[rehab] VR counselor position at the Iowa Department for the Blind

[Shawn Mayo]

Lots of good things are happening at the  Iowa Department for the Blind  and
here is info for a VR counselor position:


 


 


Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor


Salary 

$48,193.60 - $73,403.20 Annually

Location 

Davenport - 52803 - Scott County, IA

Job Type

Full-time

Agency

131 Iowa Department for the Blind

Job Number

18-01483

Closing

4/20/2018 11:59 PM Central 

Point of Contact

Keri Osterhaus at keri.osterhaus at blind.state.ia.us

To Apply

Persons who wish to be considered for this position must submit a resume and
letter of application to: Keri Osterhaus, VR Program Administrator;
Keri.osterhaus at blind.state.ia.us; Iowa Department for the Blind; 524 4th
Street; Des Moines, IA 50309; 515-281-1281; All applicants need to apply by
5:00 pm on the closing date

Job Description

This is a non-merit position with the Iowa Department for the Blind.
Candidates must follow the instructions in the "To Apply" section.
 
Positions in this class are exempt from the screening and referral
requirements of the Iowa Department of Administrative Services - Human
Resources Enterprise.
 
Only applicants who meet the Minimum Qualification Requirements and meet all
selective requirements will be placed on the eligible list.
 
LOCATION:    Domiciled in Scott County (with potential to negotiate
alternative domicile location within East Central Iowa)


The Department for the Blind (IDB) is seeking applicants for the position of
Senior Services Specialist for the Blind 1/ Vocational Rehabilitation
Counselor. This position is responsible for assisting clients who are blind
or have vision loss to obtain, maintain or advance in employment. The
position provides counseling and guidance and ensures that clients receive
training in the alternative techniques of blindness in order for an
individual to make a positive adjustment to blindness and successfully
pursue vocational goals. 

 
Duties and responsibilities to include the following areas:
 Case Management:

.        Independently prioritize workload to maximize effective utilization
of time, resources, and agency assets. This position covers a territory of
several counties in central Iowa and requires frequent travel. 

.        Submit necessary reports, case recordings, authorizations, and
correspondence in a timely and accurate manner. 

.        Maintain client files and other records in an organized and
specified format.

 Application and Eligibility Determination:

.        Interview applicant, consult with family, and contact other sources
such as ophthalmologists, community partners, and employers to procure
visual, medical, psychological, social and educational information. 

.        Determines eligibility for services, assesses vocational, social
and medical needs through appropriate testing and medical reports.

 Plan Development/Counseling and Guidance/Plan Implementation:

.        Provide guidance and counseling regarding client's personal and
vocational adjustment throughout the rehabilitation process. 

.        Assist clients through informed choice in determining appropriate
vocational goals and serves as a resource for clients seeking information
regarding employment and employment goals. 

.        Maintains a working knowledge of assistive technology and
reasonable accommodations. 

Employer Development and related duties:

.        Assist clients to obtain an employment outcome using a variety of
job development and job placement strategies including contacting employers,
assessing employers' needs, and providing resources and education to
employers and clients. 

.        Counsel and guide clients in the establishment of self-employment
goals.

 Public Awareness and Education:

.        Advocate, consult, advise, educate, mediate, and intercede with
service providers, employers, and the general public. 

.        Develop and maintain referral sources by providing information and
resources through personal contacts, written communication and
presentations.


It is the policy of the Department for the Blind to conduct background
checks on all finalist candidates prior to any offer of employment.

Selectives

257 Career Development Counseling
6 months' experience at the high school or college level or in the public or
private sector such as Iowa Workforce
Development or an employment agency. In the case of the latter, must have
experience analyzing and assessing applicants' work and education history
and applying it to career goals.

.        Must possess broad knowledge of postsecondary education and/or job
training infrastructure. 

.        Must be able to communicate with program participants of varying
academic and vocational abilities

And
752 Vocational Rehabilitation 
6 months' experience, 12 semester hours, or a combination of both that
specifically relates to employment and training services for individuals
with disabilities. That knowledge base will include an awareness of the
unique needs of this population, laws relating to discrimination or
reasonable accommodations, assistive technology, and an understanding of
employment and training systems and services, especially as provided in
Iowa. 

Minimum Qualification Requirements

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a degree in human
service-oriented sciences, education, marketing or business and experience
equal to three years of full time professional work;

OR

the equivalent of three years of full-time experience as a rehabilitation
counselor or teacher shall be considered as qualifying provided the employee
has successfully completed training to meet the certification criteria
established by the agency;

OR

an equivalent combination of education and experience, substituting the
equivalent of one year of full-time professional work experience for each
year of the required education to a maximum substitution of four years.