Rehabilitation Counselor II - Portland, United States - State of Maine, Bureau of Human Resources

Description

Rehabilitation Counselor II - Youth - Portland

Portland , Maine , United States | Employment Services | Full-time

Apply by: June 5, 2024

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Department of Labor, Bureau of Rehabilitation Services, Division of Vocational RehabilitationJob Class Code: 3082

Grade: 22 (Professional/Technical)

Salary: $45,801 - $61,443Location: Portland, MEOpening Date: May 21, 2024Closing Date: June 5, 2024

Want to be a part of a profession that positively changes the lives of others every day?

Do you enjoy meeting new people and building professional partnerships?

Do you have a passion for working with youth?

The Rehabilitation Counselor II (RCII) position may be a good career match for you

The Maine Division of Vocational Rehabilitation believes our employees should reflect the diversity of the people we serve. This includes but is not limited to, race, culture, ethnicity and ability. We welcome and encourage all applicants interested in this position and who meet the minimum qualifications to apply today

This RCII position is located in the Greater Portland Career Center at 151 Jetport Blvd, Portland and provides vocational rehabilitation services to youth and young adults with mental health, intellectual and physical disabilities.

Work includes counseling youth and young adults in career exploration and preparation, preparing for, and following a plan to reach their employment goals. Typically, RCIIs have an opportunity to work hybrid schedules after successfully completing a probationary period. Starting salaries are based on education and experience related to this field.

May be subject to fingerprinting.

Primary responsibilities include:

· Developing relationships with key contacts at assigned schools.

· Providing activities and information to groups of potentially eligible youth at schools.

· Completing intakes.

· Gathering documentation to determine eligibility for services.

· Developing a plan for employment with the VR client and teams.

· Providing services to VR Clients including but not limited to work readiness exploration activities and work experiences.

· Providing job coaching support as necessary.

· Developing collaborative working relationships with community organizations and employers.

Skills or knowledge required:

· Ability to successfully use technology (MS Office programs).

· Ability and willingness to learn.

· Adaptability to changing work environments and policies.

· Organization and Prioritization skills.

· Passion for working with youth having disabilities.

· Strong communication skills (oral and written; English).

· Flexibility and problem-solving skills.

· Detail-oriented documentation.

· Daily decision-making based on sound rationale and judgment.

· Working remotely and within the Portland VR office.

· Frequent local and occasional statewide travel.

The successful candidate will demonstrate knowledge of:

• Working with persons with disabilities.
• Rehabilitation services.
• Disabilities and how they impact vocational adjustment.
• The current, local labor market.
• Strategies to develop working relationships with clients, community partners, and businesses.
• Strategies to effectively work remotely.

Minimum qualifications:

A bachelor's degree in a field related to vocational rehabilitation and 2 years of experience demonstrating knowledges and abilities in assisting individuals with disabilities, employers and other stakeholders with their employment and workforce needs.

Contact information:

Questions about this position should be directed to Samantha Fenderson at

Application Instructions:

Interested applicants need to apply online by selecting the "Apply for this opening" button along with uploading a cover letter, current resume, and copies of any transcripts or certifications you wish to have considered while evaluating your application. In order for us to properly determine if you meet the minimum qualifications for any posting, you must be sure your resume includes month and year for any experience listed along with the duties and responsibilities associated with each particular time period. Any experience that was not full-time employment should be identified as such.

If you require a paper application, please download and print one here or contact our office at Paper applications for this posting should be submitted along with cover letter and resume before the closing date to Security & Employment Service Center, 45 Commerce Drive, Augusta, ME 04330 or faxed to Be sure title of the job you are applying for is included. Applications cannot be accepted after the posting closing date.

Benefits of working for the State of Maine:

No matter where you work across Maine state government, you find employees who embody our state motto—"Dirigo" or "I lead"—as they provide essential services to Mainers every day. We believe in supporting our workforce's health and wellbeing with a valuable total compensation package, including:

• Work-Life Balance – Rest is essential. Take time for yourself using 13 paid holidays, 12 days of sick leave, and 3+ weeks of vacation leave annually. Vacation leave accrual increases with years of service, and overtime-exempt employees receive personal leave.
• Health Insurance Coverage – The State of Maine pays 85%-100% of employee-only premiums ($10,150.80-$11,942.16 annual value), depending on salary. Use this chart to find the premium costs for you and your family, including the percentage of dependent coverage paid by the State.
• Health Insurance Premium Credit – Participation decreases employee-only premiums by 5%. Visit the Office of Employee Health and Wellness for more information about program requirements.
• Dental Insurance – The State of Maine pays 100% of employee-only dental premiums ($350.40 annual value).
• Retirement Plan – The State of Maine contributes 13.41% of pay to the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS), on behalf of the employee.
• Gym Membership Reimbursement – Improve overall health with regular exercise and receive up to $40 per month to offset this expense.
• Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts – Set aside money pre-tax to help pay for out-of-pocket health care expenses and/or daycare expenses.
• Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness – The State of Maine is a qualified employer for this federal program. For more information, visit the Federal Student Aid office.
• Living Resources Program – Navigate challenging work and life situations with our employee assistance program.
• Parental leave is one of the most important benefits for any working parent. All employees who are welcoming a child—including fathers and adoptive parents—receive four weeks of fully paid parental leave. Additional, unpaid leave may also be available, under the Family and Medical Leave Act ) .
• Voluntary Deferred Compensation – Save additional pre-tax funds for retirement in a MaineSaves 457(b) account through payroll deductions.
• Learn about additional wellness benefits for State employees from the Office of Employee Health and Wellness ) .

There's a job and then there's purposeful, transformative work. Our aim is to create a workplace where you can learn, grow, and continuously refine your skills. Applicants demonstrate job requirements in differing ways, and we appreciate that many skills and backgrounds can make people successful in this role. As an Equal Opportunity employer, Maine State Government embraces a culture of respect and awareness. We are committed to creating a strong sense of belonging for all team members, and our process ensures an inclusive environment to applicants of all backgrounds including diverse race, color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, age, ancestry, national origin, familial status or genetics. If you're looking for a great next step, and want to feel good about what you do, we'd love to hear from you. Please note reasonable accommodations are provided to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.

Thinking about applying?

Research shows that people from historically excluded communities tend to apply to jobs only when they check every box in the posting. If you're currently reading this and hesitating to apply for that reason, we encourage you to go for it Let us know how your lived experience and passion set you apart.