Supervisory Rehabilitation Counselor

Summary The Supervisory Rehabilitation Counselor in this position in the Mental Health Service Line at Kansas City, VA Medical Center serves as a Rehabilitation Counselor for the Compensated Work Therapy (CWT) programs delivering services to Veterans receiving treatment for Substance Use Disorders. The Rehabilitation Counselor practices independently, using professional judgment and expertise to make decisions about services and treatment provided to veterans and their family members/significant others. Responsibilities This position is located within VHA Vocational Rehabilitation Service (VHA Voc Rehab). VHA Voc Rehab Service programs are recovery-oriented clinical vocational rehabilitation services that offer an array of vocational, educational, training, employment, and therapeutic work services. They include skill development, fostering of natural supports, and assistance with obtaining and maintaining employment for Veterans for whom the primary objective is competitive employment. Vocational rehabilitation supports persons with functional, psychological, developmental, cognitive and emotional impairments, or health disabilities to overcome barriers to accessing, maintaining, or returning to employment and/or education. Vocational rehabilitation provides services to promote and support optimal functioning and development of Veterans by utilizing appropriate counseling and training. VHA Voc Rehab Service includes: Vocational and Educational Assistance, and Compensated Work Therapy (CWT). CWT consists of the following components: Transitional Work (TW), Supported Employment (SE), Community Based Employment Services (CBES), Supported Education (SEd), and Supported Self Employment (SSE). The incumbent provides VHA Voc Rehab services within various settings of the medical center and/or community. Major Duties: Monitor the progress of assigned patients in their rehabilitation plans, through frequent meetings with patients, staff and work area supervisors. Perform individual, group and crisis counseling with veterans enrolled in the CWT programs receiving treatment within the Substance Treatment And Recovery programs. Conduct educational classes and services for veterans enrolled in CWT programs. Coordinate and supervise patient work schedules with participating hospital services. Develop and implement patient discharge planning to ensure a smooth and orderly transition to community employment. Develops strategic plan, risk management and outcomes management plan to project future direction and demand of program services based on stakeholder feedback. Provide liaison services to local and state agencies to assist veterans in obtaining training/education/employment. Acts as liaison between VA and community resources, to include marketing and public relation duties as needed. Establish and monitor community-based contracts for CWT program, including initial contracts, memorandum of agreement, and standard operating procedures. Perform contract managerial duties for medical center and community- based contracts for CWT programs, including estimation of budget requirements. Prepare and maintain billing, payroll records, and account receivable records of financial transactions re: CWT program. Assist Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist staff in developing and writing medical center and community – based CWT contracts. Negotiate and secure contracted work appropriate to the skill level of assigned patients. Develop and maintain contacts with local companies and agencies in the community by correspondence, telephone, and personal contacts for the purpose of securing employment for veterans in the CWT program. Collects and organizes data on veterans served as required by the NEPEC, and the Director/medical center management. The incumbent performs other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday – Friday; 7:30 am – 3:30 pm Telework: Ad-hoc only Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 0000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. You may be required to serve a probationary period. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) – See “Additional Information” below for details. Qualifications Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Education. A masters degree in rehabilitation counseling or clinical rehabilitation counseling from a rehabilitation counseling program accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). If the applicants degree was granted prior to July 1, 2017, the program must be accredited by the Council on Rehabilitation Education. -OR A masters degree in counseling or clinical rehabilitation counseling from a college or university accredited by a national or regional accrediting body accredited by Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). -OR A masters or doctoral degree in a related field of study with course content that emphasized rehabilitation, counseling, disability, therapy, health, employment, wellness, or human development from a college or university accredited by a national or regional accrediting body accredited by CHEA. -OR Foreign graduates with a degree acceptable by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC). Certification. Current, full and unrestricted certification as a certified rehabilitation counselor (CRC) from the CRCC to practice vocational rehabilitation counseling. Exceptions for Graduate RCs RC graduates from an approved counseling or rehabilitation counseling program who otherwise meet the basic qualification requirements and the additional degree requirements for CRC certification by the CRCC, but do not possess the required certification, may be appointed, pending certification, as a graduate RC on a full-time temporary appointment not-to-exceed two years under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(a)(1)(D). Graduate RCs may only be appointed at the entry grade level and may not be promoted/converted until certification is obtained. Temporary graduate RC appointments may not be extended beyond two years or converted to a new temporary appointment. Failure to Obtain Certification. In all cases, RCs must actively pursue meeting prerequisites for certification starting from the date of their appointment. This includes working towards completion of CRCCs required acceptable employment experience and completing required CRCC documentation to verify employment experience and supervision by a CRC. At the time of appointment, the RC supervisor will provide the RC with the written requirements for certification, including the time by which the certification must be obtained and the consequences for not becoming certified by the deadline. Failure to become certified within the prescribed amount of time will result in removal from the GS-0101 RC series and may result in termination of employment. Loss of Certification. An employee in this occupation who fails to maintain the required certification must be removed from the occupation, which may also result in termination of employment. English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria) Grade Determinations: Supervisory Rehabilitation Counselor, GS-13- Experience. Completion of one year of professional experience equivalent to the next lower grade level directly related to the position being filled. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to meeting the experience or educational requirements for this grade level, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Skill in leading others, assessing employee strengths, opportunities for growth and qualifications to accomplish program goals, adapt work operations and guide staff. (b) Knowledge of labor/management agreements and how to follow their provisions to effectively manage issues and concerns. (c) Knowledge of applicable accreditation bodies and their standards to ensure continuous compliance and successful maintenance of program accreditations. (d) Ability to use both qualitative and quantitative methods for the development and implementation of meaningful program evaluation tools, study of program trends and program improvement. (e) Knowledge of business administration practices such as managing payroll, accounting, budget planning, marketing, workforce development and customer service to successfully operate a rehabilitation program. Preferred Experience: Compensated Work Therapy-Transitional Residence (CWT-TR) Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is 13. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service Education IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application. Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional Information Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicants criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.