Job Openings

Service to the Blind & Visually Impaired

12/02/2022

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Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor or Senior Rehabilitation Counselor(Job Id 21030)

Location Rapid City, SD

Post Date12/02/2022

Agency  Human Services

Close Date12/16/2022

Employment Type  Permanent Employee  

Description:

PLEASE ATTACH THE ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS LISTED AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE 

Job ID: 21030

Agency: Department of Human Services - Division of Services to the Blind and Visually Impaired

Location: Rapid City

Salary: $21.90 or $23.88 per hour, depending on qualifications

Pay Grade: GH or GI

Closing Date: 12/16/2022 

This is a Full-Time 40 Hours Weekly position with the Department of Human Services. For more information on the Department of Human Services, please visit https://dhs.sd.gov/.

The Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor is in a key position in the operations of the Rapid City office of Services to the Blind and Visually Impaired. This position works with individuals with vision impairments who require Vocational Rehabilitation Services to obtain or maintain employment. Vocational Rehabilitation is a successful State and Federally funded program that has demonstrated success in assisting individuals with disabilities to obtain employment. The Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor will manage a caseload of approximately 30-40 individuals. This position will also provide independent living services to assist individuals with vision loss to increase independence to remain in their homes and community. Key job functions consist of reviewing medical and psychological records, making eligibility decisions, counseling to develop employment and independent living plans, authorizing services, providing outreach to employers, schools, and community agencies, and offering skills of blindness instruction. Qualifications of the successful applicant will determine the classification level assigned. Salary will be set depending on qualifications. To be eligible to be hired at the Senior Rehabilitation Counselor level, the applicant must be a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC). Travel will be required to deliver services in the assigned territory. This position is typically 8 hours a day, Monday through Friday. Applicants must provide a resume, post secondary transcripts, and if applicable, a CRC certificate.

Typical office setting, some travel is required within assigned territory and occasional statewide travel. The ability to lift up to 35 lbs. occasionally.

The Ideal Candidate Will Have:

A Bachelor’s degree in a field of study such as vocational rehabilitation counseling, social work, psychology, disability studies, business administration, human resources, special education, supported employment, customized employment, economics, or another field that reasonably prepares individuals to work with job seekers with disabilities and employers. A Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, certified through the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification, may qualify as a Senior Rehabilitation Counselor.

Knowledge of:

  • social, economic, vocational, physical, and emotional issues impacting people with disabilities;
  • counseling theories and techniques useful in facilitating vocational rehabilitation;
  • alternative modes of communication for people who are blind, deaf, or have cognitive disabilities;
  • individual appraisal instruments and their applications;
  • community resources for citizens with disabilities seeking employment;
  • knowledge of disability-related assistive technology, modifications, and accommodations available in work settings;
  • use of labor market information, the job-seeking process, and personnel practices that lead to obtaining
  • employment;
  • medical information and services, including those that relate to vision loss.

Skill to:

  • prepare and deliver clear, informative reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations;
  • effectively manage a full caseload of clients in an independent, orderly and timely manner;
  • work effectively with service providers, service organizations, employees, and clients;
  • effectively communicate with agencies, employers, personnel, and clients;
  • develop relationships with public and private service agencies;
  • prepare reports and information in a professional manner for case files;
  • deliver effective independent living training to individuals in their homes/community; and
  • stay organized to effectively perform all functions of the job in a timely fashion.

Ability to:

  • establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, family members, and various professionals and specialty organizations involved in the rehabilitation process;
  • understand and interpret vision, medical, psychological, and vocational reports for the purpose of determining eligibility and formulating vocational objectives;
  • read and interpret policies and procedures, rules and regulations affecting citizens with disabilities and apply them to specific situations;
  • effectively manage a full caseload, prioritizing tasks and efficiently updating service records in an independent, orderly, and timely manner;
  • interview and counsel individuals with disabilities;
  • develop relationships with public and private service agencies and employers;
  • integrate services, such as assistive technology, supported employment, job analysis, work incentives, Social Security programs,and alternative forms of communication;
  • develop and maintain a referral network used to provide citizens with disabilities with the appropriate services and other resources;
  • travel a territory which may include overnights to provide services and attend training; and
  • use a computerized case management system accurately and efficiently to meet deadlines.

Additional Requirements: Please attach a resume and post secondary transcripts with your application.

This position is eligible for Veterans’ Preference per ARSD 55:10:02:08.

NCRC: If you possess a National Career Readiness Certificate, please submit the certificate with your application. For more information on how to acquire a National Career Readiness Certificate contact a South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation Job Service Office. A certificate is not necessary to be considered.  

The State of South Dakota does not sponsor work visas for new or existing employees. All persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and complete an Employment Eligibility Verification, Form I-9. The State of South Dakota as an employer will be using E-Verify to complete employment eligibility verification upon hire.

The State of South Dakota offers employer paid health insurance plus eleven paid holidays, generous vacation and sick leave accrual, dental, vision, and other insurance options, and retirement benefits. You can view our benefits information at https://bhr.sd.gov/job-seekers/work-for-state-government/. This position is a member of Class A retirement under SDRS.

Must apply online: https://sodakprod-lm01.cloud.infor.com:1443/lmghr/xmlhttp/shorturl.do?key=KF7

You must apply online, emailed resumes or submissions will not be accepted.

South Dakota Bureau of Human Resources

Telephone: 605.773.3148 Email: careers@state.sd.us

http://bhr.sd.gov/workforus

 

"An Equal Opportunity Employer"

E_mail: ronda.williams@state.sd.us

Phone: 6057734644

Cert: Any Certification