Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor Assistant I (#MDDT01)
$29,646.00 Yearly Min / $37,058.00 Yearly Mid / $44,470.00 Yearly Max

Under close professional supervision, the class incumbent is responsible for providing rehabilitation services of a routine nature for blind and visually impaired consumers. The position is assigned specific duties that assist the vocational rehabilitation professional in planning and coordinating rehabilitation services. Incumbents in this class collect diagnostic evaluation data, schedule appointments and transportation, perform screening tests, provide information on community resources, prepare referral forms and maintain records.  A significant aspect of the class is to maintain regular contact with consumers to monitor progress in various programs, assess needs for equipment, aids and services, and make recommendations to professional staff on consumers' needs and responses to services.  In addition, the position monitors job openings through state postings and newspaper ads, makes initial contact with employers and refers company leads to the professional for job development.

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, incumbents can complete job duties of similar kind not specifically listed here.

• Monitors consumer progress throughout the rehabilitation process.  Contacts consumers to assess needs.  Provides reports of consumer contacts.
   
• Develops and maintains records of community resources to assist rehabilitation professional in caseload management
   
• Schedules diagnostic evaluations and training for consumers.
   
• Conducts routine low vision screening tests.  Assesses needs for adaptive equipment and services.  Makes appropriate recommendations to professional staff.
   
• Arranges transportation for consumers to keep appointments, attend training and get to employment sites. Maintains records of transportation charges and billings.
   
• Resolves vendor and/or consumer fiscal complaints with appropriate staff.
   
• Provides job leads to professionals for job development.
   
• Provides job coaching to assist consumers in learning job duties.  Provides simple job modifications to enable independent functioning on job or in training.
   
• May conduct intake interviews and perform related duties as assigned by supervisor.

The intent of the listed knowledge, skills and abilities is to give a general indication of the core requirements for all positions in the class series; therefore, the KSA’s listed are not exhaustive or necessarily inclusive of the requirements of every position in the class.

• Knowledge of manual and computerized record keeping methods and techniques.
• Knowledge of report preparation and maintenance.
• Knowledge of community resources.
• Ability to learn agency function and vocational rehabilitation procedures.
• Ability to learn and apply applicable laws, rules, regulations and policies.
• Ability to establish and maintain rapport with consumers.
• Ability to elicit and disseminate information.
• Ability to maintain accurate records and prepare reports.
• Ability to learn and perform low vision screening tests.
• Ability to learn to operate a variety of adaptive equipment.
• Ability to learn and apply job coaching, job modification and crisis intervention techniques.

1. Knowledge of health or human services support such as interviewing clients and assessing personal, health, social or financial needs in accordance with program requirements or coordinating with community resources to obtain client services.
2. Knowledge of record keeping.