Rehabilitation Counselor

Summary

The Fargo VA Health Care System is recruiting for 1 full-time Rehabilitation Counselor for the Mental Health Integrated Care Community Service Line.

Qualifications

Health Professional Trainee (HPT) 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
• (1) 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 (2) 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 (3) 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 (4) 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
• (1) Exceptions for Graduate RCs
• (a) 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)
• (b) Graduate RCs may only be appointed at the entry grade level and may not be promoted/converted until certification is obtained
• (c) Temporary graduate RC appointments may not be extended beyond two years or converted to a new temporary appointment 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-9 Rehabilitation Counselor (1) Experience
• None beyond the basic requirements
• (2) Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills and Abilities (KSAs)
• In addition to meeting the experience or educational requirements for this grade level - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of human development and behavior - medical - psychosocial - and vocational aspects of disability and differential influences of environmental factors to assist persons with disabilities in determining suitable vocational goals
• (b) Knowledge of history - philosophy and disability rights legislation in the field of rehabilitation to apply in the practice of rehabilitation counseling
• (c) 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
• (d) Knowledge of caseload management strategies to maximize an individual's independent functioning from assessment through provision of post-employment services
• (e) Ability to employ person-centered job development strategies to facilitate successful job placement
• (f) 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
• GS-11 Rehabilitation Counselor (1) Experience
• Completion of one year of professional experience equivalent to the next lower grade level directly related to the position being filled
• OR (2) 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
• (3) Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of physical and psychological disabilities - appropriate accommodations and assistive technology principles to mitigate and reduce or eliminate barriers to integrate into the community
• (b) 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
• (c) 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
• (d) 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
• (e) 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
• (f) Knowledge of marketing strategies to develop collaborative partnerships/Memorandums of Agreement within VA and local business community to enhance employment and/or work opportunities
• (g) 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
• All qualifying experience you possess must be clearly described in your application package
• We will not make assumptions when reviewing applications
• Failure to demonstrate your experience in your resume may result in disqualification
• It is strongly recommended that you write to each KSA in your application package
• Preferred Experience: Experience with an interdisciplinary team to provide and coordinate a wide range of rehabilitation counseling services to civilians and/or veterans with disabilities - including assessment - counseling and case management services - development of rehabilitation plans - and assistance in attaining and maintaining employment - indirectly with independent living - and attaining personal goals
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-9. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy ranges from GS-9 to GS-11
• Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position
• Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

Duties

• The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers
• This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest
• As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care - you will operate in a model with three core elements - seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran
• This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community
• This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being
• Rehabilitation Counselors in the Veterans Health Administration 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
• Rehabilitation Counselors utilize various professional counseling and clinical modalities to promote and support optimal functioning - independence - personal adjustment - adaptation to disability - community reintegration - and recovery
• Rehabilitation Counselors 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
• The Recovery-oriented clinical vocational rehabilitation services offer an array of vocational - educational - training - employment - and therapeutic work services
• They include skill development - fostering of natural supports - and assistance with obtaining and maintaining employment for Veterans for whom the primary objective is competitive employment
• The CWT Programming supports persons with functional - psychological - developmental - cognitive - and emotional impairments - or health disabilities to overcome barriers to accessing - maintaining - or returning to employment and/or education
• Vocational rehabilitation provides services to promote and support optimal functioning and development of Veterans by utilizing appropriate counseling and training
• The Supported Employment Program of CWT is intended for Veterans with significant barriers to employment due to severe mental illness - post-traumatic stress disorder - or physical disabilities such as traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury who - because of their symptoms and functional impairments - would not be able to function independently in employment without intensive - ongoing supportive services
• Duties include - but are not limited to: Serves as a journey level Rehabilitation Counselor providing personal adjustment counseling - therapeutic rehabilitation interventions - and case coordination services
• Uses evidence-informed and evidence-based modalities to aid Veterans with severe disabilities - such as physical - psychosocial - psychological - or neurological barriers - integrate successfully into the community
• Serves Veterans who have myriad barriers to overcome and achieve competitive employment - educational - and independent living goals
• 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
• Uses effective counseling skills to promote self-awareness - adjustment to disability - enhanced job retention and successful integration to the community
• Conduct biopsychosocial assessments using medical records - pertinent disability documentation - observation and interviews with Veterans and their support systems to generate personal - vocational - and educational histories
• 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
• Consult with interdisciplinary teams to enhance coordination of care - ensure medical clearance - and provide for optimal timing of further interventions
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday - 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m
• Telework: Available ad-hoc only Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.