Vocational Rehabilitation Job Placement Specialist (#MDDZ74)
$33,569.00 Yearly Min / $41,961.00 Yearly Mid / $50,353.00 Yearly Max

A class incumbent is responsible for interviewing, assessing  and placing mentally/developmentally disabled patients in an appropriate sheltered workshop or referring for suitable outside employment.

A class incumbent performs with supervision from an administrative supervisor and is responsible for providing services to mentally/developmentally disabled patients to aid in their vocational rehabilitation. An incumbent receives referrals from doctors and social workers and conducts vocational assessments of patients to place in a sheltered workshops or refer for outside employment. Contacts include mentally/developmentally disabled patients who have been diagnosed as being stable, Sheltered Workshop personnel, outside agencies and employers, and other personnel engaged in the assessment, treatment and rehabilitation of patients.

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.

• Conducts vocational assessments of stable, mentally/developmentally disabled patients and places in suitable sheltered workshop employment. Works with other state agencies to make referrals for outside employment or other services, as necessary. Completes required forms.
• Completes and processes paperwork for sheltered workshop employment.
• Interacts with sheltered workshop and outside employers to follow-up on placed individuals and to develop jobs. 
• Maintains case files on patients. Monitors patient progress and prepares activity and status reports for review by superiors. 
• Attends team meetings with medical, social service and/or educational professionals to provide vocational information on patients.
• Conducts job seeking skills group sessions for assigned patients.
• Provides job coaching and assists patients with problems at the job site. Interacts with job site supervisors to discuss and resolve problems.
• Operates computer equipment for data entry and retrieval.
• May serve as a sheltered workshop supervisor, as needed.

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 agency policies, rules, and procedures governing employment activities.
• Knowledge of the duties and requirements of sheltered workshop employment.
• Knowledge of vocational counseling principles and techniques.
• Knowledge of state agencies and community-based organizations.
• Skill in interviewing to elicit relevant information.
• Skill in effective oral and written communication.
• Ability to prepare routine reports.
• Ability to maintain accurate and up-to-date records.
• Ability to complete and process standardized forms.
• Ability to make sound vocational assessments.
• Ability to conduct job seeking skills group sessions.
• Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships.
• Ability to operate computer equipment for data entry and retrieval.

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

1. Six months experience in interviewing which includes using structured or unstructured interview techniques to obtain facts, explore issues and identify courses of action.
2. Six months experience in applying laws, rules, regulations, standards, policies and procedures.
3. Knowledge of career counseling which includes assisting hard to serve job seekers to develop realistic and achievable employment goals; interviewing to obtain facts and explore issues; identifying obstacles or barriers to employment and jointly formulating employability development plans directed at employment outcomes.
4. Knowledge of vocational rehabilitation.