Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor

THE POSITION

Do you have an understanding of vocational rehabilitation services and want to apply that knowledge to assist individuals who are blind or visually impaired? If so, take your career up a notch as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor in our Philadelphia District Office. The Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR), Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services (BBVS) Office assists individuals in their home and communities work and maintain independent lives. If you are interested in experiencing the satisfaction of public service while enjoying professional career growth, the Department of Labor & Industry has the perfect opportunity for you!

DESCRIPTION OF WORK

As a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, you will be tasked with developing and maintaining referral sources to ensure potential customers are identified, and coordinating the delivery of blindness and visual services to customers. Work involves determining and creating appropriate vocational goals for each individual, providing counseling and guidance services, and assisting with job placement. You will also be responsible for preparing case reports, acting as liaison with agency resources, as well as evaluating and documenting customer progress. Effective communication is essential as you will be explaining eligibility requirements and services to applicants. Upon further discussion with applicants and additional parties, you will have the opportunity to determine the next steps in the rehabilitation process.

Interested in learning more? Additional details regarding this position can be found in the position description.

Work Schedule and Additional Information:

• Full-time employment
• Work hours (negotiable) are 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday - Friday, with a 30-minute lunch.
• Alternate Work Schedule available.
• Telework: You may have the opportunity to work from home (telework) part-time, upon successful completion of the training period. In order to telework, you must have a securely configured high-speed internet connection and work from an approved location inside Pennsylvania. If you are unable to telework, you will have the option to report to the headquarters office in Philadelphia. HQ location may be flexible depending on the selected candidate. The ability to telework is subject to change at any time. Additional details may be provided during the interview.
• Salary: Most employees will start at the beginning level of the advertised salary.
• You will receive further communication regarding this position via email. Check your email, including spam/junk folders, for these notices.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE, TRAINING & ELIGIBILITY

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Experience and Training Requirements:

• Successful completion of the commonwealth's Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor Intern program (Commonwealth job title or equivalent Federal Government job title, as determined by the Office of Administration); or
• Possession of an active Certified Rehabilitation Counselor certificate issued by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification; or
• Proof of approval to sit for the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC) Certified Rehabilitation Counselor certification examination, provided by the CRCC, and completion of a master's degree; or
• A master's degree in vocational rehabilitation, mental health, special education, social work, human services, psychology, business administration, human resources, public administration, or a closely related field.
• Applicants will be considered to have met the educational requirements once they are within 3 months of graduating with a qualifying degree.

Other Requirements:

• PA residency requirement is currently waived for this title.
• You must be able to perform essential job functions.

Legal Requirements:

• This position falls under the provisions of the Child Protective Services Law.
  • Under the Law, a conditional offer of employment will require submission and approval of satisfactory criminal history reports including, but not limited to, PA State Police clearance, PA Child Abuse history clearance, and FBI Fingerprint clearance.

How to Apply:

• Resumes, cover letters, and similar documents will not be reviewed, and the information contained therein will not be considered for the purposes of determining your eligibility for the position. Information to support your eligibility for the position must be provided on the application (i.e., relevant, detailed experience/education).
• If you are claiming education in your answers to the supplemental application questions, you must attach a copy of your college transcripts for your claim to be accepted toward meeting the minimum requirements. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable.
• Your application must be submitted by the posting closing date. Late applications and other required materials will not be accepted.
• Failure to comply with the above application requirements may eliminate you from consideration for this position.

Veterans:

• Pennsylvania law (51 Pa. C.S. *7103) provides employment preference for qualified veterans for appointment to many state and local government jobs. To learn more about employment preferences for veterans, go to www.pa.gov/agencies/employment/how-to-apply.html and click on Veterans.

Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS):

• 711 (hearing and speech disabilities or other individuals).

If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodations due to a disability, please discuss your request for accommodations with the interviewer in advance of your interview date.

The Commonwealth is an equal employment opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse workforce. The Commonwealth values inclusion as we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most qualified people to serve the citizens of Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, union membership, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, AIDS or HIV status, disability, or any other categories protected by applicable federal or state law. All diverse candidates are encouraged to apply.

EXAMINATION INFORMATION

• Completing the application, including all supplemental questions, serves as your exam for this position. No additional exam is required at a test center (also referred to as a written exam).
• Your score is based on the detailed information you provide on your application and in response to the supplemental questions.
• Your score is valid for this specific posting only.
• You must provide complete and accurate information or:
  • your score may be lower than deserved.
  • you may be disqualified.
• You may only apply/test once for this posting.
• Your results will be provided via email.