Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor jobs in Melbourne, FL

Requisition No: 796012 

Agency: Department of Education

Working Title: DOE/VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION COUNSELOR - 48004601

Position Number: 48004601 

Salary:  Monthly Salary $2,860.00 

Posting Closing Date: 05/21/2023 

DIVISION OF VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION

LOCATION: Melbourne

VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION COUNSELOR

Position Number: 48004601

Monthly Hiring Salary: $2,860.00

*Preference given for education, professional experience, and/or bilingual: Spanish speaking applicants.  This advertisement may be used to fill current and future vacancies for up to 6 months*

Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) is a federal-state vocational program that helps people with physical or mental disabilities be successful in employment. VR is committed to helping people with disabilities find meaningful careers.  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."

For your application to be considered:

• Qualifying Questions concerning education, experience, knowledge, skills and/or abilities must be disclosed. 
• All fields must be complete (supervisor name, phone numbers, addresses, etc.).
• Gaps in employment that exceed three (3) months must be explained during that time period (unemployed, caretaker, etc.)
• All employment history must be in chronological order by date with the most recent employer first.

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Minimum Requirements:

Bachelor’s Degree:  Attainment of a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in a field of study reasonably related to vocational rehabilitation, to indicate a level of competency and skill demonstrating basic preparation in a field of study such as:

• vocational rehabilitation counseling
• social work
• psychology
• disability studies
• business administration
• human resources
• special education
• supported employment
• customized employment
• economics
• another field that reasonable prepares individuals to work with consumers and employers

Years of Experience

For each year of work experience required in the qualifications, an applicant shall have 12 months of full-time work experience to receive credit for an entire year.

In addition, not less than 1 year of paid or unpaid experience consisting of:

• direct work with individuals with disabilities in a setting such as an independent living center
• direct service for advocacy activities that provide such individual with experience and skills in working with individuals with disabilities
• direct experience as an employer
• direct experience as a small business owner or operator
• direct experience in self employment
• experience in human resources
• experience in recruitment
• experience in supervising employees
• experience in training
• experience in other activities that provide experience in competitive integrated employment environments

Advanced Degree

Attainment of a Master’s or Doctoral degree from an accredited college or university in a field of study such as:

• vocational rehabilitation counseling
• law
• social work
• psychology
• disability studies
• business administration
• human resources
• special education
• management
• public administration
• another field that reasonably provides confidence in:
  • the employment sector
  • in a disability field
  • or in both business-related and rehabilitation-related fields

Years of Experience

No work experience is required with an advanced degree listed above.

 Job Description:

This position is responsible for providing professional vocational rehabilitation counseling to 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. 

Examples of Work

Assesses medical, psychological, and vocational information to determine eligibility for services.

Develops, with full participation of the customer with a disability, an individualized Plan for Employment to determine employment outcomes.

Conducts in-depth interviews of individuals with disabilities requiring rehabilitation strategies to determine eligibility for vocational rehabilitation services and 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 approproiate 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.

Negotiates with individuals with disabilities regarding plan development.

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

Develops employer contacts and serves as liaison with employers.

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.

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

Collaborates with community partners to assure appropriate use of available resources.

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

Employee must be productive under tight timeframes, balance multiple and competing priorities and maintain goal-directed behavior and performance sometimes under stressful conditions; the employee must interact courteously with others; employee’s performance and behavior must demonstrate consideration of the workload of others and must not negatively affect productivity and morale of the unit.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of the theories and techniques of counseling
• Knowledge of the principles and techniques of effective verbal and written communication
• Knowledge of the methods of compiling, organizing and analyzing data
• Knowledge of medical and psychological aspects of disability groups
• Knowledge of interviewing techniques
• Ability to interview clients in order to determine eligibility for vocational rehabilitation services
• Ability to compile, organize and analyze medical and psychological data
• Ability to provide counseling and guidance in the area of career planning
• Ability to develop individual vocational rehabilitation programs
• Ability to assess test results
• Ability to plan, organize and coordinate work assignments
• Ability to communicate effectively
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others
• Ability to use and analyze information from the management information system.
• Ability to understand and use State and Federal vocational rehabilitation regulations and policies.
• Ability to use automated systems.

STATE OF FLORIDA EMPLOYEE BENEFITS: 

• State pays 80% premium for health insurance monthly (family $180.00 / individual $50.00)
• 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
• 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: 

https://www.mybenefits.myflorida.com/

Background Screening Requirement: 

It is the policy of the Florida Department of Education that applicants for employment undergo level 2 employment screening in accordance with the requirement of Chapter 435, Florida Statutes, as a condition of employment of 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.  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.