Vocational Rehabilitation Spec

Vocational Rehabilitation Spec

Agency: 805 DEPARTMENT OF REHABILITATION SERVICES

Supervisory Organization: Dept Rehabilitation Services

Job Type: Regular

Full time

Monthly/Annual Salary: Monthly Annual Level I (Pay band J) $4,108.10 $49,297.25 Level II (Pay band K) $4,382.49 $52,589.93 Level III (Pay band L) $5,066.34 $60,796.16 Level IV (Pay band M) $5,725.15 $68,701.80

Job Description

Basic Purpose

Positions in this job family are assigned responsibilities for performing complex professional work in program consultation and monitoring; in guidance and counseling; client training; and specialized job placement for the vocational rehabilitation of individuals with physical or mental disabilities, blindness or visual impairments. Assigned responsibilities also include evaluating client work capacities, providing assistive technology services and administering tests to determine vocational aptitudes, interests, abilities, and potential of clients.

Typical Functions

• Provides services to clients in meeting problems of personal, social, and vocational adjustment.
• Interprets and analyzes applicant's physical or mental condition, social and economic situation, attitudes and aptitudes, work experiences, functional limitations, educational background and personality traits to determine kind and extent of disability and rehabilitation possibilities.
• Consults with physicians, psychologists and other appropriate disability professionals regarding findings of examinations; administers and interprets psychological tests when indicated; determines eligibility for rehabilitation services on the basis of law and policy; and assists individuals in formulating a suitable rehabilitation plan.
• Plans and arranges for rehabilitation services; approves expenditures within specified limits for planned rehabilitation services.
• Confers with public and private employers to establish job opportunities for rehabilitation clients; aids clients in securing employment consistent with their capabilities; monitors client progress.
• Provides program monitoring and consultation; keeps appropriate case records and controls case service expenditures.
• Assists employers and businesses with guidelines for accommodating people with disabilities according to the Americans with Disabilities Act and other laws, regulations, policies, and procedures pertaining to persons with disabilities.
• Administers and/or develops work samples and situational assessments.
• Reviews and assesses medical, psychological, neuropsychological, legal, educational and social information concerning clients who have been referred for vocational evaluation; determines need for additional diagnostic information.
• Prepares individual written vocational evaluation plans; acts as consultant to Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors in making vocational decisions.
• Orients clients to the evaluation process; administers and interprets test results to determine learning capacity, work-related aptitudes, abilities and limitations, behavioral factors affecting vocational performance and rehabilitation potential of clients; makes objective observations of all behaviors essential to the world of work; and recommends specific goals and services to clients.
• Teaches basic vocational skills and leads groups that are composed of individuals with vastly diverse cultural, educational, emotional, physical and mental abilities and backgrounds; develops and administers appropriate job samples to determine learning ability, reaction to supervision, work with peers, work tolerances, physical tolerances and endurance.
• Assists individuals with a disability in the selection, acquisition, or use of assistive technology devices(s).
• Prepares vocational evaluation reports detailing test results and their implications, job sample evaluation, summary of observations, work ethics and attitudes, physical capabilities, clients expressed and displayed vocational interest.

Level Descriptor

Level I - This is the basic level where employees are assigned responsibilities for performing entry-level work under direct supervision...

Level II - This is the career level where employees are assigned professional responsibilities for the maintenance of a caseload/workload with a moderate level of supervision...

Level III - This is the expert level of this job family where employees will assume full responsibility for a caseload/workload and serve as a subject matter resource person and consultant...

Level IV - This is the leadership level of this job family where employees carry a full caseload/workload and act as a team leader...

Education and Experience

Level I - Education and Experience requirements at this level consist of a bachelor's degree in vocational rehabilitation, vocational evaluation, or counseling; OR a bachelor's degree and one year of experience in a disability related field.

Level II - Education and Experience requirements at this level consist of a master's degree in rehabilitation counseling or human resources with a rehabilitation counselor major, psychology, Behavioral Science, Marital and Family Therapy, School Counseling, Special Education, a Master in Education in School Counseling or Special Education or a counseling related field, OR any master's degree and is eligible to sit for the certification/licensure exam specific to the professional job duties...

Level III - Education and Experience requirements at this level consist of a master's degree in rehabilitation counseling or human resources with a rehabilitation counselor major, psychology, Behavioral Science, Marital and Family Therapy, School Counseling, Special Education, a Master in Education in School Counseling or Special Education or a counseling related field, OR any master's degree and is eligible to sit for the certification/licensure exam specific to the professional job duties; plus two years of professional experience in counseling, job placement, vocational evaluation or rehabilitation...

Level IV - Education and Experience requirements at this level consist of a master's degree in rehabilitation counseling or human resources with a rehabilitation counselor major, psychology, Behavioral Science, Marital and Family Therapy, School Counseling, Special Education, a Master in Education in School Counseling or Special Education or a counseling related field, OR any master's degree and is eligible to sit for the certification/licensure exam specific to the professional job duties; plus four years of professional experience in counseling, job placement, vocational evaluation or rehabilitation...

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Competencies

Level I - Knowledge, Skills and Abilities required at this level include knowledge of disabilities; of human relations and conditions; of community services, resources and interventions; of case management principles and practices; of job information and placement practices; and of basic computer and software operations...

Level II - Knowledge, Skills and Abilities required at this level include knowledge of the principles and practices of vocational counseling and vocational evaluation techniques; of emotional and psychological problems of persons with physical or mental disabilities; of assistive technology needs; of occupational testing and placement; of available community resources; of laws and regulations pertinent to the rehabilitation of persons with disabilities, including the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act, as amended; and of agency policies and procedures...

Level III - Knowledge, Skills and Abilities required at this level include knowledge of the principles and practices of vocational counseling and vocational evaluation techniques; of emotional and psychological problems of persons with physical or mental disabilities; of assistive technology needs; of occupational testing and placement; of available community resources; of laws and regulations pertinent to the rehabilitation of persons with disabilities, including the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act, as amended; of agency policies and procedures; and of a specialty area...

Level IV - Knowledge, Skills and Abilities required at this level include knowledge of the principles and practices of vocational counseling and vocational evaluation techniques; of emotional and psychological problems of persons with physical or mental disabilities; of assistive technology needs; of occupational testing and placement; of available community resources; of laws and regulations pertinent to the rehabilitation of persons with disabilities, including the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act, as amended; of agency policies and procedures; of a specialty area; and of project management...

Special Requirements

Some positions in the Department of Rehabilitation Services will require proficiency in the American Sign Language as demonstrated by the successful completion of a competency test administered by the Deaf and Hearing-Impaired Unit of the Department of Rehabilitation Services.

Applicants must be willing and able to perform all job-related travel normally associated with this position.

Some agencies may have determined positions in this job family to be safety sensitive as defined by 63 O.S. § 427.8.

Additional Job Description

Position may be filled at Level I, II, III, or IV.

Position is located in the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation in Muskogee (VR18).

Essential Functions: Caseload is made up of adults and transition aged youth. The covered area for adults and youth is Okmulgee County. Position consults with physicians, psychologists and other disability professionals regarding the functional limitations, treatment and prognosis of eligible applicants; utilizes knowledge of principles and practices of vocational rehabilitation counseling to determine eligibility, completes comprehensive assessments; helps clients develop their Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE); provides vocational counseling and