to provide useful input to other team members and employers in relation to the Veteran and/or his/her family's psychosocial needs and to recommend and help implement suitable treatment plans
• Ability to use evidence-based and evidence informed vocational and professional counseling practices to include individual placement and support (IPS) - customized employment and supported employment models and motivational interviewing skills to promote self-awareness - adjustment to disability - enhanced job retention and successful integration to the community
• Knowledge of career development processes and job analysis methodology to determine essential functions of jobs - worksite modifications and/or alternative vocational goals given the work history and residual functional capacities of individuals with disabilities
• Ability to administer and interpret a wide variety of assessment methods including transferrable skills and labor market analyses to evaluate for individual interests - aptitudes and abilities and to identify suitable vocational goals for the development of an effective individual service delivery plan
• Knowledge of marketing strategies to develop collaborative partnerships/Memorandums of Agreement within VA and local business community to enhance employment and/or work opportunities
• Knowledge of military lifestyle - specific factors - and dynamics associated with Veterans - particularly combat Veterans - to assist those who are returning to community and community based-work
• Assignment
• For all assignments above the full performance level - the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope - administrative independence - complexity (difficulty) and range of variety as described in this standard at the specified grade level and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time
• Assists with the management of a clinical rehabilitation service delivery system within an organization which may include housing - independent living - vocational and educational services
• Utilize complex rehabilitation counseling skills and motivational interviewing techniques not typically required in routine practice to assess a Veteran's self-awareness - adjustment to disability and work resilience
• Exhibit clinical expertise through timely application of therapeutic interventions - case coordination - crisis intervention - IDT consultation - rehabilitation plan development and ongoing assessment and job development practices
• Exercise professional judgement to arrange for suitable placement of Veterans with the most severe disabilities and employment challenges through skillful analysis of their abilities - aptitudes - preferences - disability conditions and resulting impairments
• Ensure timely and accurate Veteran Compensated Work Therapy-Transitional Work (CWT-TW) payrolls - bills of collection - CWT Account balances - deposits to CWT Account and ensure all expenditures utilize approved budgeting procedures - including internal controls and separation of duties
• Provide input and guidance on program evaluations - strategic plans and policy considerations to supervisor as appropriate for all interested VA entities and accrediting bodies
• Monitor progress towards accomplishment of program goals and examines the benefits of process improvements
• Provide oversight - support and feedback to lower level RCs and student interns on work assignments - time and caseload management and employment outcomes
• Preferred Experience: Experience working with adults with Serious Mental Illness - case management - and vocational development
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-11 to GS-11
• Physical Requirements: The work requires reaching - turning - or moving hands - arms - feet - and legs to operate hand and foot controls
• You will be required to assist patients with a variety of medical conditions and/or disabilities
• Associated duties require stopping - bending - lifting - climbing - and securing patients - oxygen - and wheelchairs - with appropriate securing devices
• Lifts and carries objects weighing up to 15 pounds
• You must follow prescribed safety procedures using appropriate lifting methods and body mechanics for heavy lifting or moving of heavy objects
• You must complete all facility requirements to drive a GSA Vehicle and transport Veterans
• You will provide care in off-site locations may be required to drive and/or ride in GSA vehicles and a valid state driver's license is required.

Duties

• Duties include - but are not limited - to: Conducts biopsychosocial assessments using medical records - pertinent disability documentation - observation - and interviews with Veterans and their support systems to generate personal - vocational - and educational histories
• Follows all suicide risk/prevention protocol in accordance with national - regional and local policies - including administration of the CSSRS
• Refers to Licensed Independent Practitioner for further assessment - including completion of CSRE and Safety Plan - when indicated
• Selects - administers - and interprets vocational and other psychometric instruments to evaluate abilities - transferrable skills - functional capacity - labor market analyses - aptitudes - interests - values - preferences - and overall work resilience - and synthesize into an interpretive data report
• Customizes vocational exploration activities to identify self-determined rehabilitation needs and goals
• Administers Measurement Based Care instrument to track progress throughout treatment and adjust goals and services as needed
• Develops patient-centered treatment plans utilizing Specific - Measurable - Agreed upon - Realistic - and Time-based (SMART) goals and provides ongoing assessment of Veteran's progress
• Provides supervision to graduate level rehabilitation counseling students from an accredited affiliated educational institution - including educational experiences - and in service education for trainees - rehabilitation staff - and other disciplines
• Driving Responsibilities: You must complete all facility requirements to drive a GSA Vehicle and transport Veterans
• The incumbent provides care in off-site locations may be required to drive and/or ride in GSA vehicles and a valid state driver's license is required
• You must be able to drive for up to a minimum of four-hour period and stay mentally alert
• Instructions are received from the dispatcher or supervisor on the type of vehicle to be operated - destination - passengers to be transported - purpose of the trip - deadlines to be met - and any special information
• You are responsible for the safe transport of passengers throughout the trip - including the safe loading and unloading of the patient on/ off the vehicle
• Work Schedule: Monday through Friday
• 8:00am
• to 4:30pm
• Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 93523A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized