07/12/1996 44840

VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION SPECIALIST SUPERVISOR

DEFINITION: This is supervisory specialized professional staff work in the state vocational rehabilitation program.

An employee in this class is responsible for supervising the planning and development of statewide special technical vocational rehabilitation programs in the Bureau of Central Operations, Department of Labor and Industry. Duties include planning special programs, developing standards, determining program objectives, and establishing program development projects or rehabilitation facility activities concerned with standards, services, and research areas. Supervision is exercised over Vocational Rehabilitation Specialists responsible for various phases of the vocational rehabilitation program. Work is performed with considerable independence in accordance with established policies and professional standards under the review of a Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist Manager.

EXAMPLES OF WORK: Directs technical programs, study projects, or rehabilitation facilities operations as part of the vocational rehabilitation program.

Directs the development and implementation of the process for awarding grants to rehabilitation facilities and other service providers.

Directs the development of standards for the expansion, improvement, renovation, and construction of rehabilitation facilities and workshops.

Reviews or supervises the review and evaluation of the preparation of requests for federal funds to be used for rehabilitation facilities improvements or demonstration and research projects.

Reviews the program's basic procedures and implements or recommends changes as indicated.

Reviews advanced counseling techniques for their applicability to the state vocational rehabilitation program.

Plans for and directs the development of programming to address the special vocational rehabilitation needs of persons with disabilities.

Directs the evaluation of vocational rehabilitation programming.

Supervises staff by assigning work, reviewing work performance, preparing and signing employee Performance Evaluation Reports, receiving grievances and complaints and resolving or recommending solutions, approving or disapproving leave requests, and insuring the development of staff.

Employees in this class may participate in the performance of their subordinates work consistent with operational or organizational requirements.

Performs related work as required.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: Knowledge of the principles and practices of vocational rehabilitation.

Knowledge of the social problems and general attitudes of persons with varying disabilities who are eligible for rehabilitation services.

Knowledge of current social, economic, and health problems, with special emphasis on factors related to vocational rehabilitation.

Knowledge of job placement techniques and employment trends and their relationship to the state vocational rehabilitation program.

Knowledge of public and private health associations and their interests in the state vocational rehabilitation program.

Knowledge of special disability areas in vocational rehabilitation, such as psychiatric, deaf, mental retardation, addiction, and related disabilities.

Knowledge of special program areas in vocational rehabilitation, such as placement, schools, private insurance, workmen's compensation, public assistance, rehabilitation engineering, supported employment, facility and job community based rehabilitation programming.

Knowledge of other state and federal agencies involved in providing services to persons with disabilities.

Ability to learn to plan, organize, and assign work to subordinates.

Ability to learn to evaluate employee performance and prepare employee Performance Evaluation Reports.

Ability to interpret and apply collective bargaining contracts applicable to the work performed by the unit.

Ability to create, establish, and maintain effective working relationships with individuals and agencies in and out of state government.

Ability to express ideas effectively, orally and in writing.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING: Two years as a Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist;

                                                                                                                                                                                     or

Five years of professional experience in the field of vocational rehabilitation including two years in a special disability or program area; and a bachelor's degree;

                                                                                                                                                                                     or

Any equivalent combination of experience and training. Graduate study in vocational rehabilitation may be substituted for the required experience on a year-for-year basis.