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Commonwealth of Pennsylvania |
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POSITION DESCRIPTION FOR JOB POSTING |
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Position Number: 00077991 |
Description Activated On: 12/29/2025 9:08:46 AM |
Position Purpose: Describe the primary purpose of this position and how it contributes to the organization’s objectives. Example: Provides clerical and office support within the Division to ensure its operations are conducted efficiently and effectively. Under the general supervision of a VR Supervisor, is responsible for providing a full range of vocational rehabilitation services to individuals with disabilities to assist them in obtaining gainful employment. |
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Description of Duties: Describe in detail the duties and responsibilities assigned to this position. Descriptions should include the major end result of the task. Example: Types correspondence, reports, and other various documents from handwritten drafts for review and signature of the supervisor. Develop and maintain referral sources according to assigned areas of service to insure that individuals with disabilities are identified and may be considered for vocational rehabilitation services. Maintain community referral sources and keep them informed of any OVR service delivery provisions. Explain OVR services, eligibility requirements, confidentiality, and appeals process to potential customers of OVR. Accepts referrals as assigned by the VR Supervisor and initiates contact within the specified timeframe as outlined in OVR Policy. Utilize the web-based Commonwealth Workforce Development System (CWDS) to access participants referred for services. Schedules a meeting with each referral to explain eligibility requirements, scope of services, confidentiality, appeal rights; to secure the secure necessary release forms; and to determine the next steps in the rehabilitation process with the applicant. Gather records necessary to determine eligibility within specified time frames. This may include medical or psychological records, school records, and/or information from other service providers that contains a customer’s current diagnosis and evidence of current functioning. Authorize as appropriate and necessary, medical, audiological, psychological, assistive technology, or other appropriate evaluations to assist in documentation of disabilities, residual effects of disability, any medically documented limitations imposed by the disability for the purpose of determining eligibility for OVR services. Utilize professional judgement and agency guidelines to determine eligibility and notify applicant of results. Following eligibility determination, schedules a meeting with each customer to complete a comprehensive assessment to examine the customer’s unique strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, capabilities, and interests for the purpose of identifying an appropriate vocational goal and scope of services to be included in an Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE). Specifically, the comprehensive assessment includes a review of the following areas: Education; Employment; Strengths, Abilities and Transferrable Skills; Resources (Supports, Financial, and Comparable Benefits); Transportation; Legal Information; Priorities and Interests; and Needs and Concerns. Develops and approves a mutually agreed-upon IPE that includes a customer’s vocational goal and the services needed to reach the goal, the provider for each service, criteria for measurement, participant responsibilities, estimated start date for each service, and estimated date for achieving goal. Provide guidance and counseling throughout the rehabilitation process to continually assess each customer’s progress toward the established vocational goal. Amend goals and services as necessary to ensure optimal obtainment of vocational goal and competitive employment. Complete all applicable customer information within CWDS to complete and maintain the electronic case file. Utilize CWDS to document case history and all related OVR services, as well as maintain required paper documentation with appropriate signatures for the life of the case, per agency policy and procedure. Access and update participant records using CWDS. Enter Case Progress Notes for each case in CWDS in a timely manner so they can be viewed/shared. Enters cost service information into a Service Authorization through CWDS. Arrange for and initiate expenditures associated with the delivery of vocational rehabilitation services as appropriate for obtainment of the determined vocational goal and submit via the OVR Fiscal Review process for approval in a timely manner. This includes processing invoices upon receipt. Maintain, evaluate and document customer progress through the vocational rehabilitation process utilizing the CWDS software. Assume the Secondary or Supervising Counselor roles within CWDS with real-time access to the online cases when a caseload assignment warrants. Generates correspondence as needed within CWDS. As appropriate, provide consultation to community agencies, providers, and employers to assist in the delivery of services and obtaining or maintaining competitive employment. Travel as necessary within the assigned field of service, including contact with customers, vendors, providers, employers, facilities, or other institutions, to observe, understand and assist with delivery of service and representation of OVR. Maintain current knowledge of OVR Policy and Procedures and keep aware of any changes or revisions through attendance at regularly scheduled staff meetings and unit meetings, as well as local and statewide trainings including location events, webinars, video conferences or other agency scheduled events. Ensures that confidentiality of staff and customers of OVR is maintained. Positive representation of OVR to community organizations. Maintain effective and productive working relationship with community partners. Participate in advisory councils, on service teams, and other entities as appropriate to area of specialty or as assigned by District Office Management. Performs related work as required. |
Decision Making: Describe the types of decisions made by the incumbent of this position and the types of decisions referred to others. Identify the problems or issues that can be resolved at the level of this position, versus those that must be referred to the supervisor. Example: In response to a customer inquiry, this work involves researching the status of an activity and preparing a formal response for the supervisor’s signature. Eligibility and closure decisions and approval of service expenditures are all performed independently. A review of counselor casework is conducted by the supervisor on a quarterly basis to ensure adherence to agency guidelines, goals, and objectives. Expenditures for services which are classified as “large ticket” items, sole source, “individual consideration” or those requiring a waiver for training or financial eligibility must receive signatory review by management. |
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Requirements Profile: Identify any specific experience or requirements, such as a licensure, registration, or certification, which may be necessary to perform the functions of the position. Position-specific requirements should be consistent with a Special Requirement or other criteria identified in the classification specification covering this position. Example: Experience using Java; Professional Engineer License Experience: Licenses, registrations, or certifications: 1. N/A 2. N/A 3. N/A 4. 5. 6. |
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Essential Functions: Provide a list of essential functions for this position. Example: Transports boxes weighing up to 60 pounds.
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