Rehabilitation Counselor

Are you ready to make a difference in your community? Do YOU want to work on a team that is committed to empowering individuals? At Helen Keller Services, our employees work in an environment that is more than just a workplace, it’s a community.

Since 1967, Helen Keller National Center (HKNC) has been committed to improving the lives of individuals who are DeafBlind or have a combined hearing and vision loss.

HKNC is dedicated to working with each person to achieve their desired goals towards independence, employment, and quality of life, based on their talents, preferences and aspirations.

We currently have an exciting Full-Time career opportunity available to join the HKNC team as a Rehabilitation Counselor in our Case Management Department. The Rehabilitation Counselor is responsible for serving as an advisor to each participant throughout their participation in the program at HKNC.

The Rehabilitation Counselor acts as advocate, resource and coach by empowering consumers through supports and challenges to maximize consumer input and responsibility to their training program for achieving their vocational and independent living outcomes, and personal futures plan.

Acts as primary liaison with state vocational rehabilitation counselors and consumer for ensuring HKNC services are aligned with the consumer’s abilities, talents, future opportunities and aspirations.

This is an in-person position based out of our Training Building in Sands Point, NY.

Salary: $40.7204 per hour, $74,111.1862 annualized. The regular schedule is 8am-3:45pm for a 35-hour work week.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

1. Ensures services provided to participants are person-centered and meet the participant’s needs:

a. Assess, through dialogue with participant and team, the participant’s training priorities

b. Actively collaborate with team (including participant) to design trans-disciplinary training activities, implement individualized program and evaluate progress through debriefing and further dialogue to identify further learning opportunities

c. Communicates to all team members the participant’s training priorities/short and long term goals.

d. Works with the team to ensure training supports the vocational goal. Leads team discussions by beginning with the vocational goal and asking how each training area is supporting the vocational goal.

e. Ensures the participant’s involvement in decision making process with team throughout evaluation and training.

2. Works collaboratively with team members (participant and staff) to develop and implement Trans-disciplinary training program in accordance with IPE and student desires, capacities and abilities leading to the achievement of participant outcomes of increased independence, employment, empowerment and self-advocacy.

3. Serves as central and primary liaison with the sponsoring state agency, HKNC regional representative, HKNC affiliate(s), family members/guardian and other outside services. Works with participant to establish parameters for communication among these agencies and individuals.

4. Facilitates and/or participates in team meetings, Employment Planning Meetings, transition meeting to ensure quality of service, coordination of trans-disciplinary goals and participant inclusivity and satisfaction and compiles reports.

5. Provides personal communication and vocational counseling services to participants individually or in groups (with the ETS) to ensure well-being, vocational training needs are met, and the establishment and coordination of long/short term goals.

Ensures psychological, physical, educational, social-cultural and rehabilitative needs are met as determined necessary and beneficial to the individual to maximize program participation and independence.

If necessary seeks consultation with the clinical social worker or team to determine need for other consultative services in order for provide optimal training services for participant.

6. Maintains appropriate documentation, i. e., case notes, authorizations, record of student account and aids and devices purchased. Follows policies regarding regular check-in’s for participant safety, satisfaction and unmet needs.

7. Supports participant and team with preparing transition plan and facilitates the coordination of these steps to obtain resources, supports and services in order to successfully achieve long term goals for employment, independent living and community access.

Works collaboratively with trans-disciplinary team in developing employment and residential opportunities in home community and other necessary and desired supports. Contacting and consulting with potential employers or residential programs may involve travel.

8. Participates in Community of Practice (COP) Case Management for shared learning respective of discipline and to gain insight into clinical and vocational rehabilitation counseling issues.

9. Accompanies and serves as a guide and/or facilitates communication for participants and professional staff members when assigned. To accomplish this, it may be required to use personal vehicle on occasion.

Supports communication access for participants and staff when necessary in a variety of situations and settings.

Examples of settings include but are not limited to: team meetings, airport, shopping, bank errands, phone calls, VP calls, Town Hall Committee meetings, cafeteria, information peer learning groups such as the Emergency Preparedness, Nutrition and Work Solutions groups, recreation activities (i. e. Holiday party).

Communication support, which includes providing environmental information, may consist of voice over, sign language (visual/tactual), text/typing, or facilitating the use of augmentative systems (communication cards, devices). To accomplish this the individual may be required to use a personal vehicle on occasion.

HKNC will provide interpreting support for formal meetings such as Employment Planning Meetings, Team Meetings, Full Staff Meetings and seminars.

Performs work related duties, when necessary, at the discretion of the Administration or supervisor.

REQUIRED EDUCATION And/or EXPERIENCE

• Education: Master's Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling or related field.
• Experience: Two years experience. Knowledge of deaf-blind community, vocational rehabilitation and job placement. PC Skills – MS Office. Must be organized, detail oriented and possess excellent communication skill.
• Qualities: works and communicates effectively as a member of a team, flexibility, collaboration skills, self-initiative, can appreciate diverse perspectives while working collaboratively towards a common goal.

PREFERRED EDUCATION And/or EXPERIENCE

• Master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling
• CRC
• Proficiency in American Sign Language and other methods of communication utilized by individuals who are deaf-blind.

At HKS we strive to provide a healthy work-life balance for our employees. We offer generous paid time off and comprehensive benefit package including:

• Fully Paid Medical, Dental, and Vision Benefits*
• 4 week's Paid Vacation time annually
• 2 Paid Personal Days annually
• 12 paid sick days annually
• 12 Paid Holidays
• Short Term Disability/
• Life Insurance
• 403b Program with Employer Match
• Relocation Reimbursement
• Voluntary Ancillary Benefits
• Career Advancement Opportunities
• Tuition Assistance Program

*Candidate has the option to accept the position No-Frills. No-frills positions receive an additional 10% premium on the hourly rate of pay, but do not participate in the Union Health Insurance Plan. Individuals seeking a No-frills position must show they have alternative insurance to be eligible.

HKS is committed to providing reasonable workplace accommodation to individuals with illness, injury, or disability to complete the essential functions of their job.