Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor II/II (Open and Promotional)

Company: County of San Mateo (CA)
Location: San Mateo
Posted on: April 23, 2025

Job Description:

The Human Services Agency is seeking a -Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor II/III. This position is a fully experienced journey/advanced journey level class in the Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor series. The incumbent has a full caseload, which includes individuals with severe emotional disabilities and serious vocational deficiencies and performs a complete range of counseling and placement services using accepted vocational rehabilitation principles and techniques. The duties may include but are not limited to: interviewing clients, evaluating skills and job readiness, analyzing medical information, vocational case management, report writing and charting client progress and developing a vocational rehabilitation plan to assist Vocational Rehabilitation Services (VRS) clients into securing and maintaining employment.

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The ideal candidate will have:

* A Master's Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling.
* Two years of experience providing vocational and supportive counseling to assist clients with overcoming barriers to vocational success.
* Two years of experience evaluating work skills and work capacities to assist clients with formulating vocational plans.
* Two years of experience working with diverse populations including people who were previously experiencing homelessness, people with mental health disabilities, people in alcohol and drug recovery programs, formerly incarcerated individuals, and others with disabilities and/or barriers to employment.
* Experience collaborating/conferring with treatment providers, including case managers, Department of Rehabilitation staff, and medical personnel.
* Experience facilitating vocational groups.
* Ability to analyze and interpret medical, social, psychological, and educational data to develop an action plan based on that data.
* Ability to administer and evaluate vocational tests.
* Knowledge of social security regulations as well as other benefits programs to provide benefits counseling to individuals including work incentives.
* Ability to follow complex policies and administrative procedures.
* A thorough working knowledge and demonstrated skill in vocational rehabilitation counseling principles and technique.
* Creative problem-solving skills with ability to look "outside the box" and be action oriented.
* Excellent oral and written communication skills as well as computer literate.
* Spanish speaking desired.

NOTE: The eligible list generated from this recruitment may be used to fill future extra-help, term, unclassified, and regular classified vacancies.Education and Experience: -

Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to qualify for a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor II is one year of basic experience in counseling and job placement of vocationally handicapped adults and Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor III is three years of experience performing journey level Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor duties.

Knowledge of: -

Principles and objectives of vocational rehabilitation counseling; Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) standards and requirements; skills, traits and abilities needed in a wide variety of occupations; private and public programs serving the unemployed; laws regulating employment and employer-employee relations; unions and apprenticeship programs; social service programs and regulations; standardized vocational aptitude and interest tests; social and psychological problems of disabled persons; basics of psychology, sociology and economics in relationship to employment and counseling of the handicapped; elements of mental illness and approved treatment methods; basic medical and psychiatric conditions related to the rehabilitation process; community organizations and resources including agencies involved in job placement, vocational rehabilitation and work training; employment and labor market trends; principles and techniques of interviewing.

Skill/Ability to: -

Interpret laws and regulations; follow complex policies and administrative procedures; interview and counsel vocationally handicapped individuals; plan and direct rehabilitation services programs for clients; apply principles of rehabilitation counseling; analyze and interpret medical, social, psychological and educational data to develop an action plan based on that data; relate to and establish good working relationships with clients from diverse educational, social and cultural backgrounds; analyze and interpret test and work evaluation data; motivate clients to undertake and achieve vocational rehabilitation; write comprehensive reports and maintain records and train counseling personnel.Open & Promotional. Anyone may apply. -Current County of San Mateo and County of San Mateo Superior Court of California employees with at least six months (1040 hours) -of continuous service in a classified regular, probationary, or extra-help/limited term position prior to the final filing date will receive five points added to their final passing score on this examination. -Responses to the supplemental questions must be submitted in addition to our regular employment application form.

The examination will consist of an interview (weight: 100%), which may include the evaluation of a brief written and/or performance exercise given immediately preceding the interview. Depending on the number of applicants, an application appraisal of education and experience may be used in place of other examinations, or a screening committee may select those applicants whose education and/or experience appear to best meet the needs of the position. Because of the screening process, not all applicants meeting the minimum qualifications are guaranteed advancement through any subsequent phase of the examination.

IMPORTANT: -Applications for this position will only be accepted online. If you are currently on the County's website, you may click the "Apply" button. If you are not on the County's website, please go to https://jobs.smcgov.org -to apply. -Online applications must be received by the Human Resources Department before 11:59 p.m. on the final filing date.

TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT SCHEDULE

Final Filing Date: Tuesday, April 29, 2025 at 11:59 p.m.

Screening Date: Friday, May 2, 2025

Combined Panel Interview: Thursday, May 15, 2025

About the County

San Mateo County is centrally located between San Francisco, San Jose, and the East Bay. With over 750,000 residents, San Mateo is one of the largest and most diverse counties in California and serves a multitude of culturally, ethnically, and linguistically diverse communities.

The County of San Mateo, as an employer, is committed to advancing equity to ensure that all employees are welcomed in a safe and inclusive environment. The County seeks to hire, support, and retain employees who reflect our diverse community. We encourage applicants with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply. Eighty percent of employees surveyed stated that they would recommend the County as a great place to work.

Analyst: Arlene Cahill -(Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor III-G190)

Keywords: County of San Mateo (CA), San Francisco , Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor II/II (Open and Promotional), Healthcare , San Mateo, California