Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist

This position is located within the Supported Employment (SE) Program under the Compensated Work Therapy (CWT) Program at the VA Palo Alto Health Care System in Menlo Park, CA. The primary purpose of the Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist is to carry out all duties related to obtaining and maintaining competitive employment for Veterans living with severe and prolonged mental illness.

English Language Proficiency Requirement: In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. You must be proficient in basic written and spoken English in order to perform the duties of this position. ~AND~ In addition to meeting the English Language Proficiency, to qualify for this position at the GS-11 grade level, you must meet one of the following: Experience: You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-9) in the Federal Service that has given you the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of a Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Specialized experience includes: Work that required obtaining and applying occupational information for people with disabilities, knowledge of the interrelationships of the involved professional and specialist services, and skill in employing the methodology and techniques of counseling to motivate and encourage individuals served by the program; Experience that demonstrated knowledge of the vocational rehabilitation problems characteristic of individuals with disabilities, including familiarity with available resources and skill in identifying, evaluating, and making effective use of such resources to serve individuals with disabilities; or of those with disadvantages, including knowledge of adjustment problems of those with educational or cultural disadvantages, familiarity with available adult education and training resources, and ability to recognize problem areas needing special attention; Experience in vocational guidance or teaching in a recognized vocational rehabilitation program or school, developmental or supervisory work in programs of vocational rehabilitation or training programs for those with disadvantages, or personnel or employment placement work that provided extensive knowledge of the training and adjustment requirements necessary to place persons having disabilities or social adjustment problems. NOTE: Experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates, AND hours worked per week. ~OR~ Education: Successful completion of a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or M.A. or M.S., if related, with a major study in vocational rehabilitation, vocational or educational counseling, or other fields related that provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist position. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. ~OR~ Combination: Equivalent combination of successfully completed graduate level education (beyond the second year) and specialized experience, as described above, which may be used to meet total experience requirements for this grade level. The education portion must include graduate courses in vocational rehabilitation, vocational or educational counseling, or other fields related that provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist position. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. ~AND~ Driver's License Requirement (Screen-out): This position requires a current and valid state-issued driver's license (and must possess at application) to perform the official duties of the position. Note: We cannot accept photographs; therefore, please do not submit a copy of your driver's license with your application package. If an interview is requested, you may be required to provide a copy of your current and valid state-issued driver's license. Preferred Experience: The facility prefers at least three years of experience in vocational rehabilitation, counseling, or a related field. You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position: THERAPY AND COUNSELING INTERPERSONAL EFFECTIVENESS INTERVENTION CLINICAL DATA COLLECTION/DOCUMENTATION IMPORTANT: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. All experience listed on your resume must include the month and year start/end dates. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Physical Requirements: The work of the position is not sedentary, requiring extensive travel within the greater San Francisco Bay Area to make visits to employment sites and other outside community resources, which may also require extensive walking. Some physical effort may be required, including lifting up to 30 lbs. Stress may be related to providing services to clients in emotional distress or who may be demanding and uncooperative, and in overcoming possible resistance from potential employers. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.