Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor

Overview

About Us
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is one of the largest, most complex agencies in the state, with approximately 17,000 employees. It is responsible for ensuring the health, safety, and well-being of all North Carolinians, providing human service needs for special populations including individuals who are deaf, blind, developmentally disabled, and mentally ill, and helping poor North Carolinians achieve economic independence.

• Agency: Dept of Health and Human Services
• Division: Blind Services
• Job Classification
  
  Title:
  
  Rehabilitation Counselor (NS)
• Position Number:
• Grade: NC10

The primary purpose of this Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor is to identify blind, visually impaired, or deafblind persons whose disability creates a substantial impediment to employment and enables them to obtain employment. This is achieved through the provision of a planned program of rehabilitation services including job development and placement services and direct interaction with employers in the community to assist the person in achieving employment commensurate with his/her skills, choice, interests, and capabilities.

The counselor in this position is primarily responsible for providing and coordinating these services to individuals who are blind, visually impaired, or deafblind.

• Making constant efforts to explain the scope and range of vocational rehabilitation services to potential consumers and to potential referral sources, including ophthalmologists, optometrists and Departments of Social Services within the counties served
• Completing the application and preliminary assessment process that includes initial interview and diagnostic study
• Determining consumer eligibility for services and engaging in Individualized Employment Plan (IPE) development after assisting in setting a job goal that is commensurate with consumer abilities, capabilities and interests
• Coordinating or authorizing services to promote consumer employment
• Job development and placement are provided and/or coordinated by the counselor in accordance with consumer job goal
• Outreach to education and eye care providers to improve the number of appropriate referrals to the agency from community sources
• Case Finding/Plan Development/Provision of Services is executed with appropriate referrals in accordance with federal eligibility criteria

• Knowledge of or experience in case management
• Knowledge of or experience working with people with disabilities
• Knowledge of or experience working with a team of professionals to help a client meet a goal
• Position funded; funded in part through federal funds
• Position is eligible for a hybrid-teleworking schedule to include weekly onsite work hours
• Posting closes at 11:59 p.m. the night before the end date

The State of North Carolina offers excellent comprehensive benefits. Employees can participate in health insurance options, standard and supplemental retirement plans, and the NCFlex program. Employees also receive paid vacation, sick, and community service leave. Paid parental leave is available to eligible employees.

Minimum Education And Experience
Master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling from an appropriately accredited institution; or a master’s degree in a related human services field from an appropriately accredited institution; or current certification as a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor by the Commission of Rehabilitation Counselor Certification.

The State of North Carolina is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and is dedicated to providing employees with a work environment free from all forms of unlawful employment discrimination, harassment, or retaliation. The state provides reasonable accommodation to employees and applicants with disabilities; known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; and for religious beliefs, observances, and practices.

Recruiter:
Charlene Michele Moore
Email: talent acquisition.gov