Senior Rehabilitation Specialist

State of Missouri; St. Louis (MO); On-site; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

The State of Missouri’s Family Support Division, Rehabilitation Services for the Blind, seeks a Senior Rehabilitation Specialist for the Blind to provide counseling, assessment, and program coordination in the St. Louis area.

You will develop and monitor IPEs, connect clients with vocational opportunities, and collaborate with employers and service partners. The role emphasizes independent work within agency guidelines, frequent travel for home visits and placement follow-ups, and commitment to

Qualifications

• Two or more years of experience as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor for the Blind.
• Bachelor's degree with at least 24 credit hours in Counseling, Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling, Disability Studies, Human Resources, Business Administration, Special Education, Psychology, or Social Work; and at least three years of professional experience serving individuals with disabilities.
• A Master’s degree may substitute for one year of the stated experience; CRC certification is also accepted.

Responsibilities

• Provide rehabilitation counseling services to consumers within the assigned district.
• Conduct in-depth interviews to gather medical, social, educational, and vocational histories.
• Arrange or administer tests to assess cognitive level, aptitudes, and abilities.
• Develop and implement an Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE) and facilitate service coordination.
• Utilize community resources and financial supports to enhance rehabilitation outcomes.
• Coordinate services such as training, equipment, job placement, and related support.
• Represent consumer interests to families, employers, schools, and health providers.
• Maintain relationships with state and community resources to ensure wraparound services.
• Travel to conduct home visits, meetings, and employer follow-ups.

Skills

Counseling skills

Interviewing

Case management

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree + 24 credits

Master's degree substitution

CRC certification

Job description

The Family Support Division, Rehabilitation Services for the Blind (RSB), is seeking applications for a Senior Rehabilitation Specialist for the Blind. The base location will be in St Louis County RSB Office located at 9900 Page Ave, St Louis, MO.

The Senior Rehabilitation Specialist works under the general supervision of the District Supervisor, but exercises increasing independence and initiative within established agency guidelines.

• Provides rehabilitation counseling services for consumers within an assigned district of the state.
• Conducts in-depth interviews of persons with disabilities to obtain information regarding medical and family history, social functioning, education, work experience, self- perception, attitudes, financial resources, and vocational interests.
• Arranges for and/or administers psychological tests to ascertain consumer's cognitive level, aptitudes, interests, and abilities.
• Collects, analyzes, and interprets medical, psychological, social, educational, and vocational data to determine the consumer's eligibility for services; negotiates, develops, and initiates a rehabilitation program and Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE), emphasizing the determination and achievement of an appropriate vocational goal through consumer participation.
• Manages, as directed, case service needs to ensure quality and cost-effective rehabilitation outcomes.
• Utilizes knowledge of community resources, and accesses other financial resources (comparable benefit analysis required by federal regulations) to reduce rehabilitation
• Achieves employment outcomes by implementing the consumer's IPE through authorizing, purchasing, arranging, referring for, and coordinating services, such as physical and mental restoration; educational and vocational training; computer and adaptive equipment; and job placement based on capacities and informed consumer
• Contacts employers to provide education and assess their needs; develops jobs and coordinates placement of consumers with employers.
• Represents the interest of the consumer regarding disability, independence, and employment; serves as a liaison to their family and support systems, community resources, businesses, government agencies, schools, health care facilities, physicians, service providers, employers, and others.
• Maintains relationships with other State and community support agencies to ensure wraparound employment services in accordance with federal guidelines.
• Travels frequently to conduct home visits, attend meetings and placement follow-ups with employers, and participate in training opportunities.
• Exercises increasing independence and initiative within established guidelines; receives general supervision from a district supervisor.
• Performs other related work as assigned.

Two or more years of experience as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor for the Blind with the Missouri Uniform Classification and Pay System.

OR A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a minimum of 24 earned credit hours in one or a combination of the following: Counseling, Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling, Disability Studies, Human Resources, Business Administration, Special Education, Psychology, or Social Work; and, Three or more years of professional experience providing services to and/or advocacy for individuals with disabilities.

(A Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in the specified fields may substitute for one year of the stated experience .)

OR Possession of a current Certified Rehabilitation Counselor certification issued by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification.

Individual(s) selected for this position may receive a higher rate based on a pay differential (e.g. shift, or time-of-service pay).

Recruitment Area: Accepting applications from all qualified applicants.

The State of Missouri is an equal opportunity employer.

The State of Missouri offers an excellent benefits package that includes a defined pension plan, generous amounts of leave and holiday time, and eligibility for health insurance coverage. Your total compensation is more than the dollars you receive in your paycheck. To help demonstrate the value of working for the State of Missouri, we have created an interactive Total Compensation Calculator. This tool provides a comprehensive view of benefits and more that are offered to prospective employees. The Total Compensation Calculator and other applicant resources can be found here.