Summary

The Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center (VAMC) in Wichita - Kansas is currently recruiting for a Rehabilitation Counselor to support or Psychology Services department. ******The salary listed in this announcement has been updated to reflect the new salary after inclusion of the 2025 federal salary increase.******

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• Education
• (1)A master's degree in rehabilitation counseling or clinical rehabilitation counseling from a rehabilitation counseling program accredited by the Council for Accreditationof Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
• If the applicant's degree was granted prior to July 1 - 2017 - the program must be accredited by theCouncil on Rehabilitation Education
• OR (2)A master's degree in counseling or clinical rehabilitation counseling from a college or university accredited by a national or regional accrediting body accredited by Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)
• OR (3)A master's or doctoral degree in a related field of study with course content that emphasized rehabilitation - counseling - disability - therapy - health - employment - wellness - or human development from a college or university accredited by a national or regional accrediting body accredited by CHEA
• OR (4) Foreign graduates with a degree acceptable by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC)
• Certification
• Current - full and unrestricted certification as a certified rehabilitation counselor (CRC) from the CRCC to practice vocational rehabilitation counseling
• (1) Exceptions for Graduate RCs
• (a) RC graduates from an approved counseling or rehabilitation counseling program who otherwise meet the basic qualification requirements and the additional degree requirements for CRC certification by the CRCC - but do not possess the required certification - may be appointed - pending certification - as a graduate RC on a full-time temporary appointment not-to-exceed two years under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(a)(1)(D)
• (b) Graduate RCs may only be appointed at the entry grade level and may not be promoted/converted until certification is obtained
• (c) Temporary graduate RC appointments may not be extended beyond two years or converted to a new temporary appointment
• English Language Proficiency
• Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f)
• May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria)
• A Rehabilitation Counselor employed in VHA on the effective date of the qualification standard (07/21/2020) are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title - series and grade held - including positive education and licensure/certification/registration that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation
• For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements in this standard but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it - the grandfathering provisions outlined in the OCC SERIES NAME qualification will apply
• You can view the qualification standard at https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/ Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements as stated above - the GS-09 Rehabilitation Counselor must meet the following requirements: Experience
• None beyond the basic requirements
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills and Abilities (KSAs)
• In addition to meeting the experience or educational requirements for this grade level - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of human development and behavior - medical - psychosocial - and vocational aspects of disability and differential influences of environmental and cultural factors to assist persons with disabilities in determining suitable vocational goals
• (b) Knowledge of history - philosophy and disability rights legislation in the field of rehabilitation to apply in the practice of rehabilitation counseling
• (c) Ability to synthesize assessment and diagnosis information in conjunction with labor market trends and community/educational resources to develop an effective individual service delivery plan
• (d)Knowledge of caseload management strategies to maximize an individual's independent functioning from assessment through provision of post-employment services
• (e)Ability to employ person-centered job development strategies to facilitate successful job placement
• (f)Knowledge of assessment tools and methods - functional capacity evaluations and specific vocational preparation to evaluate transferrable skills - residual capacities and needs for accommodations and assistive technology
• In addition to the basic requirements as stated above - the GS-11 Rehabilitation Counselor must meet the following requirements: Experience
• Completion of one year of professional experience equivalent to the next lower grade level directly related to the position being filled
• OR Education
• A doctoral degree in rehabilitation counselor education or related field (e.g
• rehabilitation psychology) from a CACREP accredited institution or from aninstitution accredited by a national or regional accrediting body accredited by CHEA
• AND Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of physical and psychological disabilities - appropriate accommodations and assistive technology principles to mitigate and reduce or eliminate barriers to integrate into the community
• (b) Knowledge of counseling theory - medical and psychiatric terminology and signs and symptomology of suicidal and homicidal ideations - to communicate appropriately with community health care professionals to provide useful input to other team members and employers in relation to the Veteran and/or his/her family's psychosocial needs and to recommend and help implement suitable treatment plans
• (c) Ability to use evidence-based and evidence informed vocational and professional counseling practices to include individual placement and support (IPS) - customized employment and supported employment models and motivational interviewing skills to promote self-awareness - adjustment to disability - enhanced job retention and successful integration to the community
• (d) Knowledge of career development processes and job analysis methodology to determine essential functions of jobs - worksite modifications and/or alternative vocational goals given the work history and residual functional capacities of individuals with disabilities
• (e) Ability to administer and interpret a wide variety of assessment methods including transferrable skills and labor market analyses to evaluate for individual interests - aptitudes and abilities and to identify suitable vocational goals for the development of an effective individual service delivery plan
• (f) Knowledge of marketing strategies to develop collaborative partnerships/Memorandums of Agreement within VA and local business community to enhance employment and/or work opportunities
• (g) Knowledge of military culture and specific factors and dynamics associated with Veterans - particularly combat Veterans - to assist those who are returning to community and community based-work
• Preferred Experience: Working with a Substance Use Disorder (SUD) population
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-9 to GS-11
• Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation and would generally not require a pre-placement examination.

Duties

• This position is located within VHA Vocational Rehabilitation Service (VHA Voc Rehab)
• VHA Voc Rehab Service programs are recovery-oriented clinical vocational rehabilitation services that offer an array of vocational - educational - training - employment - and therapeutic work services
• They include skill development - fostering of natural supports - and assistance with obtaining and maintaining employment for Veterans for whom the primary objective is competitive employment
• Vocational rehabilitation supports persons with functional - psychological - developmental - cognitive and emotional impairments - or health disabilities to overcome barriers to accessing - maintaining - or returning to employment and/or education
• Duties of this position include - but are not limited to: Serving as a Rehabilitation Counselor (RC) providing vocational and personal adjustment counseling - therapeutic rehabilitation interventions - and case coordination services - Providing vocational rehabilitation services to Veterans with a wide array of psychiatric and physical disabilities and psychosocial conditions that present a myriad of barriers - to achieving competitive employment - educational - and living goals - Serving as a consultant to an interdisciplinary treatment team as it relates to the Veteran's vocational rehabilitation needs
• Conducting biopsychosocial assessments using medical records - disability documentation - and observations - Facilitating job placement for Veterans by teaching job search skills - resume/application development - interview skills - and basic computer skills
• Work Schedule: Monday through Friday
• 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized