JOB TITLE: VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION COUNSELOR TRAINEE, DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING

JOB CODE: 44827

SERIES NATURE OF WORK: The Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor job series describes work in the professional counseling of customers with disabilities to develop and implement plans of services that result in suitable employment.

DEFINITION: This is structured and specialized trainee work in the field of vocational rehabilitation of persons who are deaf or hard of hearing.

An employee in this job receives formal and on-the-job training designed to develop technical skills and knowledge in rehabilitation counseling. Work involves providing counseling services of limited scope and difficulty to individuals with disabilities, including deafness or hearing loss, who are customers of the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) to prepare for and engage in competitive integrated employment consistent with their unique strengths, priorities, concerns, abilities, interests, and informed choice. Work includes the performance of increasingly more difficult duties as technical proficiency is acquired. Training and development activities are directed by a Vocational Rehabilitation Supervisor who assures that trainee progress is monitored and that scheduled activities develop competence in conformance with federal regulations, departmental policies and procedures, and in the specialized area of vocational rehabilitation. Upon successful completion of the training program, trainees will be promoted to the Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, Deaf and Hard of Hearing job.

EXAMPLES OF WORK: (NOTE: The examples of work are representative of the work, but every position classified to this job may not perform all examples of work listed. Conversely, this is not an all-inclusive list of work examples.)

• Participates in a structured program of training, studies texts, and prepared training materials and presents reports on training assignments under the guidance of a Vocational Rehabilitation Supervisor.

• Communicates with deaf and hard of hearing clients using American Sign Language and other forms of sign and manual communication, or through assistive technology.

• Interviews applicants to obtain relevant information regarding medical history, work experience, educational background, interests, and socioeconomic history.

• Disseminates information to OVR customers regarding vocational rehabilitation policies, procedures, and available services.

• Obtains and evaluates relevant documentation for the determination of customer eligibility for services according to established federal, state, and agency policies and guidelines.

• Evaluates physical and mental capabilities and develops an individualized plan for employment and related services necessary to meet the rehabilitative needs of the customer by identifying customers’ strengths, abilities, limitations, and nature and extent of employment barriers that create a substantial impediment to employment.

• Counsels customers with disabilities on developing viable vocational goals based on strengths, and assists them to address personal, social, economic, and vocational adjustment problems related to their disability.

• Reviews and evaluates diagnostic data to determine the nature and extent of a customer’s disability, and refers customer for additional psychological, medical, physical, or educational evaluations deemed necessary.

• Assesses vocational or occupational interests of customers, and identifies and arranges for formal and informal education and vocational programs and other necessary training.

• Recommends the purchase of diagnostic and other case services necessary for the rehabilitation needs of the customer.

• Evaluates customer job readiness, assists customer with the development of job seeking skills and job placement activities, prepares customers for job interviews, and monitors customers on the job.

• Prepares clear, sound, accurate, and informative reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.

• Corresponds with customers, service providers, and other partners.

• Evaluates the progress and effectiveness of customer’s individual programs, identifies and recommends changes as necessary, and evaluates improvements in customer’s physical and/or psychological condition.

• Performs related work as required.

ENTRY LEVEL KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of counseling techniques and different types of approaches to counseling and their models.

• Knowledge of the theories, methods, and techniques used to analyze and encourage improvement in the psychosocial and physiological situations of individuals and families.

• Knowledge of individual and group behavior.

• Knowledge of interviewing techniques.

• Ability to communicate fluently, both expressively and receptively, utilizing American Sign Language and other forms of sign and manual communication.

• Ability to analyze and interpret written information and numerical data.

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.

• Ability to communicate effectively orally.

• Ability to communicate effectively in writing.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING: (NOTE: Based on the Entry Level Knowledges, Skills, and Abilities)

• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a master’s degree in social work, deaf education, clinical mental health counseling, community counseling, career counseling, psychology, disability and human development, special education, or rehabilitative science, which includes three graduate credits in theories and techniques of counseling;

SPECIAL REQUIREMENT:

• All employees must be able to communicate at the intermediate sign communication level, or at the equivalent of intermediate sign communication level, as determined by a sign language proficiency evaluation approved by the Pennsylvania Office of Vocational Rehabilitation.