TN Visa Rehabilitation Specialist Jobs

INTRODUCTION

Do you want to utilize your skills and make a difference? Are you looking to take the next step in your career? If so, please read on to learn more about this exciting opportunity!

The State of Connecticut, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) is currently seeking a dedicated and experienced Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor to join our team.

POSITION HIGHLIGHTS:

• Facility: Southeastern Mental Health Authority (SMHA)
• Team: Young Adult Services (YAS)
• Location: Norwich, CT
• Schedule: Full-time, 1st shift, Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm
• PCN: 75407

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU

• Visit our new State Employee Benefits Overview page!
• Professional growth and development opportunities.
• A healthy work/life balance to all employees.

DISCOVER THE OPPORTUNITY TO:

• Engage in a rewarding career;
• Thrive in an exciting environment;
• Provide support to a division that is passionate about the work we do.

THE ROLE:

This position is responsible for carrying a caseload of Young Adult Services (YAS) clients who require employment and/or educational supports (including completing vocational assessments and developing and monitoring the treatment plan for vocational/educational goals).

Job duties include but are not limited to:

• Complete required documentation, including Vocational Profiles and Assessments.
• Facilitate vocational groups for YAS clients.
• Attend Pupil Placement Team (PPT) meetings with various school systems.
• Assist clients in obtaining their high school diploma or Graduate Equivalency Degree, obtaining vocational/trade training, and/or registering for college.
• Assist clients in requesting work and/or school-related accommodations.

MORE ABOUT US:

DMHAS is a health care agency whose mission is to promote the overall health and wellness of persons with behavioral health needs through an integrated network of holistic, comprehensive, effective, and efficient services and supports that foster dignity, respect, and self-sufficiency in those we serve.

SMHA is a community mental health agency operated by the State of Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS). Its primary goal is to provide high quality behavioral health services to those in our community with mental health and substance use disorders who are 18 years or older and reside in New London County and its surrounding towns. Services, which include case management, outpatient behavioral health, crisis intervention, respite care, and forensic services, are recovery oriented and offered in a trauma informed and culturally sensitive manner. We support individuals to identify and achieve their own goals in recovery, fostering independence, dignity, and ability.

Please note:

A comprehensive medical examination, including a drug screening, will be required of all applicants upon a conditional offer of employment.

All state employees must adhere to Connecticut’s Policy for a Drug Free Workplace.

Selection Plan

FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING:

Check out our Applicant Tips on How to Apply! Need more resources? Visit our Applicant Toolkit for additional support throughout the recruitment process.

BEFORE YOU APPLY:

• Meet Minimum Qualifications: Ensure you meet the Minimum Qualifications listed on the job opening by the job closing date. You must specify your qualifications on your application. The minimum experience and training requirements listed must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.
• Educational Credits: List your earned credits and degrees from accredited institutions accurately on your application. To receive educational credits towards qualification, the institution must be accredited. If the institution of higher learning is located outside of the U.S., you are responsible for providing documentation from a recognized USA accrediting service which specializes in determining foreign education equivalencies to the contact listed below by the closing date listed on the job posting.
• Resume Policy: Per Public Act 21-69, resumes are not accepted during the initial application process. As the recruitment process progresses, candidates may be required to submit additional documentation to support their qualification(s) for this position. This documentation may include: a cover letter, resume, transcripts, diplomas, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the request and discretion of the hiring agency.
• Preferred Shift/Location: Select all location(s) and shift(s) you are willing to work on your application. Failure to do so may result in not being considered for vacancies in that specific location or shift.
• Timely Submission: All application materials must be received by the job posting deadline. You will be unable to make revisions once you officially submit your application to the State. Late submissions are rarely accepted, with exceptions only for documented events that incapacitate individuals during the entire duration of the job posting. Request exceptions by emailing DAS.SHRM@ct.gov.
• Salary Calculations: For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable from one of the three branches of state government (i.e., Executive, Legislative, Judicial) to the other.
• Note: The only way to apply to this posting is via the ‘Apply’ or ‘Apply Online’ buttons on the official State of Connecticut Online Employment Center job posting.

AFTER YOU APPLY:

• Some email providers may experience delays or issues delivering messages. To avoid missing important updates—such as referral questionnaires or interview scheduling links—please check your Personal Status Board regularly.
• For added convenience, you can also enable text (SMS) notifications. To do this, log in to your Personal Status Board and select “Update My Contact Information.”
• Referral Questions: This posting may require completion of additional Referral Questions (RQs), which must be completed by the questionnaire’s expiration date. If requested, RQs can be accessed via an email sent to you after the job close date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section).
• Prepare For An Interview: Interviews are limited to those whose experience and training are most aligned with the role. To prepare, review this helpful Interview Preparation Guide to make the best impression!
• Stay connected! Log in daily to your JobAps Personal Status Board to track your status and check email (including spam/junk folders) for updates and tasks.
• The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.
• Note: This position will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules. Candidates who are offered and accept a position with the State of Connecticut are bound by the State Code of Ethics for Public Officials and State employees, available at www.ct.gov/ethics.
• This employer may participate in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm work authorization.

QUESTIONS? WE’RE HERE TO HELP:

Due to high volume, we are unable to confirm receipt or provide status updates directly. For recruitment updates, please check your Personal Status Board and review our Frequently Asked Questions. If you have additional questions about the recruitment process, reach out to Julie Barker at Julie.Barker@ct.gov.

Join the State of Connecticut and take your next career step with confidence!

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In a state facility or institution this class is accountable for providing vocational rehabilitation counseling services to a caseload of clients and/or patients.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

• Evaluates patients for vocational rehabilitation services;
• Establishes community contacts;
• Facilitates vocational training and retraining;
• Works with treatment teams to assist individual patients in achieving social, emotional and vocational stability;
• Maintains case records and other pertinent material;
• Prepares state and federal reports concerning rehabilitation services rendered;
• Administers and interprets psychological tests pertaining to vocational abilities;
• Refers clients to in-hospital rehabilitation modalities such as pre-vocational evaluation, industrial and recreational workshops;
• Follows up on placements made in institution or community;
• Carries an ongoing case load;
• May administer Employee Assistance Program;
• Performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

• Knowledge of
• principles and practices of rehabilitation counseling, interviewing, psychological and occupational testing;
• symptoms of alcoholism and rehabilitative remedies or treatments;
• community resources;
• occupations and labor market in assigned area;
• Skills
• interpersonal skills;
• oral and written communication skills;
• Considerable ability to gather, analyze, and evaluate significant case information pertinent to rehabilitation of an individual;
• Ability to write complete and concise case reports;
• Supervisory ability.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Six (6) years of technical or professional experience in rehabilitation counseling or related counseling fields which involve dealing with emotional problems of individuals or vocational adjustment.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

• College training may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equalling one half (1/2) year of experience to a maximum of four (4) years for a Bachelor's degree.
• A Master's degree in rehabilitation counseling, vocational or educational guidance or a closely related field may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience in working with young adults with mental illness in providing job coaching, job support, interviewing skills, and employer advocacy.
• Experience working with clients with severe mental health and substance use disorders.
• Experience providing vocational, educational services, with job development such as but not limited to, completing job assessments, formulating a career/educational plan, coordinating employment services with external job vendors.