Description

Lead Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor 4

Are you a leader with a passion for assisting people with disabilities by providing vocational rehabilitation services to assist them in obtaining and maintaining employment? Join the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) and our hard-working team of professionals. Motivated people committed to providing vocational rehabilitation services to customers with disabilities are encouraged to apply, for our VRC lead multiple openings in Bremerton, Port Angeles, and Tumwater, WA.

Our compassionate, often fast-paced Vocational Rehabilitation office seeks an experienced professional with a background in Rehabilitation Counseling. You should be comfortable helping a wide range of customers in addressing barriers/limitations and assisting them with important decisions about their employment future. Are you good at researching and documenting information, problem-solving, have experience with Rehabilitation Counseling, and enjoy working with peoples who are living with various disabilities on a daily basis? If so, we encourage you to apply. Join us in transforming lives!

You will serve as a lead in a DVR field office, including out-stationed offices, under the general direction of a Vocational Rehabilitation Supervisor. At the same time, provide VR counseling and case management for the most complex and difficult cases and carry a caseload of customers with the most significant disabilities to assist them in achieving competitive, integrated employment outcomes.

Some of what you will do:

• 
  Lead and coach other DVR staff, maintain office coverage and assign work, and act in the absence of the VR Supervisor
• Respond to and serve a caseload of DVR customers with the most complex cases
• Connect and maintain close working relationships with federal, state, and local organizations; jointly serving customers
• Promote DVR programs to the public and employers, and conduct outreach in the community to share information about DVR services
• Collaborate in and lead group orientations, workshops, and related activities to facilitate informed choices and prepare customers for employment
• Promote customer’s self-reliance and informed choice and assist in identifying the steps and VR services required to achieve a competitive outcome
• Works cooperatively with the Tribal VR Programs and tribes to enhance the independence of individuals with disabilities, facilitate access to vocational rehabilitation services and increase employment opportunities for those served by DVR and AIVRP
• Participate in the student transition team to provide support and guidance to students with disabilities as they prepare to move from high school to the workplace. The student’s transition team includes the student, parents, school staff, and VR Counselors

Four years of paid experience* as a vocational rehabilitation counselor or similar paid experience in vocational counseling, job placement, vocational assessment, or other areas of rehabilitation counseling. This experience may be gained either before or after obtaining the qualifying education or CRCC certification.

• 1 year of the paid experience may be substituted with 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 people with experience and skills in working with people with disabilities; or
• Direct experience as an employer, as a small business owner or operator, or in self-employment, or other experience in human resources, recruitment, or experience in supervising employees, training, or other activities that provide experience in integrated employment environments

And , one of the following:

• Current certification as a Rehabilitation Counselor by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC)
• Or, a Master's 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 Master's degree with at least 18 quarter or 12 semester credit hours of rehabilitation counseling courses

Click here for a complete list of alternate desirable qualifications. Starting salary depends on your qualifications. This job is classified as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor 4 (VRC4).

How to apply:
Please submit an application and include:

• A letter of Interest
• Current resume

Our Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) mission to Transform Lives requires that we come together with a sense of belonging, common purpose, shared values and meaningful work. It is crucial to our agency’s mission that you bring an equity, anti-racism and social justice commitment to your work with DSHS. We strive to create greater access and affirming representation of the communities we serve, including Black, Indigenous and People of Color, people with physical, behavioral health, and intellectual disabilities, elders, LGBTQIA+ individuals, immigrants and refugees, and families building financial security.

Questions about this opportunity? Please contact Elly.Price@dshs.wa.gov and reference position number 04567.
NOTE: Employees of the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment. Any offer of employment is contingent upon verification of your vaccine status. Please note medical or religious accommodation may be available once an offer of employment is made.

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.

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