Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor

Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor

Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors (VRCs) provide and coordinate a wide range of rehabilitation, counseling, and case management services to disabled veterans and other eligible individuals. The purpose, objectives, services, and outcomes are developed by the VRC during the evaluation. The program's primary focus will be on helping the Veteran find work and set goals and objectives to help them become more independent in their daily lives. Duties are divided between counseling duties and case management which include the following, but are not limited to:

• Performs initial rehabilitation evaluations, entitlement assessments, rehabilitation planning, problem-solving and adjustment counseling, case management, including the coordination of all rehabilitation services, case documentation, employment services, and, as necessary, the administration and interpretation of vocation testing.
• Provides services for employer consultation, employment development and placement, career counseling, and vocational planning and assessment.
• Combines data from diagnostic tests and medical records to give a comprehensive picture of strengths, weaknesses, capabilities, and interests to help patients find a suitable employment or independent living objective.
• Partners with Vet Centers, career centers, local Disabled Veterans' Outreach Program, Specialists, Local Veterans' Employment Representatives, VA employment programs, and others to provide job search and placement services.
• Provides information and assistance with the Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) program through individual and group therapy sessions.
• Conducts counseling using a variety of approaches, including tele-counseling, depending on the needs of the Veteran.
• Partners with administrators at schools, Vet Centers, military bases, and federal, state, and local agencies to determine the individual needs of service members and Veterans and to provide the essential assistance.

Please note that these two positions are not interchangeable :

• The IDES VRC is located at a partnering Department of Defense (DoD) military installation and provides early outreach to wounded, ill, or injured active duty Servicemembers. This position integrates VR&E services into the IDES process without disrupting the disability rating process and offers the full range of VR&E services to Servicemembers while they are in the disability evaluation process.
• The VSOC VRC is located on a partnering school campus and serves as a liaison with school officials, representing VA on all matters under VA jurisdiction. While the counselor works within the VR&E program, they provide services and support to all Veteran-Students and other eligible individuals, with or without disabilities, under Title 38 Chapter 36 and Chapter 31 authorities.

• Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC) - IDES, Fort Drum, NY
• Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC) - VSOC, Syracuse, NY/Syracuse University

Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. The grade progression for this position is: GS-09/11/12. Work Schedule: Full time, Monday through Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Telework: This position is eligible for situational (ad hoc) telework only. The selectee is required to report to the official duty station each scheduled workday. Telework may be approved only on a case-by-case basis with supervisory approval. Routine or recurring telework is not authorized for this position. Virtual: This is not a virtual position Position Description Title/PD#: Vocational Rehab Counselor; 38544A, 38543A, 38542A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required