VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION COUNSELOR 3

State-of-Nevad; Las Vegas (NV); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

The Department of Employment, Training & Rehabilitation (DETR) in Las Vegas is recruiting for Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor III vacancies. The role involves making eligibility decisions, developing IPEs, mentoring VR Counselor II, and managing challenging cases to ensure timely service delivery.

Responsibilities include caseload management, client counseling, coordination with employers and service providers, and documentation of expenditures and outcomes to improve employment results for

Qualifications

• Master's degree in vocational rehabilitation counseling or related field with two years of professional experience in vocational rehabilitation counseling or a Bachelor's degree with three years of experience as described; or one year as VR Counselor II.
• Experience applying federal, state and agency regulations, policies and procedures for a public VR program; negotiating and resolving conflicts; and performing community outreach/public relations.

Responsibilities

• Make eligibility decisions and develop Individual Plans for Employment (IPE).
• Mentor VR Counselor II and handle challenging cases.
• Coordinate service delivery and job placement for clients; monitor caseload expenditures.
• Maintain case files with documentation and budget status; communicate with employers and service providers.

Skills

Counseling

Case management

Public relations

Communication

Education

Master's degree in vocational rehabilitation counseling or related field

Bachelor's degree in vocational rehabilitation counseling or related field

Job description

The Department of Employment, Training & Rehabilitation (DETR) is recruiting for Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor 3 vacancies in the Las Vegas area. The Rehabilitation Counselor 3 makes eligibility decisions for program services; provides eligible individuals with sufficient counseling and guidance to assist them to complete an adequate assessment of vocational needs; develops Individual Plans for Employment (IPE); manages cases in a manner that ensures timely case movement and delivery of services; ensures that accurate case documentation is in case files; ensures case expenditures are appropriate; completes required actions with sufficient written documentation and justification as needed to obtain the required number of employment outcomes. The incumbent will also act as a mentor to the Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor 2, handle challenging cases, and participate in special projects as assigned by their supervisor/management.

Vocational Rehabilitation Supervisors and Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors manage a caseload budget; determine eligibility or ineligibility; assess vocational rehabilitation needs; develop individualized plans for employment (IPE); coordinate the delivery of services; provide counseling and advocacy services; provide appropriate job placement; and determine employment outcome in order to minimize disabling conditions and reduce dependency for individuals whose mental or physical disability presents a barrier to employment and/or self-sufficiency. Master's degree from an accredited university in vocational rehabilitation counseling, health or social sciences, business administration, education, or closely related field, and two years of professional experience in vocational rehabilitation counseling which included making eligibility, ineligibility and employment outcome determinations by applying federal, state and agency regulations, policies and procedures for a public vocational rehabilitation program; negotiating and resolving conflicts; and performing community outreach public relations activities for an assigned program; OR Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in vocational rehabilitation counseling, health or social sciences, business administration, education, or closely related field and three years of professional experience as described above; OR one year of experience as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor II in Nevada State service; OR an equivalent combination of education and experience above the Bachelor's degree level as described above.

Manage the caseload budget; project and authorize expenditures to assess applicants and meet client needs for physical and mental restoration, training or other vocational rehabilitation services; establish priorities of case spending; track caseload expenses according to prevailing federal, State and agency policies and guidelines; identify and utilize other available financial resources to maximize the use of agency funds.

Interview applicants to establish case histories to include family background, social characteristics, education, work experience, health history and financial status; identify appropriate diagnostics, consultations, medical and psychological records needed to determine eligibility or ineligibility; schedule applicants for medical, psychological and vocational assessments; make referrals to other social services as appropriate.

Analyze data gathered to establish the existence of a disabling condition; determine physical and psychological limitations which are impediments to employment; determine the applicants' need for, and ability to benefit from, vocational rehabilitation services to obtain employment for eligibility purposes and plan development.

Determine and document ineligibility based on clear and convincing evidence which may include trial work periods.

Assess vocational rehabilitation needs of clients; identify medical, psychological, social, vocational, educational and other needs including unique strengths, resources, priorities and interests.

Develop an IPE; determine a realistic vocational goal with the informed choice of clients; identify specific intermediate objectives and strategies; determine evaluation criteria and schedules; identify service providers and coordinate service delivery; evaluate the effectiveness of services provided; ensure clients utilize available benefits and entitlements; provide required services; review and modify goals and strategies as needed.

Provide ongoing service coordination and advocacy on behalf of clients to facilitate the IPE; perform a variety of counseling to include adjustment, family, individual and group, and career and job readiness counseling; coordinate job placement services.

Assess job readiness; provide job seeking skills training; develop job placement resources by contacting local employers and private vendors to become familiar with the job market; provide information to local employers regarding agency program goals and State and federal employment incentives; advise and assist employers with appropriate work station modification to accommodate specific disabilities; provide on-the-job training, supportive work, selective job placement and follow-up.

Consult with doctors, psychologists, therapists, prosthesis manufacturers, hospital staffs and dentists to plan and coordinate delivery of physical and mental restoration services; refer clients to training programs in high schools, universities, vocational schools and arrange for mobility and independent living instruction as appropriate; authorize and monitor vocational assessment and vocational adjustment services to evaluate clients' physical and mental limitations, level of vocational functioning, attitude, motivation and work tolerance; consult with coworkers and service providers such as social workers, veterans' representatives and school officials to coordinate areas of overlapping services.

Maintain case files and document all activities and expenditures to include development of IPE, progress notations, correspondence, diagnostic and evaluative reports, case histories and budget status reports; collect, analyze, and report statistical and budget data related to caseloads.

Represent client and agency interests by attending meetings and community events and interacting with employers, other agencies, members of the community and local facilities and institutions; serve on committees and agency staffing to explore issues that impact the agency and its clientele.

Perform related duties as assigned.

Under general direction, incumbents perform the full range of duties described in the series concept at the advanced journey level and are responsible for managing the more complex and difficult cases for clients with significant disabilities and barriers to employment. Incumbents represent the agency and persons with disabilities to the community, educate the community about disability issues and agency programs, and develop available community resources by attending meetings and conferences, sitting on boards and committees, participating in required formal case reviews, and making presentations to provide interpretations of program regulations and guidelines. Work is assigned to meet agency goals and objectives. Goal attainment is determined and monitored through informational reports, formal discussions and casework review.

Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor IIIs are distinguished from lower level Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors as they also function as lead workers over permanently allocated staff and are responsible for assigning and reviewing work, training, and providing input on performance evaluations.

This job specification lists the major knowledge, skills and abilities of the job and is not all inclusive. Incumbent(s) will be expected to have knowledge, skills and abilities from a previous level.

Working knowledge of:

federal, State and agency regulations, policies, procedures and programs; provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Workforce Investment and Opportunity Act; strategies for negotiation and conflict resolution.

General knowledge of:

marketing strategies and techniques for vocational rehabilitation services.

Ability to:

function effectively in a public relations role to include public speaking in order to foster community understanding of disability issues.

Skill in:

determining eligibility and ineligibility and employment outcomes.