- Position Title
- Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor
- Agency
- Veterans Benefits Administration
- Announcement Number
- DE-12215959-24-CB Opens in new window
- Open Period
- Thursday, November 30, 2023 to Friday, December 8, 2023
For preview purposes only. To apply, please return to the USAJOBS announcement and click the Apply button.
Eligibilities
1.
Do you claim Veterans’ Preference?
2.
Are you a current or former federal employee displaced from the agency hiring for this position? If yes, confirm:
For more information, review the USAJOBS Help Center.
To verify your eligibility, you must submit supporting documentation such as a Reduction in Force (RIF) separation notice or a Proposed Removal/Separation notice to include your latest performance rating (if the notice does not have this information included, you must submit a copy of your most recent performance appraisal) and a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50.
- you are located in the same local commuting area of the vacancy; AND,
- you are applying to a position that is at or below the grade level of the position from which you were or will be separated; AND,
- your grade is equivalent to or below the grade level of the vacancy; AND,
- your last performance rating of record is at least fully successful or the equivalent.
For more information, review the USAJOBS Help Center.
To verify your eligibility, you must submit supporting documentation such as a Reduction in Force (RIF) separation notice or a Proposed Removal/Separation notice to include your latest performance rating (if the notice does not have this information included, you must submit a copy of your most recent performance appraisal) and a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50.
3.
Are you a current or former federal employee displaced from a position in a federal agency other than the Department of Veterans Affairs? If yes, confirm:
To verify your eligibility, you must submit supporting documentation such as a Reduction in Force (RIF) separation notice to include your latest performance rating (if the notice does not have this information included, you must submit a copy of your most recent performance appraisal) and a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50.
- you are located in the same local commuting area of the vacancy; AND,
- you are applying to a position that is at or below the grade level of the position from which you were or will be separated; AND,
- you are applying to a position that does not have greater promotion potential than the position from which you were or will be separated; AND,
- your last performance rating of record is at least fully successful or the equivalent.
To verify your eligibility, you must submit supporting documentation such as a Reduction in Force (RIF) separation notice to include your latest performance rating (if the notice does not have this information included, you must submit a copy of your most recent performance appraisal) and a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50.
Preferences
1.
Select the location(s) you want to be considered for. You must choose at least one location. You may only select up to 1 location(s).
2.
Select the lowest grade you are willing to accept for this position.
3.
Which of the following items describes your current or recent (within the last five years) political appointee service?
If you responded yes to any of the items below, you will need to include a SF-50 specifying your prior service.
If you responded yes to any of the items below, you will need to include a SF-50 specifying your prior service.
4.
Do you acknowledge that this position is not a remote worker position.
Assessment 1
BASIC REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL GRADES: This series has Basic Requirements that must be met. Carefully read below and select the appropriate answer to the following question based on your current level of education and/or experience that demonstrates your ability to perform the duties of this position. When answering the questionnaire, remember that your experience and education are subject to verification by investigation. You may be asked to provide specific examples or documentation of experience or education as proof to support your answers.
1.
Basic Education Requirement. To meet this requirement, all qualifying education must be from an accredited college or university (TRANSCRIPTS MUST BE SUBMITED) to support education requirement. Please select the concentrations or majors you have successfully completed a master's degree or higher in below. Your degree title must match be an exact match.
2.
Basic Internship or Experience Requirement. To qualify for the Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC) position, candidates must meet the following basic requirements: Internship/Practicum or Experience Requirement. The required (1) supervised internship/practicum or (2) post-master's degree experience.
For each of the following questions, please select the response that best describes your education and/or experience. You may only select one response for each question. If you feel that your education or experience exceeds all of the descriptions for a particular question, choose the description that is the closest level to the experience or education that you possess.
3.
For GS-09: To qualify for the GS-09 grade level, you must meet the basic requirements described in questions 1, and 2 as described below.
a. Education. Successful completion of a master's degree (or higher) in rehabilitation counseling, rehabilitation services, clinical rehabilitation counseling, counseling psychology, mental health counseling, career counseling or social work from an accredited college or university.
b. Internship or Experience Requirement. The required (1) supervised internship or (2) post-master's degree experience is described as follows:
(1) Supervised Internship: The education described above must have included a supervised internship in rehabilitation counseling or case management specialization. The internship must have been supervised by a professional in vocational rehabilitation or a closely related professional field that typically has oversight for vocational rehabilitation programs.
OR
(2) Experience: One-year post-master's degree experience in direct delivery of professional vocational rehabilitation services to individuals with disabilities.
OR
c. Grandfathering Provision. VRCs employed in VBA on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including certifications that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements in this standard but met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed, the following provisions apply:
(1) VRCs who are grandfathered into the GS-0101 occupational series may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance level of a career ladder or changed to a lower grade within the occupation or placed in a supervisory or managerial position.
(2) VRCs who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of this qualification standard may not be extended or reappointed on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of this standard.
(3) If VRCs who are grandfathered under this provision leave the occupation, they lose protected status and must meet the full qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the occupation.
a. Education. Successful completion of a master's degree (or higher) in rehabilitation counseling, rehabilitation services, clinical rehabilitation counseling, counseling psychology, mental health counseling, career counseling or social work from an accredited college or university.
b. Internship or Experience Requirement. The required (1) supervised internship or (2) post-master's degree experience is described as follows:
(1) Supervised Internship: The education described above must have included a supervised internship in rehabilitation counseling or case management specialization. The internship must have been supervised by a professional in vocational rehabilitation or a closely related professional field that typically has oversight for vocational rehabilitation programs.
OR
(2) Experience: One-year post-master's degree experience in direct delivery of professional vocational rehabilitation services to individuals with disabilities.
OR
c. Grandfathering Provision. VRCs employed in VBA on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including certifications that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements in this standard but met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed, the following provisions apply:
(1) VRCs who are grandfathered into the GS-0101 occupational series may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance level of a career ladder or changed to a lower grade within the occupation or placed in a supervisory or managerial position.
(2) VRCs who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of this qualification standard may not be extended or reappointed on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of this standard.
(3) If VRCs who are grandfathered under this provision leave the occupation, they lose protected status and must meet the full qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the occupation.
4.
For GS-11: From the descriptions below, please select the response that best reflects your level of experience and/or education for the GS-0101-11 Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor position. To be creditable, the experience must have been equivalent to the GS-09 grade level in the federal service.
(1) Experience: Completion of one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 grade level. Specialized experience reflects the management of vocational rehabilitation counseling or case management workload involving persons with a wide variety of disability conditions (e.g., mental health, physical, cognitive, visual/auditory, substance abuse).
OR
(2) Education: Successful completion of 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education or have a PH.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in rehabilitation counseling, rehabilitation services, clinical rehabilitation counseling, counseling psychology, mental health counseling, career counseling or social work from an accredited college or university. NONQUALIFYING EXPERIENCE: Vocational rehabilitation experience obtained prior to completion of the requirements for the master's degree is not qualifying; If one year of work experience is credited for the Basic Requirement, that year cannot also be used for qualifying at the GS-11 level.
(1) Experience: Completion of one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 grade level. Specialized experience reflects the management of vocational rehabilitation counseling or case management workload involving persons with a wide variety of disability conditions (e.g., mental health, physical, cognitive, visual/auditory, substance abuse).
OR
(2) Education: Successful completion of 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education or have a PH.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in rehabilitation counseling, rehabilitation services, clinical rehabilitation counseling, counseling psychology, mental health counseling, career counseling or social work from an accredited college or university. NONQUALIFYING EXPERIENCE: Vocational rehabilitation experience obtained prior to completion of the requirements for the master's degree is not qualifying; If one year of work experience is credited for the Basic Requirement, that year cannot also be used for qualifying at the GS-11 level.
5.
GS-12: From the descriptions below, please select the response that best reflects your level of experience and/or education for the GS-0101-12 Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor position. To be creditable, the experience must have been equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the federal service.
Experience: In addition to meeting the basic requirements, applicants must possess one of the following: One year of specialized vocational rehabilitation experience in a federal, state and/or private vocational rehabilitation setting equivalent to at least the GS-11 grade level. Professional experience reflects the management of vocational rehabilitation counseling or case management workload involving persons with a wide variety of disability conditions (e.g., mental health, physical, cognitive, visual/auditory, substance abuse). NONQUALIFYING EXPERIENCE: Vocational rehabilitation experience obtained prior to completion of the requirements for the master's degree is not qualifying. Your resume/application must support your response.
Experience: In addition to meeting the basic requirements, applicants must possess one of the following: One year of specialized vocational rehabilitation experience in a federal, state and/or private vocational rehabilitation setting equivalent to at least the GS-11 grade level. Professional experience reflects the management of vocational rehabilitation counseling or case management workload involving persons with a wide variety of disability conditions (e.g., mental health, physical, cognitive, visual/auditory, substance abuse). NONQUALIFYING EXPERIENCE: Vocational rehabilitation experience obtained prior to completion of the requirements for the master's degree is not qualifying. Your resume/application must support your response.
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided.
6.
Manage vocational rehabilitation counseling or case management workload involving persons with a wide variety of conditions.
7.
Utilize a variety of resources, networking abilities, market and placement expertise, and other talents to determine how the rehabilitation will proceed.
8.
Develop a vocational rehabilitation plan to eliminate or address job impediments.
9.
Combine data from diagnostic tests and medical records to give a comprehensive picture of strengths, weaknesses, capabilities, and interests to help patients find a suitable employment or independent living objective.
10.
Analyze information to identify any physical, emotional, intellectual, personal adjustment, or other aspects that may affect training.
11.
Partner with administrators at schools, veterans' centers, military bases, federal, state, or local agencies to determine an individual needs and to provide the essential assistance.
12.
Partner with administrators at schools, veterans' centers, military bases, federal, state, or local agencies to provide job search or placement services.
13.
Provide early outreach to wounded, ill, or injured members, including the complete range of vocational rehabilitation services to the members while they are in the disability review process.
14.
Determine eligibility for a range of financial assistance programs.
15.
Organize the procurement of services and evaluates invoices in accordance with contract requirements.
16.
Provide post-placement counseling and/or other assistance to assist people in maintaining their jobs.
17.
Modify the rehabilitation plan if the person is unable to meet the goals of the original plan.
18.
Provide information and assistance through individual and group therapy sessions.
19.
Ensure that the entire spectrum of services required to achieve vocational rehabilitation by collaborating closely with other public and private organizations.
20.
Assist qualified individuals to choose their educational or professional objectives.