Rehabilitation Counselor, Full Time

Rehabilitation Counselors in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) work with people who experience functional impairments and disabilities. They 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.

United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy

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)

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.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

Rehabilitation Counselor - GS-09 Experience

In addition to meeting the experience or educational requirements for this grade level - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: 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

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

Rehabilitation Counselor - GS-11 Experience

A doctoral degree in rehabilitation counselor education or related field (e.rehabilitation psychology) from a CACREP accredited institution or from an institution accredited by a national or regional accrediting body accredited by CHEA

In addition to meeting the experience or educational requirements for this grade level - 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 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

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 lifestyle - specific factors - and dynamics associated with Veterans - particularly combat Veterans - to assist those who are returning to community and community based-work

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-9 to GS-11

May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment

Work Environment: Work is performed in an office/clinic setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautions

Providing personal adjustment counseling - therapeutic rehabilitation interventions - and case coordination services

Using 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

Providing 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 - such as physical - psychosocial - psychological or neurological barriers - integrate successfully into the community

Using effective counseling skills to promote self-awareness - adjustment to disability - enhanced job retention and successful integration to the community

Conducting biopsychosocial assessments using medical records - pertinent disability documentation - observation and interviews with Veterans and their support systems to generate personal - vocational - and educational histories

Customizing vocational exploration activities to identify self-determined rehabilitation needs and goals

Determining clinical need for and capacity to benefit from therapeutic and rehabilitation services to include work restoration/resilience treatment - transitional work placement and/or competitive employment - assistive technology - financial benefits counseling and potential benefits protections

Devising solutions to reduce and/or eliminate barriers and meet Veterans' placement needs which may require substantial modification to environmental or functional demands within a work setting

Providing disability education and program-specific training to staff and stakeholders

Providing 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

Adhering to the professional rehabilitation standards of the Joint Commission and CARF

Work Schedule: Monday though Friday 7:30am to 4:00pm (subject to change based on needs of the Agency) Telework: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position

Functional Statement #: 00290 and 00291 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Create a Job Match for Similar Jobs 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.

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