Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor

ServiceSource Inc; Gainesville (FL); On-site; USD 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health coverage for you and family

Company-matched retirement plan (403b)

Flexible spending accounts

Employee wellness program

Tuition assistance

Generous paid time off

Job summary

ServiceSource in Gainesville, FL is seeking a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC) to guide individuals with disabilities toward competitive employment in the least restrictive environment. You will coordinate VR services from intake to placement, and develop Individualized Plans for Employment with customer participation.

Responsibilities include eligibility determinations, assisting youth under WIOA, maintaining caseloads per VR guidelines, and liaising with local employers.

Qualifications

• A Bachelor's Degree (BA/BS) with a major in a social/behavioral or rehabilitative science, education, or related field, and one year of professional experience in counseling or in a public vocational rehabilitation program required.
• A Master's Degree (MA/MS) can substitute for one year of required experience.
• Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) certification preferred.
• Valid driver's license and/or access to reliable transportation to perform work-related travel required.
• Background screening through the Clearinghouse required upon extension of a conditional offer.

Responsibilities

• Provide guidance and counseling to individuals with disabilities to attain competitive employment.
• Coordinate rehabilitation services from intake through plan development and placement services.
• Provide information to facilitate informed choices regarding planned program services.
• Write and initiate Individualized Plans for Employment per state and federal guidelines.
• Serve youth under WIOA regulations and manage caseload per VR guidelines.
• Develop employer contacts and liaise with local employers.
• Collaborate with DOE/DVR team members in employment service activities.
• Document rehabilitation process in client files and ensure compliance with regulations.
• Maintain financial accountability and manage resources per state/federal rules.

Skills

Counseling knowledge

Verbal and written communication

Data collection and analysis

Interviewing techniques

Problem solving

Interpersonal relationships

Education

Bachelor's Degree in social/behavioral/rehabilitative science

Master's Degree substitute for experience

CRC certification preferred

Job description

Make an impact by joining ServiceSource, a champion for people with disabilities. Explore new opportunities! ServiceSource is an organization of talented people who drive innovation, embrace change, and strengthen communities. This is a full-time in-office/on‑site position. There is no remote work eligibility.

Job Summary

This position will have primary responsibility for providing guidance and counseling in a professional manner to individuals with disabilities in order that they may attain and maintain competitive employment in the least restrictive environment. The Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC) will be responsible for ensuring consumer choice throughout the Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) process. The VRC will coordinate rehabilitation services from intake through plan development and placement services. The VRC will provide consumers with information to facilitate informed choices regarding planned program services.

Primary Duties

• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Rehabilitate eligible applicants who are severely and most severely disabled.
• To perform eligibility determinations for program applicants in compliance with State and Federal Guidelines.
• To write and initiate Individualized Plans for Employment in compliance with State and Federal Guidelines.
• To serve in school youth ages 14-21 under regulations of Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA).
• Maintain a caseload that follows VR Guidelines, Policies and Best Practices to maintain area compliance pertaining to Alerts, Things to Do, Days in Status and all other aspects of proper case management.

Additional Responsibilities

Knowledge of the theories and practices of vocational rehabilitation counseling; case work principles, practices, and techniques; professional ethics relating to vocational rehabilitation counseling; vocational rehabilitation process as it relates to purchase of services for clientele; and methods of data collection and analysis.

Provide and coordinate professional vocational rehabilitation counseling to individuals with a diversity of disabilities in order that they may attain employment.

Access client information, maintain case records, produce correspondence, and perform other automated functions within the scope of the position’s responsibilities; assess medical, psychological, and vocational information to determine eligibility.

Develop an Individualized Plan for employment with the full participation of the customer with a disability to determine employment outcomes.

Conduct in‑depth interviews with individuals with disabilities requiring rehabilitation strategies to determine eligibility for vocational rehabilitation services and the feasibility for achieving employment outcomes.

Provide information to assist individuals with disabilities in making informed choices regarding services, service providers, and employment outcomes; negotiate with individuals with disabilities regarding plan development.

Develop employer contacts and serve as liaison with local employers.

Collaborate with Department of Education (DOE)/Department of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) team members in employment service activities.

Utilize the resources of community rehabilitation in securing appropriate employment services for eligible individuals with disabilities.

Manage resources to ensure financial accountability according to state and federal regulations.

Collaborate with community partners to assure appropriate use of available resources.

Participate in training experiences designed to enhance professional competency in vocational rehabilitation.

Successfully rehabilitate customers in accordance with established goals.

Provide guidance and counseling to customers during the entire rehabilitation process.

Document the rehabilitation process in the client’s case file in accordance with federal and state regulations and policies.

Fiscally account for all client services expenditures.

Review and comply with Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) Code of Ethics Guidelines To provide Pre‑ETS services to Youth under the WIOA guidelines

Complete all travel requests and travel reimbursement in a timely and accurate manner, complete timesheets in a timely and accurate manner. Ensure that all expenses are turned in during the month that they are incurred.

WIOA Deliverables: Employment Rate 2nd quarter after exit Employment Rate 4th quarter after exit Median earnings in the second quarter after exit Credential Attainment Measurable Skill Gains Effectiveness in Serving Employers.

Perform other responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications: Education, Experience, and Certification(s)

• A Bachelor's Degree (BA/BS) from an accredited college or university with a major in a social, behavioral or rehabilitative science, education, or related field, and one year of professional experience in counseling or in a public vocational rehabilitation program required.
• A Master's Degree (MA/MS) from an accredited college or university in a social, behavioral or rehabilitative science or education program can substitute for one year of required experience.
• Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) certification preferred.
• Valid driver’s license and/or access to reliable transportation to perform work-related travel required. Eligible drivers must have a good motor vehicle record (MVR).
• This agency requires a background screening to be completed through the Clearinghouse upon extension of a conditional offer of employment. Attached below is a link to the Clearinghouse website for your reference and educational review to better understand the process. https://info.flclearinghouse.com

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of the theories and practices in counseling.
• Knowledge of the principles and techniques of effective verbal and written communications.
• Knowledge of the methods of compiling, organizing, and analyzing data.
• Knowledge of medical and psychological aspects of disability groups.
• Knowledge of interviewing techniques.
• Ability to interview clients in order to determine eligibility for VR services.
• Ability to compile, organize and analyze medical and psychological data.
• Ability to develop individual vocational rehabilitation programs and assess test results.
• Ability to plan, organize and coordinate work assignments.
• Ability to communicate effectively.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
• Knowledge of the methods of data collection and analysis.
• Ability to conduct fact finding research.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
• Ability to use problem solving techniques.

Physical Demands

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to walk and sit. The employee may occasionally lift or move products and supplies, up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment

The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet.

What We Offer – for Benefit Eligible Employees May Include:

• Health coverage for you and your family through Medical, Dental, and Vision plans.
• Financial protection with 100% company paid Disability, Life, Accidental Death & Dismemberment insurance.
• A 403(b)-Retirement plan in which the company matches dollar for dollar on a generous percentage matching up to 3% of your contribution.
• Tax advantages through Flexible Spending and Health Savings accounts that allow you to pay for specific healthcare and dependent care expenses with pre‑tax dollars.
• To help you manage your work and life needs, we offer an Employee Assistance Program, Wellness Program, and Tuition Assistance.
• A generous paid time‑off program in which the benefits increase based on your tenure with the company.

We are an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, making employment decisions without regard to a person’s race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity and transgender status), national origin, age (40 or older), veteran status, disability, or any other protected class. We are an E-Verify Employer and a drug‑free workplace. Pre‑employment background checks are required for all employment positions.

PAY TRANSPARENCY POLICY STATEMENT:

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information ServiceSource is a 501(c)(3) organization with programs and operations in more than a dozen states and the District of Columbia. ServiceSource has affiliate organizations in Delaware, Florida, North Carolina, Utah and Virginia.

Collectively, the organization serves more than 35,000 individuals with disabilities annually through a range of innovative and valued employment, training, habilitation, housing and other support services. Our proven collaborative approach helps foster a community where individuals with disabilities can succeed and thrive. Strategic partnerships with local community businesses, government entities and nonprofits help bridge the gaps for individuals with disabilities, creating sustainable opportunities that benefit the entire community and result in greater independence for the individual.