Vocational Rehabilitation Senior Counselor (#MDDU03)
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$48,734.00 Yearly Min / $60,917.00 Yearly Mid / $73,100.00 Yearly Max

The incumbent manages the vocational rehabilitation process for individual clients on an independent basis. Individuals in this class have experience in providing services for individuals leading to employment in a manner consistent with the goals and the requirements of the governing laws, rules, regulations, and policy. The Vocational Rehabilitation Senior Counselor is differentiated from the Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor II by performing the most advanced level work with the most complex caseloads and making recommendations on new service providers. Incumbents have autonomy in authorizing and encumbering funds subject to normal quality assurance reviews, performing tasks reserved for qualified vocational rehabilitation counselors under the law, and for acting as a trainer and mentor for incumbents in the Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor I classification. Qualified vocational rehabilitation counselors is defined as meeting the standards for national certification.

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.

• Determine eligibility for vocational rehabilitation program services by applying complex statutory and regulatory standards to relevant medical, psychological, psychiatric, social, educational and vocational data regarding the individual applicant.
   
• Provide specialized vocational rehabilitation counseling and guidance to enable clients to make informed choices about goals and services, develop plans for employment, select appropriate services, and motivate the client to effect a change in attitude, abilities, and to grow from dependence to independence through employment.
   
• Develop and approve individualized plan for employment which identifies services and performance measures to achieve an employment goal consistent with the clients abilities, capabilities, priorities, and consistent with the individual's informed choices.
   
• Determine the availability of comparable services and benefits available without cost from other public and private organizations and utilize such services and benefits when appropriate according to complex statutory standard.
   
• Coordinate and integrate services provided by other agencies, medical providers, educational institutions, and community resources in order to achieve vocational rehabilitation goals identified in the individualized plan for employment. Locates, develops and maintains referral sources of individuals with disabilities.
   
• Implement approved individualized plans for employment by procuring identified goods and services, authorizing and encumbering funds, and monitoring clients' progress in achieving identified performance measures.
   
• Periodically review the individualized plan for employment, monitor clients progress in achieving plan goals, targeted time lines and performance measures, and amend individualized plan for employment to meet changing circumstances and individual needs.
   
• Provide job development and placement services to include developing relationships with employers and follow up to ensure satisfactory adjustment to job.
   
• Provides expert testimony in legal proceedings.
   
• Participates in extended employment reviews of rehabilitation facilities.

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 the applicable theories, components, techniques, medical and psychological aspects of vocational rehabilitation.
• Knowledge of the principles and techniques of person-centered counseling and case management in an environment of informed choice and mutual decision-making.
• Knowledge of problem solving techniques and crisis intervention to address problems that impede the rehabilitation process.
• Knowledge of personal and social factors, adaptive functioning, personality, economic, psychological and physiological factors and the manner in which they impact the mind and functioning of individuals with disabilities.
• Knowledge of career development theories, occupational alternatives, labor market information, architectural and functional barriers to employment, job accommodation principles, functional analysis of job related duties, and rehabilitation technology solutions.
• Knowledge of the existence, onset, severity, progression, symptoms, medical factors, functional limitations/capabilities, and transferable skills, of individuals with a wide range of disabilities.
• Knowledge of the principles and application of disability related legislation, including but not limited to the Rehabilitation Act, the Workforce Investment Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act, and applicable department and division policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of other available sources of services for individuals with disabilities from a wide variety of public, private, and non-profit agencies and program, program components and eligibility for such services.
• Skill in independently reviewing, analyzing and interpreting medical, psychiatric, psychological, psycho-social, educational and vocational reports from medical, psychological, and other experts, and integrating the results into a holistic understanding of the dynamics of the individual's disability and vocational rehabilitation needs.
• Skill in establishing and maintaining a counseling relationship, facilitating independent decision-making, and personal responsibility for individuals with disabilities.
• Ability to act as an advocate and professional resource for medical/psychological community, community service providers, employers, and other public agencies in developing and implementing a vocational rehabilitation plan for individual's with disabilities.

1. Possession of a Masters degree or higher in Rehabilitation Counseling, Social or Behavioral Science or related field OR Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) designation.
2. At least two years experience in vocational rehabilitation.
3. Three years experience in analyzing and interpreting medical, psychiatric, psychological, psycho-social, educational and vocational reports from medical, psychological, and other experts to determine eligibility or an individuals vocational rehabilitation needs.
4. Three years experience in case management which includes assessing, planning, developing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating options and services to meet an individuals human service needs.
5. Six months experience in health or human services work such as applying theories, principles, laws and practices of health or human services programs and services that assist with and improve life for individuals, families, or communities such as financial support, employment, unemployment, housing, health care, disease prevention, substance abuse, child protective services, physical/mental health treatment and prevention or rehabilitation.
6. Six months experience in interpreting vocational rehabilitation laws, rules, regulations, standards, policies and procedures.