Positions in this job family are assigned responsibilities for performing complex professional work in program consultation and monitoring; in guidance and counseling; client training; and specialized job placement for the vocational rehabilitation of individuals with physical or mental disabilities, blindness or visual impairments. Assigned responsibilities also include evaluating client work capacities, providing assistive technology services and administering tests to determine vocational aptitudes, interests, abilities, and potential of clients.
TYPICAL FUNCTIONS
The functions within this job family will vary by level and specific assignment, but may include the following:
Provides services to clients in meeting problems of personal, social, and vocational adjustment.
Interprets and analyzes applicants physical or mental condition, social and economic situation, attitudes and aptitudes, work experiences, functional limitations, educational background and personality traits to determine kind and extent of disability and rehabilitation possibilities.
Consults with physicians, psychologists and other appropriate disability professionals regarding findings of examinations; administers and interprets psychological tests when indicated; determines eligibility for rehabilitation services on the basis of law and policy; and assists individuals in formulating a suitable rehabilitation plan.
Plans and arranges for rehabilitation services; approves expenditures within specified limits for planned rehabilitation services.
Confers with public and private employers to establish job opportunities for rehabilitation clients; aids clients in securing employment consistent with their capabilities; monitors client progress.
Provides program monitoring and consultation; keeps appropriate case records and controls case service expenditures.
Assists employers and businesses with guidelines for accommodating people with disabilities according to the Americans with Disabilities Act and other laws, regulations, policies, and procedures pertaining to persons with disabilities.
Administers and/or develops work samples and situational assessments.
Reviews and assesses medical, psychological, neuropsychological, legal, educational and social information concerning clients who have been referred for vocational evaluation; determines need for additional diagnostic information.
Prepares individual written vocational evaluation plans; acts as consultant to Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors in making vocational decisions.
Orients clients to the evaluation process; administers and interprets test results to determine learning capacity, work-related aptitudes, abilities and limitations, behavioral factors affecting vocational performance and rehabilitation potential of clients; makes objective observations of all behaviors essential to the world of work; and recommends specific goals and services to clients.
Teaches basic vocational skills and leads groups that are composed of individuals with vastly diverse cultural, educational, emotional, physical and mental abilities and backgrounds; develops and administers appropriate job samples to determine learning ability, reaction to supervision, work with peers, work tolerances, physical tolerances and endurance. Assists individuals with a disability in the selection, acquisition, or use of assistive technology devices(s).
Prepares vocational evaluation reports detailing test results and their implications, job sample evaluation, summary of observations, work ethics and attitudes, physical capabilities, clients expressed and displayed vocational interest.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, & ABILITIES
Level I: Knowledge of disabilities; of human relations and conditions; of community services, resources and interventions; of case management principles and practices; of job information and placement practices; and of basic computer and software operations. Ability is required to interact with persons having significant disabilities, to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing to establish and maintain effective working relationships to interpret and apply administrative policies, program guidelines and rules, to maintain confidentiality; and to operate and maintain office equipment.
Level II: Knowledgeof the principles and practices of vocational counseling and vocational evaluation techniques; of emotional and psychological problems of persons with physical or mental disabilities; of assistive technology needs; of occupational testing and placement; of available community resources; of laws and regulations pertinent to the rehabilitation of persons with disabilities, including the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act, as amended; and of agency policies and procedures. Ability is required to understand the impact of diagnosis and interpret diagnostic results; to administer vocational testing; to analyze data and situations accurately; to develop and implement effective plans for vocational placements; and to establish and maintain effective working relationships within the organization and the community.
Level III: Those listed at Level II, plus knowledge of a specialty area, and the ability to provide consultation.
Level IV: Those identified at Level III, plus knowledge of project management, and ability to provide training and guidance to others.
LEVEL DESCRIPTORS
This job family consists of four levels of work which are distinguished by the level of complexity and diversity of the specific job assignments, the level of expertise required for the completion of duties assigned and the responsibility assigned for assisting, training and supervising others.
Level I: This is the basic level where employees are assigned responsibilities for performing entry-level work under direct supervision. Direct supervision includes, but is not limited to, supervisor’s signature authority on approval on eligibility decisions, Individual Plans for Employment (IPE) and amendments, authorizations for services, evaluations, and case closure. Under direct supervision and mentoring, the entry-level employee supports the maintenance of a caseload; assists with providing vocational counseling and vocational evaluations; provides information about DVR/DVS process, services and consumer rights and responsibilities; provides community referrals; assists with initial interviews; request and collects consumer records and data; determines eligibility; analyzes and assesses consumers strengths and barriers to employment; completes comprehensive assessments of consumer functional limitations and abilities; analyzes and interprets medical, psychological and financial records/data; assists in the development of IPE; assists and provides job referrals and placement activities; assists with coordinating services as identified in plan; monitors and evaluates consumer progress toward employment goal/outcome; completes annual reviews and other case documentations/narratives; and, performs job-related travel and other duties deemed and approved by supervisor for consumers with physical and/ or mental disabilities.
Level II: This is the career level where employees are assigned professional responsibilities for the maintenance of a caseload/workload with a moderate level of supervision that includes, but is not limited to, oversight, guidance, mentoring, and signature authority for case closure. Specialists at this level may have signature authority for eligibility decisions, development and amendment of individualized plans for employment and/or independent living, written evaluation reports, written assistive technology assessments and authorization for services.
Level III: This is the expert level of this job family where employees will assume full responsibility for a caseload/workload and serve as a subject matter resource person and consultant. In addition to the subject matter expert functions, individuals working at this level may perform additional functions as a subject matter expert regarding: American Indian VR, Workforce/Navigator, Specific Disabilities, Multi-Cultural Competence, Home/Vehicle/Worksite Modifications, Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Acts, Transition, Public Agency Resources, Independent Living, Community Resources, Outreach, Mentoring, Job Placement/Job Development, Disability Legislation, Self-Employment/Entrepreneurship, Assistive Technology Services, and others.
Level IV: This is the leadership level of this job family where employees carry a full caseload/workload and act as a team leader. Employees at this level will function independently and assign work and supervise lower level vocational rehabilitation professionals and/or rehabilitation technicians and/or develop new initiatives and serve as project manager.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Level I:
Education and Experience requirements at this level consist of a bachelor’s degree in vocational rehabilitation, vocational evaluation, or counseling; OR a bachelor’s degree and one year of experience in a disability related field.
Level II:
Education and Experience requirements at this level consist of a master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling or human resources with a rehabilitation counselor major that has been awarded by a program accredited by the Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE); OR any master’s degree and is eligible to sit for the certification/licensure exam specific to the professional job duties such as Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC), the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Certified Vocational Evaluator (CVE), or the Professional Vocational Evaluator (PVE) certification.
Level III:
Education and Experience requirements at this level consist of those listed at Level II plus two years of professional experience in counseling, job placement, vocational evaluation or rehabilitation.
Level IV: Education and Experience requirements at this level consist of those identified in Level III plus two years of professional experience in counseling, job placement, vocational evaluation or rehabilitation.
NOTE: Experience which was incidental or not reflective of a major responsibility or duty of the position shall not be accepted as qualifying.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENT
Some positions in the Department of Rehabilitation Services will require proficiency in the American Sign Language as demonstrated by the successful completion of a competency test administered by the Deaf and Hearing Impaired Unit of the Department of Rehabilitation Services.
Applicants must be willing and able to perform all job-related travel normally associated with this position.
CLASS: K21A; EST: 9/6/2007; REV: 7/2/2012 7:45:00 AM;
CLASS: K21B; EST: 9/6/2007; REV: 7/2/2012 7:45:00 AM;
CLASS: K21C; EST: 9/6/2007; REV: 7/2/2012 7:45:00 AM;
CLASS: K21D; EST: 9/6/2007; REV: 7/2/2012 7:45:00 AM;
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