Rehabilitation Counselor

Summary

This position is organizationally located at the William S. Middleton Memorial VA Medical Center (VAMC) - Madison - Wisconsin - in the Mental Health (MH) Division. Rehabilitation Counselors utilize various professional counseling and clinical modalities to promote and support optimal functioning - independence - personal adjustment - adaptation to disability - community reintegration - and recovery. **Driving is required for patient care - but not travel.

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic Requirements

• US Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• Education
• 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) Certification
• 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.S.C.
• 7405(a)(1)(D)
• 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
• Failure to Obtain Certification
• In all cases - RCs must actively pursue meeting prerequisites for certification starting from the date of their appointment
• This includes working towards completion of CRCC's required acceptable employment experience and completing required CRCC documentation to verify employment experience and supervision by a CRC
• At the time of appointment - the RC supervisor will provide the RC with the written requirements for certification - including the time by which the certification must be obtained and the consequences for not becoming certified by the deadline
• Failure to become certified within the prescribed amount of time will result in removal from the GS-0101 RC series and may result in termination of employment English Language Proficiency
• Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C.
• 7403(f)
• May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria)
• GS-12- Rehabilitation Counselor (Coordinator) Experience
• Completion of one year of professional experience at the next lower grade level directly related to the position being filled
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Ability to address complexity of psychosocial rehabilitation factors and deliver timely and high-quality outcomes consistent with statutes - regulations and policies
• Theoretical and practical knowledge of a range of rehabilitation service delivery systems for the administration and management of a clinical rehabilitation program
• Ability to initiate and lead interdisciplinary groups of staff utilizing sound judgement and decision-making to improve customer service while delivering Veteran-focused and outcome-oriented health care
• Knowledge of applicable accreditation bodies and standards to ensure long-term compliance
• Knowledge of business administration practices such as managing participant payroll - accounting - billing - marketing - workforce development (vocational - educational and placement of Veterans) services and/or customer service to successfully operate a rehabilitation employment program
• For all assignments above the full performance level - the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope - administrative independence - complexity (difficulty) and range of variety as described in this standard at the specified grade level and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time
• Assists with the management of a clinical rehabilitation service delivery system within an organization which may include housing - independent living - vocational and educational services
• Utilize complex rehabilitation counseling skills and motivational interviewing techniques not typically required in routine practice to assess a Veteran's self-awareness - adjustment to disability and work resilience
• Exhibit clinical expertise through timely application of therapeutic interventions - case coordination - crisis intervention - IDT consultation - rehabilitation plan development and ongoing assessment and job development practices
• Exercise professional judgement to arrange for suitable placement of Veterans with the most severe disabilities and employment challenges through skillful analysis of their abilities - aptitudes - preferences - disability conditions and resulting impairments
• Ensure timely and accurate Veteran Compensated Work Therapy-Transitional Work (CWT-TW) payrolls - bills of collection - CWT Account balances - deposits to CWT Account and ensure all expenditures utilize approved budgeting procedures - including internal controls and separation of duties
• Provide input and guidance on program evaluations - strategic plans and policy considerations to supervisor as appropriate for all interested VA entities and accrediting bodies
• Monitor progress towards accomplishment of program goals and examines the benefits of process improvements
• Provide oversight - support and feedback to lower level RCs and student interns on work assignments - time and caseload management and employment outcomes
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Service
  
  

Duties

• Serves as a Rehabilitation Counselor (Coordinator) with responsibility for coordinating and assisting with the management within a VHA VR Program which provides vocational and educational services
• This role provides coordination for a programmatic area for the CWT/Transitional Residence (TR) Program and will also be able to perform all services within the umbrella of CWT including but not limited to Supported Employment - Transitional Work - Vocational Assistance - Community Based Employment Services - Supported Education and Supported Self-Employment as part of the regular duties
• Administrative: Addresses the complexities of psychosocial rehabilitation factors and timely and high-quality outcomes consistent with statutes - regulations - and policies
• Resolves issues associated with specific projects involving best practices and provides leadership and direction on project implementation
• Coordinates workforce development (vocational - education - residential - and placement of Veterans) services and/or customer service to successfully operate a rehabilitation program
• Uses sound judgment and decision-making while initiating and leading interdisciplinary groups of staff to improve customer service while delivering Veteran-focused and outcome oriented care
• Provides input and guidance on program evaluations - strategic plans - and policy considerations to the supervisor as appropriate for all interested VA entities and accrediting bodies Many more additional duties Clinical: Provide a variety of rehabilitation services using counseling practices and evidence based and informed modalitiesto aid Veterans with severe disabilitiesin achieving competitive employment - educational - and independent living goals
• These rehabilitation services involve personal adjustment counseling - therapeutic rehabilitation interventions and case coordination services - and professional counseling practices
• The CWT/TR Coordinator will facilitate and participate in the screening - admission and orientation process of Residential Treatment
• The incumbent will maintain appropriate patient flow and day-to-day activities
• including providing case management services - referral and information - address rule violations - facilitate house meetings - discharge and transition planning - and aftercare services to Veterans in the Transitional Residence program
• Provides clinical expertise through the timely application of therapeutic interventions - case coordination - crisis intervention - interdisciplinary team consultation - rehabilitation plan development - and ongoing assessment and transition planning
• Supports informed decision making while using professional judgment and counseling skills to assist the Veteran in identifying suitable competitive employment and placement opportunities
• Conducts a skillful analysis of their abilities - aptitudes - strengths - needs - preferences - disability conditions - and resulting impairments to guide Veterans with severe disabilities and employment challenges in achieving their goals
• **Driving is required for patient care - but not travel
• Extra additional duties Work Schedule: Monday-Friday - 8:00am-4:30pm Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized Telework: Ad-Hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 07328F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized