Rehabilitation Assistant - Ames

Job Description

The Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Team at Iowa Workforce Development is accepting applications for a full‑time Rehabilitation Assistant role at our Ames, IA office, where you will support job seekers throughout their rehabilitation journey.

• Location:
  
  819 Wheeler St., Suite 6, Ames, IA
• Schedule:
  
  Full‑time, Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
• Work flexibility:
  Hybrid telework and alternate schedules available after six months of employment and training has been successfully completed

Provide general agency information at orientations for job candidates to support new referrals. Complete agency referral and application materials to support job candidates as necessary. Schedule intake interviews for referrals. Facilitate job candidate orientation, Job Seeking Skills Training (JSST), Job Club, and mock interviews through direct one‑on‑one contact with job candidates, presenting to small groups, or in writing.

Conduct initial interviews with new applicants to gather personal data, complete agency paperwork, explain rights and responsibilities, and explain available vocational rehabilitation services. Develop partnerships with job candidates focusing on employment throughout the rehabilitation program; explain employer and rehabilitation team expectations. Instruct job candidates in acceptable social interpersonal and work‑related behaviors to improve success in work environments.

Redirect inappropriate or disruptive behavior to improve job candidate success in vocational training. Instruct job candidates one‑on‑one to perform simple tasks and provide feedback to achieve desired behavior.

Provide Job Seeking Skills training to assist job candidates in learning to find employment. Instruct job candidates on jobs and follow up with employers to identify problems and issues; work with counselors, job candidates, and employers to resolve issues. Complete monthly progress reviews as requested by counselors. Contact employers to develop jobs. Monitor and update the area office employer development account.

Answer questions about vocational rehabilitation services from the public.

Review occupational projections, salary expectations, and labor market trends; research job leads; and conduct research on accommodations and medical information needed as requested by counselors. As directed by counselors, maintain monthly contact with job candidates who are seeking or in employment (statuses 20 and 22) with ongoing plans to meet goals.

Accompany job candidates to job interviews as directed by counselors. Provide limited job coaching as directed by counselors. Observe and interact with job candidates and business representatives in diverse and varied work settings. Identify work skills and behaviors needed and provide coaching to candidates. Review job candidate on‑the‑job performance and report information to counselors. Follow job maintenance plans developed by counselors, job candidates, and employers.

Support clerical processing and workload that includes opening, transferring, and closing case records. Process and track confidential releases of information and related case data complying with agency standards. Process Social Security Administration verification requests. Enter data into the case management system. Maintain files, including creating, amending, canceling, billing, and tracking. Type and process letters pertaining to case services. Process mail and deliveries utilizing USPS or UPS/Fed Ex services as needed.

Use copiers and scanners to copy, scan, download, and upload information into the agency case management system. Work with software, hardware, and electronic forms needed for position responsibilities and compose case notes documenting work provided in case records.

Ensure tasks and assignments are thoroughly completed and performed in a business/professional appearance with special attention to spelling, grammar, punctuation usage, accuracy, fact checking, attention to detail, and completion in a timely manner. Assist service staff in adhering to regulatory time frames such as 60 days for eligibility, 90 days for plan development, annual reviews,…