Rehabilitation Counselor (Coordinator)

Duties of this position are but not limited to:

• Addresses the complexities of psychosocial rehabilitation factors and timely and high-quality outcomes consistent with statutes regulations and policies.
• Resolves issues associated with specific projects involving best practices and provides leadership and direction on project implementation.
• Coordinates workforce development (vocational education and placement of Veterans) services and/or customer service to successfully operate a rehabilitation program.
• Uses sound judgment and decision-making while initiating and leading interdisciplinary groups of staff to improve customer service while delivering
• Provides input and guidance on program evaluations strategic plans and policy considerations to the supervisor as appropriate for all interested VA entities and accrediting bodies.
• Monitors progress towards accomplishment of program goals and examines the benefits of process improvements.
• Provides consultation coordination oversight support and feedback to staff of their designated program area and student interns on work assignments time and caseload management and employment outcomes.
• Uses effective counseling skills to promote self-awareness adjustment to disability enhanced job retention and successful integration to the community and independent living.
• Prepares data and maintains records of work accomplishments and administration information as required and coordinates the preparation presentation and communication of work-related information to the supervisor.
• 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 crisis intervention interdisciplinary team consultation rehabilitation plan development and ongoing assessment and job development practices.
• Collaborates with the appropriate professionals to provide rehabilitation services including the assessment of vocational interests aptitude and abilities by using clinical tests observations interviews evaluations and specialized vocational assessment instruments.
• Consult with interdisciplinary teams to enhance coordination of care ensure medical clearance and provide for optimal timing of further interventions.
• Synthesize assessment information to identify barriers to employment and their vocational implications.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 7:30am-4:00pm
Telework: Ad-hoc may be available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Conditions of employment

• 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 ( Effective May 7 2025 drivers 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 driving 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.

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 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.

Qualifications

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 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
(2) 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
(3) 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
(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.

Grade Determinations:
Rehabilitation Counselor (Coordinator) GS-12
(1) Experience. Completion of one year of professional experience at the next lower grade level directly related to the position being filled.
(2) Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and addition to the experience above the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
(a) Ability to address complexity of psychosocial rehabilitation factors and deliver timely and high-quality outcomes consistent with statutes regulations and policies.
(b) Theoretical and practical knowledge of a range of rehabilitation service delivery systems for the administration and management of a clinical rehabilitation program.
(c) Ability to initiate and lead interdisciplinary groups of staff utilizing sound judgement and decision-making to improve customer service while delivering Veteran-focused and outcome-oriented health care.
(d) Knowledge of applicable accreditation bodies and standards to ensure long-term compliance.
(e) Knowledge of business administration practices such as managing participant payroll accounting billing marketing workforce development (vocational educational and placement of Veterans) services and/or customer service to successfully operate a rehabilitation employment program.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard please visit 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.

Grandfathering Provision. All individuals employed as RCs within VHA on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title series and grade held including positive education and certification. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it the following provisions apply:

They may be reassigned promoted up to and including the journeyman level (full performance level) or changed to lower grade within the occupation but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions.

If a RC who was retained under this provision leaves the occupation the employee will lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation.

RCs initially grandfathered into this occupation who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation.

RCs who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.