Summary

Rehabilitation Counselors in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) work with persons who experience functional impairments and disabilities associated with mental health - physical - and/or psychosocial challenges affecting employment - independent living - or personal adjustment. The incumbent will use professional counseling and clinical modalities to promote and support optimal functioning - independence - personal adjustment - adaptation to disability - community reintegration - and recovery.

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:

• Citizenship
• Be a citizen of the United States
• (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3 - section A - paragraph 3g this part)
• English Language Proficiency
• Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f)
• 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)
• OR - 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
• Exceptions for Graduate RCs
• RC graduates from an approved counseling or rehabilitation counseling program who otherwise meet the basic qualification requirements and the additional degree requirements for CRC certification by the CRCC - but do not possess the required certification - may be appointed - pending certification - as a graduate RC on a full-time temporary appointment not-to-exceed two years under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(a)(1)(D)
• Graduate RCs may only be appointed at the entry grade level and may not be promoted/converted until certification is obtained
• Temporary graduate RC appointments may not be extended beyond two years or converted to a new temporary appointment
• 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: Rehabilitation Counselor - GS-09 Experience - None beyond the basic requirements
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills and Abilities (KSAs)
• In addition to the basic requirements - the candidate must demonstrate the following knowledge - skills - and abilities: Knowledge of human development and behavior - medical - psychosocial - and vocational aspects of disability and differential influences of environmental and cultural factors to assist persons with disabilities in determining suitable vocational goals
• Knowledge of history - philosophy and disability rights legislation in the field of rehabilitation to apply in the practice of rehabilitation counseling
• Ability to synthesize assessment and diagnosis information in conjunction with labor market trends and community/educational resources to develop an effective individual service delivery plan
• Knowledge of caseload management strategies to maximize an individual's independent functioning from assessment through provision of post-employment services
• Ability to employ person-centered job development strategies to facilitate successful job placement
• Knowledge of assessment tools and methods - functional capacity evaluations and specific vocational preparation to evaluate transferrable skills - residual capacities and needs for accommodations and assistive technology
• Rehabilitation Counselor - GS-11 Experience
• Completion of one year of professional experience equivalent to the next lower grade level directly related to the position being filled
• OR Education
• 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 sign sand 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 culture and specific factors and dynamics associated with Veterans - particularly combat Veterans - to assist those who are returning to community and community based-work
• Reference: These requirements are further defined in VA Handbook 5005/133 PART II APPENDIX G62
• 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-09 to GS-11
• Physical Requirements: The work requires the ability use a computer and ability to navigate throughout an office building environment
• The work may require engaging Veterans in their environment
• This may include emergency shelters - community agencies - veteran's residences and places not meant for habitation
• Some encounters may be outdoors during all times of the year
• There will be some walking
• standing
• bending
• carrying of light items such as papers - book - small parts
• or driving an automobile - etc
• The incumbent is required to transport veterans using a government assigned vehicle - therefore - would need to pass a driver's physical sufficient to meet the standards outlined in policies.

Duties

• Incumbent serves as a developmental Rehabilitation Counselor (RC) providing vocational and personal adjustment counseling - therapeutic rehabilitation interventions - and case coordination services
• Provide a variety of professional rehabilitation counseling services such as personal adjustment counseling - therapeutic rehabilitation interventions and case coordination services - utilizing evidence-informed and evidence-based modalities and professional counseling practices to aid Veterans with severe disabilities in achieving competitive employment and educational and independent living goals
• Serves as a consultant to an interdisciplinary treatment team or other clinical staff as it relates to the Veteran's vocational rehabilitation needs
• Communicates appropriately with community health care professionals to provide useful input to other team members and employers concerning the Veteran
• Ensures fidelity to evidence-based and evidence-informed vocational and professional counseling practices
• Evaluates Veteran's abilities and disabilities
• monitors and records Veteran's progress to ensure goals and objectives are met
• Conducts biopsychosocial assessments using medical records - pertinent disability documentation - and observation
• Incorporates interviews into the assessment with the Veterans and their support systems to generate personal - vocational - and educational histories
• Synthesizes the information to develop case conceptualization and make clinical recommendations to facilitate treatment planning and provision
• Follows all suicide risk/prevention protocol in accordance with national - regional and local policies - including administration of the CSSRS
• Refers to Licensed Independent Provider for further assessment - including completion of CSRE - SBOR and Safety Plan - when indicated
• Selects - administers - and interprets psychometric assessments and vocational instruments to evaluate abilities - transferrable skills - aptitudes - interests - values - preferences - and overall work resilience
• Customizes vocational exploration activities - including informational interviews and labor market research - to identify self-determined rehabilitation needs and goals
• Determines clinical need for and capacity to benefit from therapeutic and rehabilitation services
• Vocational programming benefits may include work restoration/resilience treatment - transitional work placement and compensation - financial benefits counseling - potential benefits protections - supported employment - and assistive technology
• Develops patient-centered treatment plans - using Specific - Measurable - Agreed upon - Realistic - and Time-based (SMART) goals - and provides regular - ongoing assessment of Veteran's progress
• Complete clinical charting and participate in professional peer reviews
• Provides job development - job placement - job coaching - job accommodation - adaptation - retention - and education services to both Veterans with disabilities and for those employers who employ these Veterans
• Conducts a job analysis to identify essential functions and develop reasonable accommodations
• Promote employment programs to community employers to establish relationships that will result in providing work opportunities for Veterans with significant behavioral - physical - emotional and/or cognitive impairments
• Facilitate job placement for Veterans by teaching valuable job search skills - resume/application development - interview skills and basic computer skills
• Coordinate job search clubs for Veterans to improve in self-directed job search activities
• Provides professional recommendations and guidance regarding the 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
• Utilizes knowledge of the military culture - military transition to civilian occupations - and specific factors and dynamics associated with Veterans - particularly combat Veterans - to advise those who are returning to the community - and community-based work
• Adheres to the professional rehabilitation standards of the Joint Commission and CARF
• Serves or chairs task groups or administrative committees on behalf of VHA Voc Rehab Service
• Participates in professional peer review and individual case review and that of other professional disciplines as appropriate
• Work Schedule: Monday through Friday - 8:00 - 4:30 pm Compressed/Flexible: Not Available Telework: Available (ad-hoc) Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Not Available Functional Statement #: 92653-A/92654-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized