Salary: $34,405.97 – $42,856.28 Annually
Location : 18 – FORREST COUNTY, MS
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 9806-0331-20230915fo
Department: 0331 – DRS-OFFICE OF VOC REHABILITATION
Opening Date: 09/15/2023
Closing Date: 9/28/2023 11:59 PM Central
Agency Minimum Salary: $34,405.97
Agency Maximum Salary: $42,856.28
About the Agency: The Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services (MDRS) is a state agency dedicated to helping Mississippians with disabilities to live and work independently. MDRS serves through four major programs: Vocational Rehabilitation (VR), Vocational Rehabilitation for the Blind (VRB), Office of Special Disability Programs (OSDP), and Disability Determination Services (DDS). Services also include support through Assistive Technology, the Office of Business Development and much more. It is the mission of MDRS to provide appropriate and comprehensive services in a timely and effective manner. Programs and services assist individuals with disabilities to gain employment, retain employment, and to live independently. MDRS is always looking for qualified and passionate employees to help fulfill its mission. To inquire about this position, please email careers@mdrs.ms.gov.
About the Position: This position is with the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation and performs a full range of professional Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) assignments and work. Some Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors may serve as a Specialty Counselor for a population with deaf/hearing loss, Supported employment, etc. Examples of work performed are as follows:.• Counseling and guiding individuals with disabilities to assist them in achieving employment outcomes consistent with their strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, capabilities, interests and informed choice.• Analyzes and interprets the pertinent educational, social, medical, psychological and vocational information of applicants or consumers in order to determine their aspirations, interests, motivations, aptitudes and scholastic achievements;• Conducts diagnostic interviews to obtain medical, psychological, educational, social, vocational and personal information to assist people with disabilities in making appropriate career choices;• Determines appropriate referrals to other agencies and community partners, including appropriate medical, psychological and psychiatric services;• Completes a comprehensive assessment for each applicant and eligible VR consumer accessing appropriate external resources as necessary;• Determines the consumer’s eligibility, the need for VR Services, and ensures VR Services are appropriate;• Develops a rehabilitation plan with each consumer that is consistent with the consumer’s aptitudes, education levels, physical abilities and career goals;• Follow-up and monitoring of a consumer’s services to ensure timely provision of services and progress to Individualized Plan of Employment (IPE) completion or employment outcome;• Independently authorizes and approves expenditures of state/federal funds for individualized goods and services to consumers;• Prepares case reports to monitor and record the consumer’s progress to ensure that goals and objectives are met;• Participates in job development, job placement programs, and follow-up on consumers who have been placed in employment;• Develops community referral sources for providing services to consumers;• Establishes the method of which educational, social, medical, psychological and vocational data is to be obtained from consumers, family and community programs; works with the community in establishing facilities and programs to assist the individual with a disability;• Maintains records and prepares reports and correspondence related to work;• May be assigned as a Vocational Rehabilitation liaison to one or more local schools• Explores comparable benefits;• Engages in conflict resolution, preserving good counselor-consumer and/or counselor-provider relationships;• Reviews and interprets various evaluation results with consumers;• Complies with required steps of the consumer appeal process;• Completes documentation timely and accurately;• Educates consumers on assignment of their “ticket” under the Ticket to Work Program;• Establishes and maintains contact with schools (including post-secondary), hospitals, doctors, other agencies and other referral sources;• Educates referral sources about Vocational Rehabilitation programs and the referral process;• Determines the need for post-employment services for consumerson an individualized basis;• Maintains engagement with consumers throughout their rehabilitation process;• Oversees the work of staff by making and reviewing work assignments, establishing priorities, coordinating activities, and resolving work-related problems.• Performs related work as assigned.
What you’ll need to be Successful: Knowledge of counseling techniques, vocational assessment, job placement and interviewing techniques, and community resources. Skill in the use of a computer and applicable software. Excellent communication, creativity, problem-solving, evaluation of services and time management skills; Ability to be flexible, handle multiple tasks, maintain a professional demeanor, and show empathy; A willingness to obtain necessary continuing training/education for Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) certification maintenance; or if not a CRC certificate holder, a willingness to work toward becoming eligible to sit for the CRC examination. Additional duties: Oversees the work of staff by making and reviewing work assignments, establishing priorities, coordinating activities, and resolving related work problems.
Preferred Qualifications: Typically requires a Bachelor’s Degree and 0-2 years of experience. Hiring agency preferred qualifications; Master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling or closely related area per federal regulations, and/or Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) certification. In lieu of a Master’s Degree or CRC, a Bachelor’s Degree or closely related area of federal regulations plus one (1) year in vocational rehabilitation or closely related field.
Characteristics of Work
See for information regarding this classifications
Health/Prescription InsuranceEligible employees have the opportunity to participate in the state’s health and prescription insurance program. Employees may select either single or family coverage with affordable co-payments. More detail can be found at Know Your Benefits.
Wellness Benefits
Employees are eligible for a wellness and health promotion program. This plan provides annual benefits for certain services with first-dollar coverage with no deductible.
Life Insurance
All eligible employees receive an actual term life insurance policy upon employment. The policy coverage is two times the employee’s annual salary to a maximum of $100,000. More detail can be found at Life Insurance Choices.
Optional Insurances
Many agencies offer discounted premiums for dental, vision, and cancer insurance.
Flexible Spending Accounts
Many state agencies provide opportunity for employees to participate in pre-tax spending accounts. These accounts allow employees to withhold childcare expenses and unreimbursed medical expenses prior to application of state and federal taxes.
Paid Personal Leave and Sick LeaveFull-time employees receive paid time off for personal needs and for sick leave. Leave begins accruing after one month of employment and may be used as it is accrued. Employees earn approximately 18 days of personal leave annually and 12 days of sick leave annually.
Military Leave
In accordance with federal law, all employees serving in the armed forces or the military reserves are entitled to 15 days per year for military training.
Holidays
Employees receive up to 10 paid holidays to enjoy many of our nation’s celebrations with family and friends.
Retirement Programs
The State of Mississippi provides all its employees a Defined Benefit/Defined Contribution Retirement Program. Employees become vested in the State’s retirement system after 8 years of employment. Both you and your employing agency contribute toward your retirement. More detailed information regarding the State’s retirement program can be found at http://www.pers.state.ms.us
Deferred Compensation
State agencies offer several opportunities for their employees to participate in a deferred compensation voluntary retirement savings plan. More information can be found at Deferred Compensation.
State Credit Union
All state employees are eligible to participate in the Mississippi Public Employees’ Credit Union. This organization offers state employees special savings and borrowing plans. For more information about this program, call 601.948.8191.
Tuition Reimbursement
Many state agencies provide opportunities for their employees to achieve higher education through tuition reimbursement. Common programs include medical and nursing fields, accounting, and business/administrative fields.
Career Development and Training
The Mississippi State Personnel Board offers several management and administrative certification programs, as well as professional development courses to enhance employee value to the agency. Individual agencies also offer technical training and allow membership in professional organizations to employees in their specific fields of employment.
Promotional Opportunities
Employees who have completed 6 or more months of service are eligible for promotional opportunities within state government employment. Minimum qualifications must be met.
Career Ladders
Many job classifications provide career-ladder opportunities based upon attainment of competencies. These career ladders can increase an individual’s salary, provided funds are available within the agency.
01
What is the highest level of education (or semester hours of college) you have completed?
- None
- GED or High School Equivalency Diploma / High School Diploma
- 30 semester hours
- Associate’s Degree / 60 semester hours
- 90 semester hours
- Bachelor’s Degree
- Master’s Degree
- Specialist Degree
- Doctorate Degree
02
How many years of relevant experience do you have?
- No experience
- 1 year of experience
- 2 years of experience
- 3 years of experience
- 4 years of experience
- 5 years of experience
- 6 years of experience
- 7 years of experience
- 8 years of experience
- 9 years of experience
- 10 years of experience
- More than 10 years
Required Question