State of Maryland

A Workers' Compensation Rehabilitation Supervisor is the supervisory level of work identifying, investigating, and coordinating the evaluation and monitoring of compensable and non‑compensable workers' compensation claims that qualify for vocational rehabilitation services.  Employees in this classification ensure that workers filing claims receive vocational rehabilitation services required under the Workers' Compensation Commission law.  Employees in this classification supervise Workers' Compensation Rehabilitation Specialists and Workers' Compensation Rehabilitation Trainees.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from a higher level administrative official.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by 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 the class specification.

The Workers' Compensation Rehabilitation Supervisor is differentiated from the Workers' Compensation Rehabilitation Specialist in that the Workers' Compensation Rehabilitation has supervisory responsibility for Workers' Compensation Rehabilitation Specialists and Workers' Compensation Rehabilitation Trainees while the Workers' Compensation Rehabilitation Specialist performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision.

Plans, assigns and reviews work of Workers' Compensation Rehabilitation Specialists and Workers' Compensation Rehabilitation Trainees;

Plans, assigns and reviews work of clerical staff in the rehabilitation counseling unit;

Carries a caseload of workers' compensation claims to determine those that may be appropriate for vocational rehabilitation;

Evaluates rehabilitation service providers to determine that the programs meet criteria established under workers' compensation law;

Schedules hearings before a Commissioner and provides the Commission with a recommendation when no agreement can be reached about the rehabilitation services plan;

Plans, conducts and participates in workshops, seminars and other training sessions for Division of Rehabilitation personnel, attorneys, insurance company personnel and others regarding the requirements of the workers' compensation law and regulations;

Provides legislative testimony in matters pertaining to vocational rehabilitation for claimants under workers' compensation law;

Testifies in court and before the Commission about claimants' cases in regard to vocational rehabilitation plans and services;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of workers' compensation and vocational rehabilitation laws and regulations;

Knowledge of organic and functional disabilities;

Knowledge of the way a specific disability affects vocational skills and abilities;

Knowledge of rehabilitation services available in the community and of their applicability to a variety of disabilities;

Knowledge of medical and legal terminology pertaining to accidental injuries and to disabilities;

Knowledge of the theory, practice and interpretation of vocational, educational and psychological testing;

Knowledge of statistics;

Skill in moderating disputes between claimants, insurers, and rehabilitation service providers; Ability to communicate effectively;

Ability to evaluate the validity and reliability of test results;

Ability to use percentiles, correlations, and standard deviation concepts in analyzing assessments of claimants;

Ability to review medical reports of disabilities and to understand the effect the described disability has on the workers' vocational skills and abilities;

Ability to investigate and determine the duties, physical demands, training and experience required for the occupations existing in a worker's local job market;

Ability to determine which workers can benefit from vocational rehabilitation services;

Ability to secure the cooperation of employers, service providers, and others in devising and implementing rehabilitation plans;

Ability to analyze and explain the effect that proposed legislation could have on the rehabilitation of injured workers;

Ability to testify in legal proceedings.

Experience: Seven years of experience in vocational rehabilitation involving case management, counseling, job placement, therapy or the review of claims to determine the need for vocational rehabilitation services.

Notes:

1. Candidates may substitute the possession of a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in special education, counseling and guidance, psychology or a closely related field that includes testing and statistics and three years of experience in vocational rehabilitation involving case management, counseling, job placement, therapy or the review of claims to determine the need for vocational rehabilitation services for the required experience.

2. Candidates may substitute the possession of a Master's degree from an accredited college or university in rehabilitation counseling, special education, counseling and guidance, psychology or a closely related field that includes testing and statistics for five years of the required experience.

3. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a commissioned officer in Workforce Research and Analysis classifications or Workforce Research and Analysis specialty codes in the Social Science, Psychology, and Welfare field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Skilled Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Skilled Service positions.  Some positions in Skilled Service classifications may be designated Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is not assigned to a bargaining unit, as indicated by the designation of S (Supervisor), M (Manager), T (Agency Head), U (Board or Commission Member), W (Student), X (Used by Agency or Excluded by Executive Order), or Z (Confidential).  As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.

Employees in this classification are eligible to receive overtime compensation.  An employee who works more than the normal workweek is entitled to be compensated for that overtime as provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 8-305.