Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor

The Nevada Department of Employment Training and Rehabilitation is recruiting for a Rehabilitation Counselor 2 position on the newly established Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Eligibility Team in Reno, NV or Las Vegas, NV depending on the candidate chosen. The team will focus on providing accurate and timely intake and eligibility services for new applicants. Counselors in these roles will complete applicant intakes, collect and review medical documentation, and make eligibility decisions in alignment with established policies and standards.

They will work with both adults and youth who present with a wide range of disabilities, including physical, mental, learning, sensory, or related conditions. Counselors will also begin early employment discussions by helping applicants understand available community resources and employment support options. Preferred candidates will have experience providing services to individuals with disabilities, along with skills in conducting intakes, gathering documentation, and determining eligibility.

They must work collaboratively as part of a cohesive team, follow the standardized formats established by leadership, and maintain a high level of accuracy, professionalism, and consistency in all casework. These positions are essential to ensuring a smooth and efficient eligibility process within the unit.

Vocational Rehabilitation Supervisors and Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors manage a caseload budget; determine eligibility or ineligibility; assess vocational rehabilitation needs; develop individualized plans for employment (IPE); coordinate the delivery of services; provide counseling and advocacy services; provide appropriate job placement; and determine employment outcome in order to minimize disabling conditions and reduce dependency for individuals whose mental or physical disability presents a barrier to employment and/or self-sufficiency.

Master's degree from an accredited university in vocational rehabilitation counseling, health or social sciences, business administration, education, or closely related field, and one year of professional experience in vocational rehabilitation counseling which included making eligibility, ineligibility and employment outcome determinations by applying federal, state and agency regulations, policies and procedures for a public vocational rehabilitation or similar program; negotiating and resolving conflicts;

and performing community outreach public relations activities for an assigned program; OR Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in vocational rehabilitation counseling, health or social sciences, business administration, education, or closely related field, and two years of professional experience as described above; OR one year of experience as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor I in Nevada State service; OR an equivalent combination of education and experience above the Bachelor's degree level as described above.

Manage the caseload budget; project and authorize expenditures to assess applicants and meet client needs for physical and mental restoration, training or other vocational rehabilitation services; establish priorities of case spending; track caseload expenses according to prevailing federal, State and agency policies and guidelines; identify and utilize other available financial resources to maximize the use of agency funds.

• Interview applicants to establish case histories to include family background, social characteristics, education, work experience, health history and financial status; identify appropriate diagnostics, consultations, medical and psychological records needed to determine eligibility or ineligibility; schedule applicants for…