SENIOR VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION COUNSEL - 48004239

Requisition No: 837409 

Agency: Department of Education

Working Title: SENIOR VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION COUNSEL - 48004239

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 48004239 

Salary:  $3,986.67 

Posting Closing Date: 12/02/2024 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION

LOCATION: TALLAHASSEE

SR VOCATIONALL REHABILITATION COUNSELOR

POSITION NUMBER: 48004239

Our Mission is "to help people with disabilities find and maintain employment and enhance their independence. Our Vision is "to become the first place people with disabilities turn when seeking employment and a top resource for employers in need of qualified employees."

DESCRIPTION

Note: The omission of specific job duties does not preclude management from assigning specific duties not listed herein if such duties are a logical assignment to the position.

Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling deals with counseling individuals to maximize the independence and employability of persons coping with personal, social, and vocational difficulties that result from birth defects, illness, disease, accidents, or the stress of daily life. Assess client needs and design and implement rehabilitation programs that may include personal and vocational counseling, training, and job placement. Some positions in this occupation may be responsible for coordinating work and supervising employees.

This position is responsible for providing professional vocational rehabilitation counseling to individuals with a diversity of disabilities in order that they may attain employment and for providing and coordinating services. The incumbent of this position will access client information, maintain case records, produce correspondence, and perform other automated functions within the scope of the position's responsibilities.

VR Client Eligibility Determination

Assess medical, psychological, and vocational information to determine eligibility for services

Negotiates and develops, with full participation of the customer with a disability, an Individualized Plan For Employment to determine employment outcomes

Conducts in-depth interviews with individuals with disabilities requiring rehabilitation strategies in order to determine eligibility for vocational rehabilitation services and to determine the feasibility for achieving an employment outcome

Provides professional vocational rehabilitation counseling to individuals with a diversity of disabilities in order that they may attain appropriate employment outcomes

Provides information to assist individuals with disabilities in making informed choices regarding services, service providers, and employment outcomes

Authorizes, coordinates and/or negotiates services leading to successful employment outcomes
Employment Contacts and Placement

Develops employer contacts and serves as liaison with employers

Develops and utilizes job placement opportunities to assist eligible individuals with disabilities to obtain appropriate employment

Provides selective job development and placement

Collaborates with team members in placement activities

Utilizes the resources of community rehabilitation providers in securing appropriate job placement for eligible individuals with disabilities
Financial Accountability

Manages resources to ensure financial accountability according to state and federal regulations

Collaborates with community partners to assure appropriate use of available resources

Continuing Education and Training

Participates in training experiences designed to enhance professional competency in vocational rehabilitation

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major in a social, behavioral or rehabilitative science, education, or related field, and one year of professional experience in counseling or in a public vocational rehabilitation program; or a master's degree from an accredited college or university in a social, behavioral or rehabilitative science or education program can substitute for one year of required experience

EXAMPLES OF WORK

• Conducts client intake
• Assesses client's resources
• Performs job placement and job development activities for clients
• Performs follow-up and maintains client contact through telephone calls and home visits
• Interviews, counsels, and evaluates patients to determine individual therapeutic activity needs
• Consults with other professionals and team members concerning recommended programs
• Prepares reports on patients' progress and their reactions to various activities
• Evaluates rehabilitation therapy programs and makes recommendations for adjustment and revisions
• Conducts in-depth interviews with a diverse group of blind and visually impaired clients to determine their eligibility for rehabilitation services and the feasibility for achieving a vocational independent living or educational goal
• Determines existing problems and evaluates individual needs for achieving independence in daily living, in acquiring communication skills and/or obtaining suitable employment.
• Develops community contacts for employment opportunities, similar benefits and socialization
• Assists in the establishment of policies, standards, rules, regulations and guidelines for program planning

EXAMPLES OF KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

(Note: The knowledge, skills and abilities (KSA's) identified in this class specification represent those needed to perform the duties of this class. Additional knowledge, skills and abilities may be applicable for individual positions in the employing agency.)

Knowledge of:

• The theories and practices in counseling
• The principles and techniques of effective verbal and written communication
• The methods of compiling, organizing and analyzing data
• Medical and psychological aspects of disability groups
• Interviewing techniques
  Ability to:
• Interview clients to determine eligibility for vocational rehabilitation services
• Compile, organize and analyze medical and psychological data
• Provide counseling and guidance in the area of career planning
• Develop individual vocational rehabilitation programs
• Assess test results
• Plan, organize and coordinate work assignments
• Communicate effectively
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with others
• Use and analyze information from the management information system
• Understand and use State and Federal vocational rehabilitation regulations and policies
• Use automated systems

APPLICATION INFORMATION & REQUIREMENTS

Candidate Profile (application) must be complete in its entirety. Your packet may be delayed at the final review step if you are missing the below items:

• Work History (entered with the most recent/current listed first:
  • Any and all State of Florida jobs
  • Any and all Florida University jobs
  • All periods of employment
  • Periods of unemployment
  • Gaps 3 months or more*
  • Education
  • Volunteer Experience
• Include supervisor names and phone numbers including current place of employment.
• *Gaps 3 months or more must be addressed – you will need to account for and explain any gaps in employment including unemployment. You can either list these in your application under Period of Employment or attach a word document listing your gaps.
• Experience, education, training, knowledge, skills and/or abilities as well as responses to pre-qualifying questions must be verifiable to meet the minimum qualifications.
• It is unacceptable to use the statement “See Resume” in place of entering work history. Your candidate profile will convert to your official application.

• If claiming Right to First Interview, candidate MUST attach a copy of your official layoff letter when applying. This only applies to employees laid off from Career Service positions.

Complete and register your State of Florida Employment Application on-line, which will then enable you to electronically submit your application for advertised vacancies in the state agencies. The State of Florida application online can be edited at any time prior to each submission and will automatically populate when you apply to a specific position.

After you have applied to one or more job advertisements, all submitted applications can be viewed from the "Applicant Home Page" by clicking on "View Your Applicant Submissions. "A listing of all the positions to which you have applied will be displayed. You can view and/or print any or all the submitted applications, although this information is also maintained online.

[or]

• Download and then fax a completed application to the People First Service Center at 888-403-2110.  Be sure to include the requisition number on each page of your application.

For assistance in completing the employment application or applying for jobs using the People First system, call the People First Service Center at 1-877-562-7287.

It is the policy of the Florida Department of Education that applicants for employment undergo level 2 employment screening in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 435, Florida Statutes, as a condition of employment or being permitted to serve as a volunteer.

All applicants for employment or to volunteer who are selected for an interview will be provided with the Consent to Background Screening form for level 2 screening, the Affidavit of Good Moral Character, and the Notice of Rights. The leading candidate for employment or to volunteer will be required to execute the Consent form and Affidavit, report to a designated location, and submit fingerprints for level 2 screening.

No applicant for a designated position will be employed or permitted to volunteer until the level 2 screening results are received, reviewed, and approved by the Department.

Level 2 background screening shall include, but not be limited to, fingerprinting for statewide criminal and juvenile records checks through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and federal criminal records checks through the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and may include local criminal records checks through local law enforcement agencies.

The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace.

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.

VETERANS’ PREFERENCE. Pursuant to Chapter 295, Florida Statutes, candidates eligible for Veterans’ Preference will receive preference in employment for Career Service vacancies and are encouraged to apply. Candidates claiming Veterans’ Preference must attach supporting documentation with each submission that includes character of service (for example, DD Form 214 Member Copy #4) along with any other documentation as required by Rule 55A-7, Florida Administrative Code. Veterans’ Preference documentation requirements are available by clicking here.  All documentation is due by the close of the vacancy announcement.                     

STATE OF FLORIDA EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

State of Florida Retirement - 3% Employee Contribution Required

10 Paid Holidays annually

104 Hours of Paid Annual Leave annually

104 Hours of Paid Sick Leave annually

Health Insurance for Individual or Family Coverage – State pays 80% of premium

Life Insurance – State pays premium for $25,000 basic term life insurance for full time employee

Additional supplemental insurances available such as dental, vision, etc.

Tax Deferred Medical and Child Care Reimbursement Accounts available

Benefits information can be found on the following website:

Insurance Benefits: http://www.myflorida.com/MyBenefits 

The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer, and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace.

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.

VETERANS’ PREFERENCE.  Pursuant to Chapter 295, Florida Statutes, candidates eligible for Veterans’ Preference will receive preference in employment for Career Service vacancies and are encouraged to apply.  Certain service members may be eligible to receive waivers for postsecondary educational requirements.  Candidates claiming Veterans’ Preference must attach supporting documentation with each submission that includes character of service (for example, DD Form 214 Member Copy #4) along with any other documentation as required by Rule 55A-7, Florida Administrative Code.  Veterans’ Preference documentation requirements are available by clicking here.  All documentation is due by the close of the vacancy announcement.