Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below. Open to Current, Permanent VA and Federal Employees . The first Area of Consideration (AOC) will be given to Long Beach VA Healthcare System Employees. The second AOC will be other Veterans Affairs employees. Veteran's preference does not apply.

Videos

VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU

DUTIES INCLUDE:

Administrative Duties:

• Oversees all components of the Compensated Work Therapy (CWT) Program, including Transitional Work (TW) and Supported Employment (SE) services, and all other vocational rehabilitation or employment services provided within the Mental Health Healthcare Group.
• Assigns and oversees work to subordinates based on priorities, selective consideration of the complexity of clinical cases, and the capabilities of employees.
• Serves as the discipline lead for rehabilitation counseling, establishing clinical standards, documentation requirements, and practice expectations.
• Develops performance improvement standards and quality assurance efforts. Evaluates work performance of subordinates.
• Serves and directs community, VISN and National collaborations, training regarding Vocational Rehabilitation service provision.
• Provides advice, counsel, or instruction to employees on both clinical and administrative matters.
• Oversees attendance and leave, including approval of leave, and vacation schedules.
• Provides clinical and technical supervision necessary for accomplishing the work of VHA Voc Rehab Service.
• Addresses and resolves Veteran complaints, concerns, and appeals.
• Ensures all clinical and supervisory activities adhere to professional ethical standards.
• Maintains compliance with licensure, documentation, supervision, and trainee education requirements.
• Works with other leadership to develop and revise comprehensive policies, risk management assessments, and strategic plans.
• Provides oversight of intake assessments of Veterans referred to the VHA Voc Rehab Service program and for developing vocational assessments.
• Estimates budgetary needs based on history, anticipated workload, resource need, and the workload capacity of the VHA Voc Rehab Service and makes justified requests or proposals. Maintains accounting controls, oversight of CWT Account expenditures and usage, CWT TW payroll, and fund control points VHA Voc Rehab.
• Reviews and signs MOAs for Transitional Work assignments to ensure service alignment, safety, and program integrity.
• Prepares data and reports that support resource allocation and leadership decision making.
• Establishes Standard Operating Procedures for the VHA Voc Rehab Service and oversees their implementation.
• Clinically and administratively address and resolve Veteran concerns, complaints, grievances, and appeals.

• Provide a variety of rehabilitation services using counseling practices and evidence based and informed modalities to aid Veterans with severe disabilities in achieving competitive employment, educational, and independent living goals.
• Provides clinical expertise through the timely application of therapeutic interventions, case coordination, interdisciplinary team consultation, rehabilitation plan development, and ongoing assessment and job development practices.
• Reviews medical, psychological, vocational, and educational data to maximize the independence and employability of Veterans with personal, social, and vocational barriers as a result of mental health, medical, or psychosocial impairments.
• Supports informed decision making while using professional judgment and counseling skills to assist the Veteran in identifying suitable competitive employment and placement opportunities.
• Conducts a skillful analysis of their abilities, aptitudes, strengths, needs, preferences, disability conditions, and resulting impairments to guide Veterans with severe disabilities and employment challenges in achieving their goals.
• Provides psychoeducational and/or psychotherapeutic groups to facilitate effective job search skills, employer-desired soft skills, work and life skills fostering independence and recovery.
• Collaborates with the appropriate professionals to provide rehabilitation services.
• Consults with interdisciplinary teams to enhance coordination of care, ensures medical clearance, and provides for optimal timing of further interventions.

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.
• 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 dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• 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).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

• 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.

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.
• English Language Proficiency as required by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f)
• 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.
     • 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.

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-12

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. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:(a) Ability to supervise (e.g. plan, direct, oversee, review work of subordinate staff), assess employee strengths, opportunities for growth, and qualifications to accomplish program goals, adapt work operations, and guide staff.(b) Knowledge of labor/management agreements to effectively manage issues and concerns.(c) Knowledge of applicable accreditation bodies (i.e. Joint Commission and Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities) and their standards to ensure continuous compliance.(d) Theoretical and practical knowledge of a range of rehabilitation delivery systems for the development, implementation, management and growth of rehabilitation programs and services.(e) Knowledge of business administration practices such as managing participant payroll, accounting, budget planning, to successfully operate a rehabilitation program.

Preferred Experience: Preferred supervisory experience as well as experience working with Veterans who are diagnosed with a Serious Mental Illness seeking vocational resources.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

The full performance level of this vacancy is 12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is 12.

Physical Requirements: The work is sedentary. Typically, the employee may sit comfortably to do the work. However, there may be some driving, walking, standing, bending and carrying of light items like papers or books. No special physical demands are required to perform the work.

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 MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for 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; religions; 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.

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.

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.