USAJOBS · 2 months ago
Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist
Aurora, Colorado, USA
Full-time
Onsite
Entry, Mid Level
$82K/yr - $107K/yr
1+ years expUSAJOBS is seeking a Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist assigned to the Therapeutic Supported Employment Services/Compensated Work Therapy Program within the VA Eastern Colorado Healthcare System. The role involves providing a wide range of vocational services to veteran patients with disabilities, helping them overcome barriers to employment and facilitating their integration into the workforce.
ConsultingGovernmentHuman ResourcesInformation TechnologyInternetStaffing Agency
No H1B
U.S. Citizen Only
Responsibilities
Must develop the training program around the residual capacities of the individual. Must exercise much care to see that the program does not result in a training course job which exceeds the severely reduced work tolerances of the individual
Recognize and determine the extent of need and provide for such special training prior or as a supplement to the job training
Receives and responds in a timely manner to referrals of veterans who are interested in vocational rehabilitation services. Performs initial vocational assessments examining work history, previous education and training sources of income, transportation issues, disabling conditions. vocational needs and goals, and other factors. Assesses veteran's vocational functioning on an ongoing basis, while services are being provided
The specialist must have the ability to recognize, respect, and effectively deal with the values and cultural beliefs of the client. Is expected to assess needs commonly related to physical limitations, unique psychological needs, and age associated illness. Must be able to address growth and developmental needs of the patient population served. Collaborates and coordinates with both internal and external customers to develop new training opportunities to address gaps in available training programs and services. May be required to work collaboratively with an interdisciplinary team such as the PTSD RRTP, TBI, or MHICM team, etc
Documents patient encounters in the computerized patient record system (CPRS). Records vocational rehabilitation interventions and the veteran's vocational progress in CPRS. For program evaluation purposes, gathers and electronically submits data required by the Northeast Program Evaluation Center (NEPEC), in accordance with NEPEC and VA Central Office guidelines
Initiates contacts with local businesses and governmental agencies that provide work opportunities for veterans. Keeps up-to-date on the local job market. Based on individualized assessment, places veteran in Transitional Work (TW) for evaluative and training purposes or, competitive, Supported Employment (SE)
Individualizes placements according to the interests, abilities, and other characteristics of the veterans served. Visits worksites to directly observe performance and to discuss progress with patients and supervisors. Advises worksite supervisors as to possible reasonable accommodations that might improve patients' abilities to work and be productive. Specialist must work with employers and work cultures that may be less than enthusiastic and will require considerable persuasion to convince them of the employee's ability to contribute and be productive
Considers a variety of resources and opportunities that may be beneficial to patients. When appropriate, refers veterans to various resources. For example, refers service connected veterans (who appear to meet the eligibility criteria) to the Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment program at the VA Regional Office. Serves patients who are very difficult to place due to their disability status and/or other factors. Exercises professional skill, ingenuity, and persuasiveness in seeking to help patients develop or reestablish the skills, attitudes, and other characteristics that will enable them to obtain and maintain employment
Communicates with clinical staff members who are providing treatment to the patients served. Coordinates and integrates vocational services with the other treatment being provided. Engages in travel outside the medical center to meet with employers, representatives of community agencies, and veterans participating in vocational training or employment. Maintains and upgrades professional knowledge and skills through participation in appropriate training and continuing education activities
Qualification
Required
Must develop the training program around the residual capacities of the individual
Must exercise much care to see that the program does not result in a training course job which exceeds the severely reduced work tolerances of the individual
Recognize and determine the extent of need and provide for such special training prior or as a supplement to the job training
Receives and responds in a timely manner to referrals of veterans who are interested in vocational rehabilitation services
Performs initial vocational assessments examining work history, previous education and training sources of income, transportation issues, disabling conditions, vocational needs and goals, and other factors
Assesses veteran's vocational functioning on an ongoing basis, while services are being provided
The specialist must have the ability to recognize, respect, and effectively deal with the values and cultural beliefs of the client
Is expected to assess needs commonly related to physical limitations, unique psychological needs, and age associated illness
Must be able to address growth and developmental needs of the patient population served
Collaborates and coordinates with both internal and external customers to develop new training opportunities to address gaps in available training programs and services
May be required to work collaboratively with an interdisciplinary team such as the PTSD RRTP, TBI, or MHICM team, etc
Documents patient encounters in the computerized patient record system (CPRS)
Records vocational rehabilitation interventions and the veteran's vocational progress in CPRS
For program evaluation purposes, gathers and electronically submits data required by the Northeast Program Evaluation Center (NEPEC), in accordance with NEPEC and VA Central Office guidelines
Initiates contacts with local businesses and governmental agencies that provide work opportunities for veterans
Keeps up-to-date on the local job market
Based on individualized assessment, places veteran in Transitional Work (TW) for evaluative and training purposes or, competitive, Supported Employment (SE)
Individualizes placements according to the interests, abilities, and other characteristics of the veterans served
Visits worksites to directly observe performance and to discuss progress with patients and supervisors
Advises worksite supervisors as to possible reasonable accommodations that might improve patients' abilities to work and be productive
Specialist must work with employers and work cultures that may be less than enthusiastic and will require considerable persuasion to convince them of the employee's ability to contribute and be productive
Considers a variety of resources and opportunities that may be beneficial to patients
When appropriate, refers veterans to various resources
Serves patients who are very difficult to place due to their disability status and/or other factors
Exercises professional skill, ingenuity, and persuasiveness in seeking to help patients develop or reestablish the skills, attitudes, and other characteristics that will enable them to obtain and maintain employment
Communicates with clinical staff members who are providing treatment to the patients served
Coordinates and integrates vocational services with the other treatment being provided
Engages in travel outside the medical center to meet with employers, representatives of community agencies, and veterans participating in vocational training or employment
Maintains and upgrades professional knowledge and skills through participation in appropriate training and continuing education activities
You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
Subject to background/security investigation
Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)
As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 2-year probation period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest
Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement
For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-9
The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service
An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials
If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement
In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade
Major study -- vocational rehabilitation, vocational or educational counseling, or other fields related to the position
Examples of qualifying specialized experience include: Work that required obtaining and applying occupational information for people with disabilities, knowledge of the interrelationships of the involved professional and specialist services, and skill in employing the methodology and techniques of counseling to motivate and encourage individuals served by the program
Experience that demonstrated knowledge of the vocational rehabilitation problems characteristic of the disabled, including familiarity with available resources and skill in identifying, evaluating, and making effective use of such resources to serve individuals with disabilities; or of the disadvantaged, including knowledge of adjustment problems of the educationally or culturally disadvantaged, familiarity with available adult education and training resources, and ability to recognize problem areas needing special attention
Experience in vocational guidance or teaching in a recognized vocational rehabilitation program or school, developmental or supervisory work in programs of vocational rehabilitation or training programs for the disadvantaged, or personnel or employment placement work that provided extensive knowledge of the training and adjustment requirements necessary to place persons having disabilities or social adjustment problems
You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-9 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization
Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Possess the ability to recognize, respect, and effectively deal with the values and cultural beliefs of the client; Documents patient encounters, vocational rehabilitation interventions and the veteran's vocational progress in the computerized patient record system (CPRS); Finds suitable employment opportunities in the community by visiting employment and educational sites
Monitors placement, promoting successful adjustment; Assists veterans in obtaining information about their benefits (e.g., Social Security, service-connected compensation, VA Pension) and counsels them about the effects of work therapy participation or employment on these benefits; Assess needs commonly related to physical limitations, unique psychological needs, and age associated illness; Gathers and electronically submits data required by the Northeast Program Evaluation Center (NEPEC); Initiates contacts with local businesses and governmental agencies that provide work opportunities for veterans
Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience
To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a doctoral degree OR three (3) full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, with a major study in vocational rehabilitation, vocational or educational counseling or other fields related to the position OR a LL.M
Transcripts Required
Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level
You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond beyond graduate education directly related to the work of the position and specialized experience, as outlined above
You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Attention to Detail, Customer Service, Decision Making, Flexibility, Integrity/Honesty, Interpersonal Skills, Learning, Reading Comprehension, Reasoning, Self-Management, Stress Tolerance, Teamwork
A current, valid state issued Driver's License is required
Benefits
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent.
Company
USAJOBS
USAJOBS enables federal job seekers to access job opportunities across hundreds of federal agencies and organizations.
10001+ employees
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageRecent News
Company data provided by crunchbase