Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist

Summary

The Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist at Tomah VA Medical Center 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.

Duties

Major duties and responsibilities will include:

Responsible for the implementation of the program goals of vocational rehabilitation, training,and placement for veterans who have serious mental illness, physical and substance abuse disorders with an emphasis on those with psychosis. These highly specialized treatment programs serve veterans who may be mentally ill, homeless, and who present a wide array of psychiatric, physical, and neurological disabilities. Monitors the case findings of vocational rehabilitation candidates and develops and disseminates information on vocational rehabilitation resources to program staff and patients. Duties include: Solicits and develops employment opportunities for veterans with psychosis through a wide array of employment search approaches and activities within the local community, industry, state, and federal agencies. Oversees and places veterans assigned to various competitive employment positions and TW assignments through the Compensated Work Therapy Program. Provides and assists in arranging suitable placement of more severely disabled, difficult to place veterans who may require more individualized treatment plans in vocational and academic training, community employment, and conducts follow-up and follow along services on these placements. Monitors and reports to the North East Program Evaluation Center the summary data utilized for the associated performance measures, which are involved in this initiative. Provides job coaching, job accommodation and adaptation services to both veterans with psychosis and to those employers who employ these veterans either here at this Hospital or within the local community. Provides vocational rehabilitation, including the assessment of intelligence, vocational interests, aptitude and abilities, through the use of clinical tests, observations, interviews, and specialized vocational assessment equipment. Provides and coordinates a variety of professional rehabilitation counseling and case management services. Assesses data received from medical and psychological reports, develops rehabilitation plans, and as appropriate, provides rehabilitation services. Provides personal adjustment and problem-solving counseling, thus allowing treatment to continue on schedule by using effective counseling skills to determine the causes and extent of the adjustment problem and referring the veteran, if the problem is unresolved after counseling, to other treatment professionals. Performing related duties as required.
Work Schedule: Monday- Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm
Telework: This position may be authorized for telework.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist / PD04231A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

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