Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist

Summary

The position is physically located in the Mental Health Department at the Tuskegee VA Medical Center. The incumbent is assigned vocational rehabilitation duties throughout the hospital, clinics, and with the community.

Duties

• Major duties include but are not limited to: Serve as the vocational
• Manager of the medical center assigned to the vocational rehabilitation/MHRRTP section to ensure that all referred disabled veterans are placed in appropriate programs leading to employment and/or independent living.
• Incumbent will function within the vocational rehab section as part of the Veterans Industries CWT/TWE/IT component.
• Incumbent initiates the rehabilitation process of veterans referred to the Vocational Rehabilitation section to ensure that all treatment and rehabilitative services needed by all referred potentially employable veterans are process in a comprehensive, coordinated andtimely manner.
• Incumbent is responsible for the provision and utilization of appropriate counseling techniques and strategies to increase the functioning of seriously mentally ill patients as well as those patients with physical disabilities.
• Accepts referral of Chronic/Seriously handicapped veterans and other veterans in all diagnostic categories with varying degrees and combinations of physical, mental, social and psychological disabilities.
• Will be responsible for employing assessment and modification techniques for problems with in the psychiatric, clinical, educational, and rehabilitative setting in an effort to maximize the patients rehabilitative potential.
• This is inclusive of patients from Mental Health Intensive Case Management, Day Treatment Center, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Services, and Homeless Programs.
• Visits assigned CWT/TWE/IT job sites to ensure individualized proper techniques for procedures and quality contact for regular and severe cases.
• Uses individualized counseling, individualized treatment modalities, individualized job placements, training and development of placement sites, for severely handicapped veterans, to increase their level of functioning for job placement.
• Ability to work closely with interdisciplinary team, including physicians, vocational rehabilitation counselors, therapist, and social workers.
• Makes arrangements for exploratory training programs such as a sheltered workshops, and Incentive Therapy assignments for both regular procedural cases and severe cases assigned to Vocational Rehabilitation.
• In accomplishing this objective both therapy and job productivity are monitored for future TWE placements.
• Serves as an educational resource via mandatory teaching and individualized educational programs as assessment.
• When appropriate, conducts Group Therapy to cover a vast array of educational, employment training, and community living needs.
• Extensive knowledge of handicapped veterans to ensure employees understand and are willing to comply with recommended job modifications to mee1 identified needs associated with physical, mental and social psychological handicaps, work tolerance and motivational techniques.
• Incumbent is responsible for utilizing his/her skills and knowledge in appropriately matching the veterans' skills with the most appropriate job placement, assessing and reassessment of stressors physical or mental associated with the job endassisting veteran in successfully moving through obstacles for positive outcomes.
• Work Schedule: Monday
• 4:30pm. Work Schedule is subject to change based on agency need. Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist/PD08876A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Requirements

• You must be a U.S.
• Citizen to apply for this job To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process.
• In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment.
• The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 Physical Requirements: Work involved is Sedentary, such as comprehensive assessments, individualized and documented treatment goals and measurable outcomes.
• Incumbent must be able to travel to rural industry, catchment area businesses, clinics and satellite facility as specified by the Coordinator, Vocational Rehabilitation Section.
• She/he may have to travel outside of the State for specified additional traveling as needed.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) As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period 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
• Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Education

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/.

Required Documents

• To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
• The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please make sure you have included other documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former
• Federal employees), documentation to support Veterans
• Preference claims, or
• ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced
• Federal employees). You will not be contacted for additional information. Cover Letter
• DD-214/ Statement of Service Disability Letter (Schedule A) Disability Letter (VA) License Other (1) Performance Appraisal Professional Certification Resume Separation Notice (RIF)
• SF-15 SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action Transcript
• SF-50, Notification of Personnel
• Action (if applicable for Time in Grade and/or
• Eligibility): Most recent
• SF-50 if you are a current or former Federal employee An
• SF-50 showing your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent
• SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional
• SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade
• Award 50's do not provide sufficient information and will not be accepted for the purpose of verifying time-in-grade. Examples of appropriate
• SF-50's include: Within grade increases at the highest grade held; or
• Promotions with an effective date more than one year old; or
• SF-50's at the highest grade held with an effective date more than one year old. Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible
• Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor
• Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire. You must provide a legible copy of your
• DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.).
• If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable,
• General, etc.), and dates of impending separation.
• Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible
• Veterans) must also submit an
• SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran
• Preference" with required proof as stated on the form. Documentation is required to award preference. For more information on
• Veterans' Preference, please visit Feds Hire Vets
• 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.
• It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza program is a condition of employment and a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• It is a requirement that all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons.
• Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccination has been granted.
• HCP in violation of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service.
• HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locations or who come into contact with VA patients or other HCP as part of their duties.
• VHA locations include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associated clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities.
• HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrative, remote and onsite, paid and without compensation, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected
• To perform any or all of their work at these facilities.
• HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students.
• HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with patients outside VA medical facilities.
• Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion.
• The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement.
• Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.