Rehabilitation Counselor-Vocational

Summary

The Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC) position located at St. Cloud VA, in the Mental Health Service Line, within Vocational Rehabilitation Services and Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (MH RRTP). Provides and coordinates a wide range of rehabilitation counseling and case management services for Veterans of all ages with disabilities and complex vocational barriers such as physical, mental or emotional impairment, or lack of basic education and job skills.

Duties

• Major duties include, but are not limited to: Serves as a developmental Rehabilitation Counselor providing vocational and personal adjustment counseling, therapeutic rehabilitation interventions, and case coordination services. They assist, receive guidance and advice from supervisor and senior staff as needed. They provide developmental vocational rehabilitation services to Veterans with a wide array of psychiatric and physical disabilities and psychosocial conditions that present a myriad of barriers, to achieve competitive employment and education and independent living goals. This includes personal adjustment counseling, therapeutic rehabilitation interventions, and case coordination services, utilizing evidence-based and evidence-informed modalities, to aid Veterans with severe mental and/or physical health disabilities in achieving competitive employment and educational and independent living. Establishes good rapport and counseling relationships in order to work together to identify the Veteran's significant interests, aptitudes, abilities, and characteristics. The goal is to provide the individual with the data needed to make a realistic life decision. They conduct comprehensive initial evaluations, adhering to all policies/procedures/standards pertaining to consult management. They also conduct assessments (e.g., Vocational Assessment Profile [VAP]) using medical records, pertinent disability documentation, observation, and interviews with Veterans and their support systems to generate personal, vocational, and educational histories. This includes selecting, administering, and interpreting an appropriate range of vocational and educational assessment procedures, to evaluate abilities, aptitudes, interests, values, preferences, transferrable skills, and overall work resilience. Vocational assessment procedures include but are not limited to interviews, tests of specific job-related skills and abilities, aptitude testing, and vocational interest testing. They provide high quality assessment and consultation reports, as indicated, in a timely manner that adhere to Joint Commission standards and VACO/ STCVAHCS/ STCVAHCS MH ICC/ directives/policies/procedures. Based off these comprehensive assessments, the VRC determines clinical need for and capacity to benefit from therapeutic and rehabilitation services, to include work restoration/resilience treatment, transitional work placement and compensation, supported employment, assistive technology, reasonable accommodations, benefits counseling, and potential benefits. The VRC develops patient-centered vocational rehabilitation treatment plans utilizing SMART goals and provide ongoing assessment of Veteran's progress, using measurement based care instruments as indicated. Completes job analyses to facilitate job coaching and retention services to aid Veterans in learning and maintaining proficiency in performance of essential job skills. They counsel Veterans regarding importance of soft skills (e.g., personal hygiene, cooperation with co-workers, and following instructions) when employed to enhance job satisfaction and foster natural supports in the workplace. They devise solutions to reduce and/or eliminate barriers and meet Veterans' education and employment placement needs. They provide psychoeducational groups to teach effective job search skills, employer-desired soft skills, and life skills fostering independence. They provide direct support services to Veterans in order to help in their development and maintenance of community-based employment and/or education. The VRC documents all vocational rehabilitation services in CPRS, including progress and adjustment and treatment plan updates, according to Joint Commission standards and VHACO, STCVAHCS, and STCVAHCS MH ICC directives, policies and procedures. Establishes and maintains contact with state vocational rehabilitation agencies/offices, private employers, state and local employment offices, Social Security Administration, and VBA Regional Offices, training programs/local colleges to ensure the Veteran receives the full range of services necessary to achieve vocational rehabilitation. The VRC is responsible for coordinating all employment- and education/training-related services being utilized by the Veteran to assure continuity of care. They are responsible for developing partnerships with Vet Centers, career centers, local Disabled Veterans Outreach Programs (DVOP) specialists, VBA Rehabilitation services, Local Veterans Employment Representatives (LVERS), and others to provide job search and job placement services. Work Schedule: Primarily Monday-Friday, 7:30am-4:00pm, however weekends and holidays may be required Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorize

Qualifications

Health Professional Trainee (HPT) 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. (1) A master's 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 applicant's degree was granted prior to July 1, 2017, the program must be accredited by the Council on Rehabilitation Education. OR (2) A master's 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 (3) A master's 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 (4) 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. (1) Exceptions for Graduate RCs. (a) 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). (b) Graduate RCs may only be appointed at the entry grade level and may not be promoted/converted until certification is obtained. (c) Temporary graduate RC appointments may not be extended beyond two years or converted to a new temporary appointment 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: GS-9 Rehabilitation Counselor (1) Experience. None beyond the basic requirements. (2) 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) Knowledge of human development and behavior, medical, psychosocial, and vocational aspects of disability and differential influences of environmental factors to assist persons with disabilities in determining suitable vocational goals. (b) Knowledge of history, philosophy and disability rights legislation in the field of rehabilitation to apply in the practice of rehabilitation counseling. (c) Ability to synthesize assessment and diagnosis information in conjunction with labor market trends and community/educational resources to develop an effective individual service delivery plan. (d) Knowledge of caseload management strategies to maximize an individual's independent functioning from assessment through provision of post-employment services. (e) Ability to employ person-centered job development strategies to facilitate successful job placement. (f) Knowledge of assessment tools and methods, functional capacity evaluations and specific vocational preparation to evaluate transferrable skills, residual capacities and needs for accommodations and assistive technology. GS-11 Rehabilitation Counselor (1) Experience. Completion of one year of professional experience equivalent to the next lower grade level directly related to the position being filled. OR (2) Education. A doctoral degree in rehabilitation counselor education or related field (e.g. rehabilitation psychology) from a CACREP accredited institution or from an institution accredited by a national or regional accrediting body accredited by CHEA. (3) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of physical and psychological disabilities, appropriate accommodations and assistive technology principles to mitigate and reduce or eliminate barriers to integrate into the community. (b) Knowledge of counseling theory, medical and psychiatric terminology and signs and symptomology of suicidal and homicidal ideations, to communicate appropriately with community health care professionals to provide useful input to other team members and employers in relation to the Veteran and/or his/her family's psychosocial needs and to recommend and help implement suitable treatment plans. (c) Ability to use evidence-based and evidence informed vocational and professional counseling practices to include individual placement and support (IPS), customized employment and supported employment models and motivational interviewing skills to promote self-awareness, adjustment to disability, enhanced job retention and successful integration to the community. (d) Knowledge of career development processes and job analysis methodology to determine essential functions of jobs, worksite modifications and/or alternative vocational goals given the work history and residual functional capacities of individuals with disabilities. (e) Ability to administer and interpret a wide variety of assessment methods including transferrable skills and labor market analyses to evaluate for individual interests, aptitudes and abilities and to identify suitable vocational goals for the development of an effective individual service delivery plan. (f) Knowledge of marketing strategies to develop collaborative partnerships/Memorandums of Agreement within VA and local business community to enhance employment and/or work opportunities. (g) Knowledge of military lifestyle, specific factors, and dynamics associated with Veterans, particularly combat Veterans, to assist those who are returning to community and community based-work. All qualifying experience you possess must be clearly described in your application package. We will not make assumptions when reviewing applications. Failure to demonstrate your experience in your resume may result in disqualification. It is strongly recommended that you write to each KSA in your application package. Preferred Experience: Mental Health Experience preferred. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-9. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy ranges from GS-9 to GS-11. Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

Requirements

You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. 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/.

How to apply

All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 09/17/2026 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13057984. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package. NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.