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Veterans Health Administration is Hiring a Rehabilitation Counselor (Supported Employment Mentor Trainer) Near Aspinwall, PA

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:

• United States 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
  (4) 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.

Grade Determination: Rehabilitation Counselor, GS-12

Experience.Completion of one year of professional experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, GS-11, directly related to the position being filled. Experience includes: Provide personal adjustment counseling, therapeutic rehabilitation interventions and case coordination services, utilizing evidence-informed and evidence-based modalities to aid Veterans with severe disabilities in achieving competitive employment and educational and independent living goals. Conduct biopsychosocial assessments using medical records, pertinent disability documentation, observation and interviews with Veterans and their support systems to generate personal, vocational, and educational histories. Select, administer and interpret vocational instruments to evaluate abilities, aptitudes, interests, values, preferences, transferrable skills and overall work resilience. Customize vocational exploration activities for identification of self determined rehabilitation needs and goals. Consult with interdisciplinary teams (IDT) to enhance coordination of care, ensure medical clearance, and provide for optimal timing of further interventions. Synthesize assessment information to identify barriers to employment and their vocational implications. Determine clinical need for and capacity to benefit from therapeutic and rehabilitation services to include: work restoration/resilience treatment, transitional work placement and compensation, supported employment, assistive technology, financial benefits counseling and potential benefits protections. Develop patient-centered treatment plans utilizing SMART goals and provides ongoing assessment of Veteran's progress. Procure and manage transitional work agreements from community, state and federal agencies. Monitor work site compliance with agreements to ensure Veterans are appropriately trained and evaluated consistent with industry standards. Devise solutions to reduce and/or eliminate barriers and meet Veterans' placement needs which may require substantial modification to environmental or functional demands within a work setting. Provide psychoeducational groups to teach effective job search skills, employer-desired soft skills and life skills fostering independence. Complete interpretive data reports. Provide disability education and program-specific training to staff and stakeholders.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

1. Ability to apply and teach principles and practices of the evidence-based model of individual placement and support, supported employment (IPS, SE), by engaging others in multiple training methods including hands-on, virtual and telephone trainings, utilizing excellent consultative, facilitative and organizational skills as well as coaching/listening skills.
2. Ability to conduct in person coaching, develop community-wide learning events, and lead mock SE fidelity reviews to provide feedback regarding SE program services and adherence to the SE model.
3. Skill to apply principles and practices of IPS, SE, psychiatric rehabilitation and recovery principles, customized employment and fidelity scale measures to successfully engage Veterans and care providers in the rehabilitation process.
4. Skill to apply advanced counseling skills, crisis intervention and personal and family counseling to intercede on behalf of Veterans, their families and significant others needing specific assistance with employment, housing and finances.

References: VA HANDBOOK 5005, PART II, APPENDIX G62

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-12.

Physical Requirements: The work is sedentary. Typically, the employee may sit comfortably to do the work. However, there may be some walking; standing; bending; carrying of light items such as papers, books, small parts; driving an automobile, etc. No special physical demands are required to perform the work.

Responsibilities:

Rehabilitation Counselors are located within various settings, including Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISNs), VHA Medical Centers and facilities, Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs), Inpatient Clinics, Outpatient Clinics, residential programs and Domiciliaries throughout the United States.

• Serves as a Rehabilitation Counselor, Compensated Work Therapy - Supported Employment (CWT SE) Mentor Trainer on SE services within the Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN). Provides training, guidance, consultation, and facilitation to VISN-wide or national SE providers on recovery-oriented rehabilitation services, evidenced-based, and evidence informed services related to Individualized Placement and Support (IPS) models within supported employment. The incumbent also assists with expansion of supported employment programs and provide guidance on the establishment of new evidence-based CWT SE services.
• Develops curricula and uses teaching methods contextualized for adult learning styles.
  Determines the areas of training needed and skill requirements. Assesses and makes recommendations addressing the training needs of SE providers on the strategies and practices of evidence-based models used to meet the objectives of the Veteran. Communicates regularly with the VHA Voc Rehab Supervisors within the VISN about the programmatic needs of SE staff and the implementation of services.
• Applies and teaches principles and practices of the evidence-based models of IPS SE by engaging others in multiple training methods including hands-on, virtual, and telephone trainings. Participates in and/or facilitates regularly scheduled SE clinical conference calls and the national mentor trainer meetings. Reviews outcome data and discusses data implications for the delivery of employment services within the VISN learning community of SE providers.
• Creates and leads learning communities consisting of all SE providers by developing workshops, scheduling guest speakers, providing consultations, facilitating discussions on email groups, sharing resource materials, and facilitating networking among VISN SE sites.
• Organizes training events on CWT SE services. Leads VISN-wide CWT SE programs on best practices, use of fidelity scale to guide service delivery, and in the analysis, development, and implementation of the IPS SE model as directed by VA Central Office (VACO).
• Disseminates communications with supervisors and CWT SE staff. Provides technical assistance to staff and managers and collaborates with programs to prepare for periodic fidelity reviews and accreditation surveys. Conducts in-person coaching as feasible (otherwise virtually face-to-face when necessary), develops community-wide learning events, and provides consultation based on the sites' self-assessment to the conformance of the SE fidelity scale.
• Determine clinical need for and capacity to benefit from therapeutic and rehabilitation services to include competitive employment, assistive technology, job accommodations, disability and employment advocacy, financial benefits counseling and potential benefits protections. Consult with interdisciplinary teams (IDT) to enhance coordination of care, ensure medical clearance, and provide for optimal timing of further interventions. Collaborates with the Veteran and treatment team to identify solutions to reduce and/or eliminate barriers and meet Veterans' employment needs which may require substantial modification to environmental or functional demands within a work setting. Develop patient-centered treatment plans utilizing Specific, Measurable, Agreed upon, Realistic, and Time-based (SMART) goals and provides ongoing assessment of Veteran's progress

Work Schedule: 7:30am to 4:00p, Monday thru Friday
Telework: May be authorized per agency policy and will be discussed during interview process.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: FS#000000 Rehabilitation Counselor
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Job Summary