Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor I, II, III

This Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor role will serve as the Pre-Employment Transition Services Career Counselor to facilitate transitions of students with disabilities aged 14-22 from school to community. As a Career Counselor, you will facilitate activities designed to help students with disabilities prepare for adult life and career exploration. You will coordinate transition and Pre-ETS activities with the student, parent/guardian, educators, and service providers to ensure efficient service delivery. By coordinating early disability-employment interventions designed to help transition-age youth with disabilities develop skills and habits for adult life, this role increases their chance of future employment accessing post-secondary education.

Upon satisfactory completion of department promotional standards and job requirements, employees may be eligible to be promoted to the next level.

Essential functions are fundamental, core functions common to all positions in the class series and are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all job duties for any one position in the class.  Since class specifications are descriptive and not restrictive, employees can complete job duties of a similar kind not specifically listed here.

• Provides specialized vocational rehabilitation services, counseling, and support to clients and family members that promote successful employment and greater independence. 
• Conducts interviews and completes comprehensive assessments to identify a client’s aptitudes, abilities, education level, interests, and to gather or verify other relevant data.
• Obtains and evaluates employment, medical, psychological, psychiatric, social, educational, and vocational information to determine eligibility for and provision of vocational rehabilitation services and identify client needs and appropriate resources. 
• Develops employment rehabilitation plans that identify services, establish performance measures, and outline goals that align with each client’s abilities and priorities.
• Identifies barriers to client employment, such as inaccessible work sites, inflexible schedules, or transportation problems, and works with clients to develop strategies for overcoming these barriers.
• Provides individualized services such as career counseling, guidance, and job training, and participates in job development and placement programs including contacting prospective employers, placing clients in jobs, and evaluating placement outcomes.
• Ensures compliance with agency, state, and federal laws, rules, regulations, professional mandates, and best practices.
• Coordinates and integrates a variety of services with other agencies, medical facilities, educational institutions, and community resources to meet client employment goals and needs.
• Tracks and monitors progress in achieving identified goals and performance measures through regular contact with clients and makes necessary adjustments. 
• Prepares and maintains a variety of records and reports that clearly and accurately document details and outcomes of each case. 
• Uses automated case management systems and computer software to research, review, analyze, document, and report on client information.  
• Meets with clients and family members through telephone, email, and in-person interactions. 
• Communicates and interacts effectively with people across cultures, ranges of ability, genders, ethnicities, ages, and races.
• Performs other related duties as required.

JOB REQUIREMENTS for Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor I
Applicants must have education, training and/or experience demonstrating competence in each of the following areas:

1. Possession of a Bachelors degree or higher in Rehabilitation Counseling, Social, Health or Behavioral Science, Education, or related field.
2. Coursework, training, and/or work experience in case management such as assessing, planning, developing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating options and services to meet an individual’s human service needs using effective counseling or interviewing techniques as well as other available resources such as service plans or case management systems.
3. Coursework, training, and/or work experience in health or human services work such as applying theories, principles, laws and practices of health or human services programs and services that assist with and improve life for individuals, families, or communities such as financial support, employment, unemployment, housing, health care, disease prevention, substance abuse, child protective services, physical/mental health treatment and prevention or vocational rehabilitation.
4. Coursework, training, and/or work experience in narrative report writing.

JOB REQUIREMENTS for Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor II
Applicants must have education, training and/or experience demonstrating competence in each of the following areas:

1. Possession of a Bachelors degree or higher in Rehabilitation Counseling, Social, Health or  Behavioral Science, Education, or related field.
2. One year of experience in performing vocational rehabilitation work to assist eligible individuals achieve employment by providing services such as conducting comprehensive assessments, determining eligibility, developing rehabilitation plans, and coordinating or directly providing career counseling, training, or job placement services.
3. One year of experience in case management such as assessing, planning, developing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating options and services to meet an individual’s human service needs using effective counseling or interviewing techniques as well as other available resources such as service plans or case management systems.
4. One year of experience in preparing case summaries and reports that clearly and accurately document findings, supporting facts, and recommendations.
5. Six months’ experience in ensuring compliance vocational rehabilitation laws, rules, regulations, standards, policies and procedures.

JOB REQUIREMENTS for Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor III
Applicants must have education, training and/or experience demonstrating competence in each of the following areas:

The State of Delaware recognizes the value of telework and flexible working schedules. This position is eligible for Telework according to the State of Delaware’s Alternative Work Arrangement Policy. More information will be shared at the time of interview.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. The State of Delaware Executive Branch participates in the Federal E-Verify system where the State will provide the federal government with each new hires Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. For more information refer to our job seeker resources.

All new hires are required to report to the Statewide New Employee Orientation (SNEO) on their first day of employment. Sessions are held at designated locations in Kent or New Castle County.

Criminal background check:  A satisfactory criminal background check is required as a condition of hire.  The recruiting agency may require the applicant to pay for the criminal background check as part of the conditional offer of hire.

To learn more about the comprehensive benefit package please visit our website at https://dhr.delaware.gov/benefits/

The application and supplemental questionnaire are evaluated based upon a rating of your education, training and experience as they relate to the job requirements of the position.  It is essential that you provide complete and accurate information on your application and the supplemental questionnaire to include dates of employment, job title and job duties.  For education and training, list name of educational provider, training course titles and summary of course content.   Narrative information supplied in response to the questions must be supported by the information supplied on the application including your employment, education and training history as it relates to the job requirements.

Once you have submitted your application on-line, all future correspondence related to your application will be sent via email.  Please keep your contact information current.  You may also view all correspondence sent to you by the State of Delaware in the “My Applications” tab at StateJobs.Delaware.gov.

Accommodations are available for applicants with disabilities in all phases of the application and employment process. 

Individuals who use TDD may request auxiliary aid or service by calling (800) 232-5470 or by visiting delawarerelay.com. 

If you need assistance with an accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or general applicant support, you may call (302) 739-5458 or email jobs@delaware.gov.

The State of Delaware is an Equal Opportunity employer and values a diverse workforce. We strongly encourage and seek out a workforce representative of Delaware including race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression.