Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open to (Current & Permanent) Federal Employees and US Citizens. This announcement will remain open until filled. The first cutoff for consideration is 03/09/2026 ***NOTE*** The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this occupational series. For more information, refer to Required Documents below. If you are having issues uploading your resume under the resume option, you can upload as an 'other' document.

The major duties are listed below as Rehabilitation Counselor but not limited to:
A. Serve as an advocate on behalf of Veterans with members of the employment collaborative and community employers, when appropriate, to ensure comprehensive service delivery resulting on competitive employment.
B. Provide guidance and training to all homeless programs and staff across the VAMC on resources that enhance and result in competitive employment outcomes for Veterans, in particular those who are homeless or have other barriers to employment. Serves as primary point of contact for vocational needs assessments for Veterans who are enrolled in Homeless Programs. Provides guidance and training to all homeless programs and staff on resources that enhance and result in competitive employment outcomes for Veterans.
C. Coordinate with program managers on rapid access and placement strategies for Veterans that reduce barriers to employment.
D. Coordinate with homeless and community program managers on rapid access and placement strategies for Veterans that reduce barriers to employment and identify appropriate supports to sustain outcomes. Provides feedback to VA Health Care System leadership and homeless program staff on system resources, strengths, accomplishments, challenges, and recommended corrective actions.
E. Interview patients to gather vocational/educational information for vocational counseling/rehabilitation services.
F. Ensure competitive employment resources of varying levels of intensity are available for homeless Veterans, and serves as a liaison to local community providers of employment placement and support services for homeless Veterans.
G. Review cases referred to ensure Veterans receive services leading to competitive employment and appropriate follow-up supports.
H. Work with local staff in developing templates for concise and individualized veteran-centered assessments that helped to determine the level of intensity required to provide employment services to homeless veterans.
I. Monitor performance and progress through review of cases referred to the members of the Employment Collaborative.
J. Develop employment opportunities for homeless Veterans and maintains a database on referral and placement outcomes.
K. Lead efforts to establish a local employment collaborative which includes VA and non-VA members and community-based employers, and documents access points, requirements for participation and points of contact as indicated. This collaborative should include but is not limited to: HCHV and HUD-VASH; Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) and GPD grantees; Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA)/Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E); Department of Labor grantees such as the Homeless Veteran Reintegration Program (HVRP); and local community and faith-based organizations. Leads efforts to establish a local employment collaborative which includes VA and non-VA members and community-based employers, and documents access points, requirements for participation and points of contact as indicated.
L. Conduct monthly conference calls with all the members (VA and non-VA) of the local Employment Collaborative serving Veterans and resolves access barriers to rapid job placement and develops an agenda for the monthly conference calls of the local Employment Collaborative.
M. Serve as a Mentor on the HVCES Field Advisory Board (FAB). As a FAB Mentor, provide consultation and guidance to new and existing HVCES staff, as assigned.
N. Participate in and/or facilitate regularly scheduled HVCES Peer-Led Office Hour calls. Collaborate with National HVCES Program Manager on the development of quarterly national HVCES Newsletters.
O. Organize training events on HVCES, Work Talk, and the importance of community-based competitive employment for Veterans who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness in terms of housing, financial, and mental health stability.
P. Participates in the planning, preparation and accreditation process for CARE, Joint Commission and any other applicable fidelity reviews or audits. Q. Participates in program improvement activities which include scheduled meetings, trainings, improvement activities, peer reviews and/or Social Work Service meetings or trainings.
R. Participate in program planning and development, advising the supervisor of shifting trends with caseloads and identifying the need for and making recommendations on program procedure or policy changes based upon work experiences.
S. Establish effective relationships with Veterans and clinical/administrative staff from institutions and agencies within a community.
T. Participate in the orientation/teaching of graduate social work students, students of other disciplines, and medical center personnel on the biopsychosocial aspects of homelessness.
U. Provide a variety of employment services to the veteran homeless population (i.e. access to job listings, resume preparation, interview skills training, etc.)

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• You may be required to serve 2-year trial period.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online
• Subject to physical evaluation
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• English Language Proficiency Requirement. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. ? 7403(f).
• Education:
  • (1) A master's degree in rehabilitation counseling or clinical rehabilitation counseling from a rehabilitation counseling program accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). If the applicant's degree was granted prior to July 1, 2017, the program must be accredited by the Council on Rehabilitation Education. OR
  • (2) A master's degree in counseling or clinical rehabilitation counseling from a college or university accredited by a national or regional accrediting body accredited by Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). OR
  • (3) A master's or doctoral degree in a related field of study with course content that emphasized rehabilitation, counseling, disability, therapy, health, employment, wellness, or human development from a college or university accredited by a national or regional accrediting body accredited by CHEA. OR
  • (4) Foreign graduates with a degree acceptable by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC).
• Certification. Current, full and unrestricted certification as a certified rehabilitation counselor (CRC) from the CRCC to practice vocational rehabilitation counseling.
• Exceptions for Graduate RCs.
  • (a)RC graduates from an approved counseling or rehabilitation counseling program who otherwise meet the basic qualification requirements and the additional degree requirements for CRC certification by the CRCC, but do not possess the required certification, may be appointed, pending certification, as a graduate RC on a full-time temporary appointment not-to-exceed two years under the authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405(a)(1)(D).
  • (b)Graduate RCs may only be appointed at the entry grade level and may not be promoted/converted until certification is obtained.
  • (c)Temporary graduate RC appointments may not be extended beyond two years or converted to a new temporary appointment.
• (2) Failure to Obtain Certification. In all cases, RCs must actively pursue meeting prerequisites for certification starting from the date of their appointment. This includes working towards completion of CRCC's required acceptable employment experience and completing required CRCC documentation to verify employment experience and supervision by a CRC. At the time of appointment, the RC supervisor will provide the RC with the written requirements for certification, including the time by which the certification must be obtained and the consequences for not becoming certified by the deadline. Failure to become certified within the prescribed amount of time will result in removal from the GS-0101 RC series and may result in termination of employment.
• (3) Loss of Certification. An employee in this occupation who fails to maintain the required certification must be removed from the occupation, which may also result in termination of employment.

Grade Determinations: Rehabilitation Counselor, GS-12

(1) Experience. Completion of one year of professional experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, GS-11, directly related to the position being filled.
(2) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
(a) Ability to apply and teach principles and practices of the evidence-based model of individual placement and support, supported employment (IPS, SE), by engaging others in multiple training methods including hands-on, virtual and telephone trainings, utilizing excellent consultative, facilitative and organizational skills as well as coaching/listening skills.
(b) Ability to conduct in person coaching, develop community-wide learning events, and lead mock SE fidelity reviews to provide feedback regarding SE program services and adherence to the SE model.
(c) Skill to apply principles and practices of IPS, SE, psychiatric rehabilitation and recovery principles, customized employment and fidelity scale measures to successfully engage Veterans and care providers in the rehabilitation process.
(d) Skill to apply advanced counseling skills, crisis intervention and personal and family counseling to intercede on behalf of Veterans, their families and significant others needing specific assistance with employment, housing and finances.

(3) Assignment. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, administrative independence, complexity (difficulty) and range of variety as described in this standard at the specified grade level and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. Serve as a CWT- SE trainer. Expand and guide VISN-wide recovery-oriented rehabilitation services within existing CWT-SE sites and/or provide training and guidance on establishment of new evidence-based CWT-SE programs. Develop curricula and uses teaching methods contextualized for adult learning styles. Lead learning communities consisting of all SE providers by developing workshops, scheduling guest speakers, facilitating discussions on email groups, sharing resource materials and facilitating networking among VISN SE sites. Participate in and/or facilitate regularly scheduled SE clinical conference calls and the national mentor trainer meetings. Review outcome data and discuss data implications for the delivery of employment services with the VISN learning community of SE providers. Organize training events on CWT-SE services. Lead other CWT-SE programs on best practices, use of fidelity scale to guide service delivery and in the analysis, development and implementation of the IPS, SE model as directed by VA Central Office (VACO). Disseminate communications with supervisors and staff of CWT-SE, provide technical assistance to staff and managers and collaborate with programs to prepare for periodic fidelity reviews and accreditation surveys.

References: See Office of the Chief Human Capital Officer (OCHCO) website for VA specific qualification standards.

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service. This position requires driving. Valid drivers license is required.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for 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; religions; 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.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

• Professional Certification
• Resume
• Transcript

Special Note for Applications: To complete your application, please use the following link https://vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Resume.docx to download the standard Clinical Resume Document. This one-page document does not need to be modified and must be uploaded into the two-page restricted 'Resume' document upload field.

Your full resume/CV may be uploaded without page limitation into the 'Other' document upload field.

The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please use this checklist to ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), etc.

• Cover Letter
• DD-214/ Statement of Service
• Disability Letter (Schedule A)
• Disability Letter (VA)
• License
• Other (1)
• Professional Certification
• Resume
• Separation Notice (RIF)
• SF-15
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire. You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.). If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation. Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as stated on the form. Documentation is required to award preference. For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit Feds Hire Vets - Veterans - Job Seekers - Veterans' Preference.

Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees.

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