Description

DSHS DVR Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor 1-3 In Training
The job of Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor is suited for the person that has a commitment to the economic prosperity of people with disabilities who are seeking good-paying jobs and advancement in their careers. You provide vocational rehabilitation counseling and case management services to assist people with disabilities in obtaining and maintaining employment. Join the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) and our hard-working team of professionals as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor 1-3 in Training.
In this role, you will independently provide vocational rehabilitation counseling and case management to a caseload of students, youth, and adults with disabilities to assist them in achieving a competitive employment outcome located at the Tacoma DVR office.
We support a hybrid schedule within WA state. DVR may offer relocation assistance for those out-of-state and offered WA state employment with DVR. Please see the Supplemental Question section for information.
Some of what you will be doing:

• You will learn to serve a caseload of 50-120 DVR customers
• Determine each customer’s eligibility for vocational rehabilitation services necessary to achieve their employment goal
• Provide vocational rehabilitation counseling and support
• Conduct comprehensive assessments of customer needs identifying the disability-related barriers to employment that require VR services
• Arrange and interpret results of diagnostic testing and other vocational rehabilitation assessment tools; obtain benefit reports and interpret results to assist and counsel customers
• Assist customers in developing and implementing an Individual Plan for Employment and monitor progress toward completion of employment goals
• Maintain close working relationships with those who jointly serve DVR customers; promote DVR programs to the public and employers, and conduct outreach in the community to share information about DVR services
• Lead group orientations, workshops, and related activities to facilitate informed choices and prepare customers for employment
• Act as liaison to particular high schools in the area to ensure Transition services are provided to students with disabilities

• Current Certification as a Rehabilitation Counselor by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC)
• Or, a Masters degree in rehabilitation counseling, psychology, counseling, or a field related to vocational rehabilitation (such as one that promotes the physical, psychosocial, or vocational well-being of people with disabilities)
• Or, a Masters degree with at least 18 quarter or 12 semester credit hours of rehabilitation counseling courses, plus 6 months of paid/unpaid vocational counseling, job placement, vocational assessment, or other areas of rehabilitation counseling experience

• Bachelor's degree in vocational rehabilitation counseling or reasonably related field, and
  • officially accepted or currently enrolled in a rehabilitation counseling or related master's program that will be completed within 2 years
• Plus, 1 year paid/unpaid experience consisting of:

• Direct work with people with disabilities in a setting such as an independent living center
• Or, direct service or advocacy activities that provide you with experience and skills in working with persons with disabilities
• Or, direct experience as an employer, as a small business owner or operator, or in self-employment, or other experience in education, human resources, recruiting, or experience in supervising employees, training, or other activities that provide experience in integrated employment environments or in areas that assist others find employment (i.e. WorkSource)

• Apply technical knowledge of medical and psychological aspects of disabling conditions, labor market information, transferable skills evaluations, assistive technology, and job modifications
• Assist customers in exercising informed choices to make collaborative decisions that are consistent with appropriate vocational rehabilitation practice
• Support customers in developing a wide variety of social, educational, and financial resources to reach their employment goals by applying multiple counseling techniques to meet the varied needs of customers
• Manage multiple and competing priorities within prescribed time limits
• Negotiate with vendors, and collaborate with other rehabilitation professionals

Supplemental Information

Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal record history may be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant’s suitability and competence to perform in the job. This announcement may be used to fill multiple vacancies. Employees driving on state business must have a valid driver's license. Employees driving a privately owned vehicle on state business must have liability insurance on the privately owned vehicle.
Washington State Department of Social and Health Services is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in any area of employment, its programs or services on the basis of age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity/expression, marital status, race, creed, color, national origin, religion or beliefs, political affiliation, military status, honorably discharged veteran, Vietnam Era, recently separated or other protected veteran status, the presence of any sensory, mental, physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability, equal pay or genetic information. Persons requiring accommodation in the application process or this job announcement in an alternative format may contact the Recruiter at (360) 725-5810. Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call through Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6384.

E-Verify® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security