Rehabilitation Assistant - Cedar Rapids

The Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Team at Iowa Workforce Development is accepting applications for full-time Rehabilitation Assistant role in our Cedar Rapids, IA IowaWORKS offices

Provide general agency information at orientations for job candidates to support new referrals. Complete agency referral/application materials to support job candidates as necessary. Schedule intake interviews for referrals. Facilitates 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.

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

Redirects inappropriate or disruptive behavior to improve job candidate success in vocational training. Instructs job candidates one-on-one to perform simple tasks and provides feedback to achieve desired behavior.

Provides Job Seeking Skills training to assist job candidates to learn to find employment. Instructs job candidates on jobs and follows up with employers to identify problems and issues; works with counselors, job candidates, and employers to resolve issues. Completes monthly progress reviews as requested by counselors. Contacts employers to develop jobs. Monitors and updates area office employer development account. Answers questions about vocational rehabilitation services from the public.

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

Accompanies job candidates to job interviews as directed by counselors. Provides limited job coaching as directed by counselors. Observes and interacts with job candidates and business representatives in diverse and varied work settings. Identifies work skills and behaviors needed and provides coaching to candidates. Reviews job candidate on-the-job performance and reports information to counselors. Follows 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. This includes 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/scanners to copy, scan, download/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 record.

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 completed 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, goal dates and 90 days for stabilization.

May serve as front desk receptionist, providing coverage for visitors. Announce arrival of visitors in a timely manner and follow up if visitors have been waiting too long by finding alternate contact. Answer incoming calls politely and clearly, determining nature of the call and routing the call to the appropriate person and route complex issues to area office supervisor or Secretary 2.

Take messages as appropriate. Cancel and reschedule appointments as requested by staff. Document changes in case record and send notifications to job candidates and assigned team members as applicable. Treat internal and external customers with respect and establish a good rapport. Review messages from voice mail and respond when appropriate.

Attend agency staff meetings utilizing information provided to support and direct work activities. Provide backup coverage for other clerical team members when needed due to absences or work priorities.

Support special projects and tasks as needed to meet office/agency needs.

The successful candidate must be able to pass a criminal background check conducted by the Iowa…