State of Maryland

A Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist Supervisor is the supervisory level of work in rehabilitation or disability determination services in the Maryland Department of Education’s Division of Rehabilitation Services. Employees in this classification supervise activities within a geographic or programmatic area of Rehabilitation Services or supervise or assess the quality of all disability claims adjudication activities of a unit within the Disability Determination Services Program. Employees in this classification supervise Vocational Rehabilitation Specialists and support staff.

Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist Supervisors receive general supervision from a Vocational Rehabilitation Director or other designated administrator.

Positions in this classification are evaluated using the Classification Job Evaluation Methodology. The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of a class specification.

The Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist Supervisor is differentiated from the Vocational Rehabilitation Technical Specialist in that the Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist Supervisor has full supervisory responsibility for the Vocational Rehabilitation Specialists while the Vocational Rehabilitation Technical Specialist provides technical guidance in specialized disability or program areas to other vocational rehabilitation staff, State departments, community organizations and the general public. The Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist Supervisor is differentiated from Vocational Rehabilitation Director I in that the Vocational Rehabilitation Director I is an assistant director for a region or an assistant director for a subprogram in the Client Services or Disability Determination Services Programs.

When assigned to Rehabilitation Services:

Plans, coordinates, supervises and evaluates the work of Vocational Rehabilitation Specialists and support staff;

Trains Vocational Rehabilitation Specialists;

Administers activities within a geographic or programmatic area of Rehabilitation Services;

Identifies needs for and participates in the development and delivery of new services for clients with disabilities such as services for deaf/blind, employer advisory groups, specialized recreation programs, cooperative projects with institutions or higher education, advocacy services, and independent living and adjustment services;

Plans, initiates, and administers programs and services designed to assess the vocational, personal and social assets of persons with disabilities in support of their rehabilitation objectives;

Mediates client concerns involving the development and delivery of rehabilitation services;

Investigates and responds to legislative and advocacy group inquiries in coordination with the Program Director, regarding the delivery of services to consumers;

Conducts special studies and reviews to assess the quality of services being provided to consumers within an assigned area;

Develops and maintains cooperative working relationships with community organizations, State and federal agencies, local education agencies, legislative officials, the medical community and community rehabilitation providers;

Provides consultation and assistance to Vocational Rehabilitation Directors in activities related to the management and administration of rehabilitation programs;

Participates in the development and implementation of program policies and budgets;

Performs other related duties.

When assigned to Disability Determination Services:

Plans, coordinates, supervises and evaluates the work of Vocational Rehabilitation Specialists and support staff;

Trains Vocational Rehabilitation Specialists;

Administers or assesses the quality of all disability claims adjudication activities of a unit within the Disability Determination Services Program;

Plans, develops and implements disability claims adjudication processes that are in compliance with federal and State laws, regulations, policies and procedures;

Applies the policies, procedures, laws, regulations and directives governing the provision of disability determination services;

Establishes a plan for the development and adjudication of individual claims for Social Security Disability Benefits and Supplemental Security Income;

Determines the rationale for justifying the award or denial of Social Security Disability and Supplemental Security Income Benefits;

Manages the provision of services required to establish eligibility for benefits between vocational rehabilitation specialists, medical personnel and consultants;

Investigates and responds to legislative and Social Security Administration inquiries;

Maintains various records and reports required by the Social Security Administration, Division of Rehabilitation Services, and the Disability Determination Services Program;

Uses electronic software to review and monitor the timely processing of disability claims;

Develops and maintains cooperative working relationships with community organizations, State and federal agencies, local education agencies, legislative officials, the medical community and community rehabilitation providers;

Participates in the development and implementation of program policies and budgets;

Performs other related duties.