Supervisory Rehabilitation Counselor

Summary

Rehabilitation Counselors in the Veterans Health Administration work with persons who experience functional impairments and disabilities associated with mental health - physical - and psychosocial challenges affecting employment - independent living - or personal adjustment. Rehabilitation Counselors utilize various professional counseling and clinical modalities to promote and support functioning - independence - personal adjustment - adaptation to disability - community reintegration - and recovery.

• United States Citizenship:
  Candidates must be a citizen of the United States
• Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with 38 U.S.C § 7407(a)
• Education:
  
  A master's degree in rehabilitation counseling or clinical rehabilitation counseling from a rehabilitation counseling program accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
• If the applicant's degree was granted prior to July 1 - 2017 - the program must be accredited by the Council on Rehabilitation Education
• OR
• A master's degree in counseling or clinical rehabilitation counseling from a college or university accredited by a national or regional accrediting body accredited by Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)
• OR
• A master's or doctoral degree in a related field of study with course content that emphasized rehabilitation - counseling - disability - therapy - health - employment - wellness - or human development from a college or university accredited by a national or regional accrediting body accredited by CHEA
• OR
• Foreign graduates with a degree acceptable by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC)
• Certification:
  Current - full and unrestricted certification as a certified rehabilitation counselor (CRC) from the CRCC to practice vocational rehabilitation counseling
• Exceptions for Graduate RCs
• Rehabilitation Counselor graduates from an approved counseling or rehabilitation counseling program who otherwise meet the basic qualification requirements and the additional degree requirements for CRC certification by the CRCC - but do not possess the required certification - may be appointed - pending certification - as a graduate RC on a full-time temporary appointment not-to-exceed two years under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(a)(1)(D)
• Grandfathering Provision:
  Employees within VHA may qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria)
• English Language Proficiency:
  Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f)
• Grade Determinations:
  Supervisory Rehabilitation Counselor - GS-12:
  
  Experience:
  
  Completion of one year of professional experience equivalent to the next lower grade level directly related to the position being filled
• Demonstrated Knowledge
  - Skills and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
  Ability to supervise (e.g
• plan - direct - oversee - review work of subordinate staff)
  -assess employee strengths - opportunities for growth - and qualifications to accomplish program goals - adapt work operations - and guide staff
• Knowledge of labor/management agreements to effectively manage issues and concerns
• Knowledge of applicable accreditation bodies (i.e Joint Commission and Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities) and their standards to ensure continuous compliance
• Theoretical and practical knowledge of a range of rehabilitation delivery systems for the development - implementation - management and growth of rehabilitation programs and services
• Knowledge of business administration practices such as managing participant payroll - accounting - budget planning - to successfully operate a rehabilitation program
• Assignment:
  For all assignments above the full performance level - the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope - administrative independence - complexity (difficulty) - and range of variety as described in this standard at the specified grade level and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time
• The incumbent must serve as first-level supervisor
• Provide oversight of a group of RCs at the full performance level and below with administrative responsibility for planning and directing the work
• They oversee attendance and leave - including approval of sick and annual leave and vacation schedules
• Inform higher-level management of anticipated vacancies or increases in workload
• Recommend promotions - reassignments - performance ratings - and retention or release of probationary employees or other changes of assigned personnel
• Hold corrective interviews with employees - referring disciplinary problems to higher levels of management
• Resolve informal complaints of employees and deals with union…