Rehabilitation Counselor-Vocational

Department of Veterans Affairs

The Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC) position located at St. Cloud VA, in the Mental Health Service Line, within Vocational Rehabilitation Services and Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (MH RRTP). Provides and coordinates a wide range of rehabilitation counseling and case management services for Veterans of all ages with disabilities and complex vocational barriers such as physical, mental or emotional impairment, or lack of basic education and job skills.

• Major duties include, but are not limited to: Serves as a developmental Rehabilitation Counselor providing vocational and personal adjustment counseling, therapeutic rehabilitation interventions, and case coordination services. They assist, receive guidance and advice from supervisor and senior staff as needed. They provide developmental vocational rehabilitation services to Veterans with a wide array of psychiatric and physical disabilities and psychosocial conditions that present a myriad of barriers, to achieve competitive employment and education and independent living goals. This includes personal adjustment counseling, therapeutic rehabilitation interventions, and case coordination services, utilizing evidence-based and evidence-informed modalities, to aid Veterans with severe mental and/or physical health disabilities in achieving competitive employment and educational and independent living. Establishes good rapport and counseling relationships in order to work together to identify the Veteran's significant interests, aptitudes, abilities, and characteristics. The goal is to provide the individual with the data needed to make a realistic life decision. They conduct comprehensive initial evaluations, adhering to all policies/procedures/standards pertaining to consult management. They also conduct assessments (e.g., Vocational Assessment Profile [VAP]) using medical records, pertinent disability documentation, observation, and interviews with Veterans and their support systems to generate personal, vocational, and educational histories. This includes selecting, administering, and interpreting an appropriate range of vocational and educational assessment procedures, to evaluate abilities, aptitudes, interests, values, preferences, transferrable skills, and overall work resilience. Vocational assessment procedures include but are not limited to interviews, tests of specific job-related skills and abilities, aptitude testing, and vocational interest testing. They provide high quality assessment and consultation reports, as indicated, in a timely manner that adhere to Joint Commission standards and VACO/ STCVAHCS/ STCVAHCS MH ICC/ directives/policies/procedures. Based off these comprehensive assessments, the VRC determines clinical need for and capacity to benefit from therapeutic and rehabilitation services, to include work restoration/resilience treatment, transitional work placement and compensation, supported employment, assistive technology, reasonable accommodations, benefits counseling, and potential benefits. The VRC develops patient-centered vocational rehabilitation treatment plans utilizing SMART goals and provide ongoing assessment of Veteran's progress, using measurement based care instruments as indicated. Completes job analyses to facilitate job coaching and retention services to aid Veterans in learning and maintaining proficiency in performance of essential job skills. They counsel Veterans regarding importance of soft skills (e.g., personal hygiene, cooperation with co-workers, and following instructions) when employed to enhance job satisfaction and foster natural supports in the workplace. They devise solutions to reduce and/or eliminate barriers and meet Veterans' education and employment placement needs. They provide psychoeducational groups to teach effective job search skills, employer-desired soft skills, and life skills fostering independence. They provide direct support services to Veterans in order to help in their development and maintenance of community-based employment and/or education. The VRC documents all vocational rehabilitation services in CPRS, including progress and adjustment and treatment plan updates, according to Joint Commission standards and VHACO, STCVAHCS, and STCVAHCS MH ICC directives, policies and procedures. Establishes and maintains contact with state vocational rehabilitation agencies/offices, private employers, state and local employment offices, Social Security Administration, and VBA Regional Offices, training programs/local colleges to ensure the Veteran receives the full range of services necessary to achieve vocational rehabilitation. The VRC is responsible for coordinating all employment- and education/training-related services being utilized by the Veteran to assure continuity of care. They are responsible for developing partnerships with Vet Centers, career centers, local Disabled Veterans Outreach Programs (DVOP) specialists, VBA Rehabilitation services, Local Veterans Employment Representatives (LVERS), and others to provide job search and job placement services. Work Schedule: Primarily Monday-Friday, 7:30am-4:00pm, however weekends and holidays may be required Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorize

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