Position Number: 22081944
County: Saline
Anticipated Starting Salary: $67,182.96

Position Summary

The Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor is responsible for assisting individuals with physical, mental, developmental, or emotional disabilities to enter competitive employment. This position works with clients to overcome or manage the personal, social, or psychological effects of disabilities on employment. The position requires individuals to travel for itinerary points and community outreach. This position is governed by state and federal laws and agency policy.

Education and Professional Work Experience 

Minimum Qualifications

Master’s Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling, Psychology, Social Work, or a related field. Minimum of 4 years of experience in rehabilitation counseling, career counseling, or a comparable role. Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) may be required. Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) may be required. Additional certifications in disability advocacy or career development may be advantageous.

Preferred Qualification

• Experience with case management systems.
• Experience working with individuals with disabilities.
• Experience developing and conducting presentation for community outreach.
• Experience with the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Plan (WIOA) specifically pre-employment transition services.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong interpersonal, communication and counseling skills. 
• Knowledge of employment laws, vocationla rehabilitation strategies, and labor marker dynamics.
• Proficiency in case management software and familiarity with assistive technologies. 
• Empathy, patience, and the ability to build trust and rapport with varied clients. 

Job Responsibilities and Expected Results

1. Complete all appropriate forms and report information in the case management system.Provides case narratives that explain the progression of the case. Follows agency procedures on client contacts.
2. Follows agency procedures regarding service delivery and authorization of payments. 
3. Identifies, documents, and reports the credentials achieved, skills gained/achieved while in a credential program, or employment achieved when applicable to the student.
4. Develops and maintains referral sources, demonstrates collaborative activities including but not limited to Juvenile Justice facilities, High Schools, and other community resources.
5. Administers or arrange for assessment tools to identify vocational interests and career goals. 
6. Provide career counseling to students regarding chosen vocation, by helping students in assessment interpretation and program selection and sharing information on financial aid, social agencies providing support, and other educational institutions, and counseling individuals on time management and goal setting.
7. Counsel special needs students, and at-risk students, individually or in group sessions, concerning social, civic, personal, and educational problems, and refers to alternate sources for assistance. 
8. Work with instructors to develop an Individual Written Vocational Plan for special needs and disabled students and monitor the program by observing students' progress.
9. Recruit students by developing and making presentations at juvenile justice facilities, school curriculum to regional junior and senior high classes, counselors, civic organizations, social service agencies, and various other interest groups. 
10. Develop and maintain referral sources and community contacts.
11. Understand and remain compliant with policies and procedures.
12. Maintain an adequate rate of production in their assigned area and the required number of closures.
13. Evaluate job sites, obtain, and utilize current labor market information, establish and maintain rapport with the business community to facilitate work experiences, volunteer opportunities, internships, job shadowing opportunities, or other career exploration activities.
14. Monitor and document job market information, including local industry needs and vocational skill requirements for employment, and maintain confidential student records.
15. Provide a satisfactory level of counseling, assistance, and supportive services to assist the client in meeting their employment goal.
16. Assist instructors in obtaining and compiling student follow-up information, attend professional conferences and workshops, and assist with special school functions.
17.  May supervise a small administrative support staff.
18. Preserve the integrity of all employees, clients, and student information. Perform other duties as assigned.
19. Enter and maintain quarterly performance measures.

Key Business Processes

• Develop and maintain relationships with existing vendors and stakeholders.
• Develop and maintain relationships with community leaders
• Maintain and develop referral resources
• Maintaining accurate records and reports.
• Other duties as assigned.

Key Responsibilities

• Ability to assess medical records to determine vocational placement.
• Ability to articulate results of assessments to client.
• Ability to interact with interdisciplinary teams to provide services.
• Ability to provide career counseling.
• Ability to monitor client progress and document in the electronic case file system.
• Ability to interact with community service providers.
• Ability to develop presentations for possible vendors and/or potential referral sources.
• Ability to maintain a weekly schedule.
• Ability to exercise responsible discretion to preserve confidential information.
• Ability to work independently.
• Ability to develop, implement, and monitor and Individual Plan for Employment.
• Ability to utilize policy to provide quality services.