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***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION***

NOTE: This announcement has been extended to close on June 25, 2024. Applicant(s) who previously applied, do not need to re-apply.

The Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist possesses intensive knowledge of mental and physical disabilities or other handicaps, in terms of the practical effects of such handicaps on work tolerances, motivations, adjustment to training, and difficulty in employment placement. The focus of services will be to promote optimal occupational functioning of Veterans within the community.

Major duties and responsibilities will include:

• Determining the vocational goals and objectives of the Veteran based on referral from a professional staff member or by interviewing the Veteran.
• Determining areas of vocational interest, and deciding what services such as job seeking skills training, resume development, or interview skills training the Veteran may require in order to successfully obtain employment.
• Analyzing mental and physical disabilities or other handicaps, in terms of the practical effects of such handicaps on motivations, adjustment to training, and difficulty in employment placement.
• Counseling and guiding Veterans through difficult transitions in the adjustment to employment.
• Approving any significant modifications to the placement contract, evaluating the results of the program, making sound professional arguments for recommended changes, and reporting program progress in accordance with established procedure.
• Providing a comprehensive assessment to determine appropriateness for Compensated Work Therapy (CWT) intervention and arranging alternative care if Compensated Work Therapy (CWT) admission is not realistic.
• Developing a written treatment plan that is based upon individual needs, preferences, abilities, strengths spiritual/cultural preferences, and specific therapeutic interventions.
• Monitoring progress, revising the treatment plan as needed, and developing a discharge plan based on progress in the program.
• Utilizing the work experience and environment to promote basic employment (job readiness) skills such as appearance, personal hygiene, attendance, punctuality, getting along with co-workers, acceptance of supervision, productivity, quality of work, ability to work independently, and the ability to resolve on-the-job problems.
• Evaluating individuals' performance, review progress, and development strategies for improvement.
• Providing individual and group counseling that addresses work adjustment issues, vocational development and assessment, adjustment to disability, barriers to rehabilitation, substance abuse, job seeking and job survival, employment and career planning, life management, follow-up care following graduation, and other issues identified as part of the rehabilitation process.
• Case management will consist of the following activities: assessment and reassessment of individual needs, goals, and preferences; resource assessment and management; outreach and support to encourage patient participation in the services required; coordination and assistance in crisis intervention and stabilization; liaison with community supports and programs; referrals to appropriate clinics and programs for necessary care. community linkages; transportation, legal and financial concerns; enhancement of functioning in daily living activities; and review and monitoring of the services provided with documentation (treatment plan and progress notes) of progress toward individual goals.
• Providing aftercare and follow-up services to Compensated Work Therapy (CWT) graduates to ensure continuous support in adjusting to success, and handling the full range of social, living, personal, financial, and vocational issues.
• Networking with community employers, community agencies, and community businesses with the goal of developing professional relationships with these groups in order to assist program participants in obtaining and maintaining suitable community employment.
• Providing in service training for Mental Health staff and presents educational lectures to other Mental Health programs.
• Performing related duties as required.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved
Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required

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
• 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
• 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

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE GS-11: One year of specialized experience that provided a knowledge of training practices, techniques, and requirements as they relate to vocational development or rehabilitation. To be creditable, experience must have been at the GS-09 grade level in Federal service. Examples of qualifying specialized experience include: work that required obtaining and applying occupational information for people with disabilities, knowledge of the interrelationships of the involved professional and specialist services, and skill in employing the methodology and techniques of counseling to motivate and encourage individuals served by the program; experience that demonstrated knowledge of the vocational rehabilitation problems characteristic of the disabled, including familiarity with available resources and skill in identifying, evaluating, and making effective use of such resources to serve individuals with disabilities; or of the disadvantaged, including knowledge of adjustment problems of the educationally or culturally disadvantaged, familiarity with available adult education and training resources, and ability to recognize problem areas needing special attention; or experience in vocational guidance or teaching in a recognized vocational rehabilitation program or school, developmental or supervisory work in programs of vocational rehabilitation or training programs for the disadvantaged, or personnel or employment placement work that provided extensive knowledge of the training and adjustment requirements necessary to place persons having disabilities or social adjustment problems. This experience must be detailed in your resume to receive credit.

~OR~

SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION FOR EXPERIENCE: A Ph.D., equivalent doctoral degree, or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, or an LL.M. with a major study in vocational rehabilitation, vocational or educational counseling, or other fields related to the position. Transcripts required.

~OR~

COMBINING EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: An equivalent combination of specialized experience and higher-level graduate education as described that demonstrates your ability to perform the duties of this position. Transcripts required, and experience must be detailed in your resume to receive credit.

You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position:

• Education and Training
• Interpersonal Skills
• Technical Competence
• Therapy and Counseling

IMPORTANT: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. All experience listed on your resume must include the month and year start/end dates. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Physical Requirements: The physical demands of this position are moderate. Although some of the physical work is sedentary, there will be significant local travel for support purposes to potential work locations, community locations, and Veteran work sites. This local travel may involve operating vehicles in inclement weather. A valid State issued driver's license is required. The stress related to providing services to Veterans in emotional distress or who may be demanding and uncooperative, can be more significant than that of most sedentary positions. Work is performed in a well-lit and climate-controlled office environment. The Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist may have to occasionally work outside in performing job observations or interventions of Veteran work performance. The nature of the Veterans served may entail some risk of physical harm if they become agitated.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s).

Your responses to the assessment questionnaire will be reviewed along with the information provided in your resume and supporting documentation to determine if you are qualified for the position. If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your rating may be lowered and/or you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

Candidates who apply under All U.S. Citizens announcements will be rated and ranked using Category Rating procedures. Qualified candidates will be assigned to a quality category. The categories are defined as follows:

• Best qualified - applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are highly proficient in all requirements of the job and can perform effectively in the position;
• Highly qualified - applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the requirements of the job;
• Well qualified - applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in some, but not all, of the requirements of the job; and
• Qualified - applicants possessing experience and/or education that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors.

Application of Veterans' Preference: Category rating and selection procedures place those with veteran's preference above non-preference eligibles within each category. Preference eligible applicants that meet the eligibility and qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent are listed in the highest quality category (except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-09 grade level or higher).

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.