OIB Service Specialist; Houston

Overview

For Texas to be GREAT, we need the best and brightest talent like you! The public vocational rehabilitation (VR) program administered through the Texas Workforce Commission helps people with disabilities to prepare for, obtain, retain, and advance in employment.

MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND HELP PEOPLE WITH VR. According to the Department of Labor, the unemployment rate for people with disabilities was 12.6% in 2020. This jobless rate continues to be much higher than the rate for those without disabilities.

PUBLIC SERVICE IN VR IS FOR YOU…

• If you want to find meaningful work and contribute to a powerful mission. For more than 100 years VR has been helping individuals with disabilities achieve their employment goals.
• If you are looking for career and advancement opportunities. 38% of employees in VR have 15+ years of seniority. There are various positions with career ladders and opportunities to specialize in areas of interest:
  Autism, Blind & Visual Impairments, Deaf & Hard of Hearing, Brain Injury, Foster Youth, Transition Students, Veterans.
• If you need a comprehensive benefits package that offers competitive pay & benefits from health plans, life insurance, retirement programs, paid leave and holidays, and longevity pay.
• If you have direct VR Counseling work experience, receive higher starting salary.
• If you want to advance your education with our tuition assistance program.
• FREE CEUs to maintain CRC credentials and reimbursement for CRC & LPC renewals.

The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC), a Family Friendly Certified Workplace, is seeking an Older Individuals who are Blind (OIB) Service Specialist III-IV to join the Vocational Rehabilitation Division in the Department of Blind Services, Older Individuals who are Blind (OIB) Program. This position will be located in or around the Houston area.

TWC is not considering applications from individuals who require sponsorship for an employment visa, including those currently on student or postgraduate visas. You must be a Texas resident to work for the Texas Workforce Commission or willing to relocate to Texas.

Benefits to working for TWC include:

• Competitive starting salary: $4,083.33 - $7,503.29/month.
• Salary and position level will be based on experience and demonstrated skills.
• This is a career ladder position which means each level is required to meet the established career ladder requirements in order to be promoted to the next level.
• Additional benefits for active employees: https://(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..

The Older Individuals who are Blind (OIB) Service Specialist III-VI is hired by and reports to the OIB Manager. Performs complex (journey-level) to highly advanced and/or supervisory (senior-level) social service or case management work. Work involves collecting, preparing, and reviewing cases to facilitate access to medical, educational, social, and other services; and providing intervention and frequent contact with individuals, facilities, and service providers.

Works under general to minimal supervision, with limited to extensive latitude for the use of initiative.

• Oversees, teaches and assists other OIB Service Specialists in teaching customers core skills in areas of adjustment to blindness, independent living skills, communication skills, basic travel skills, use of support systems, and quality of living.
• Independently assesses customers’ level of functioning for the purpose of determining eligibility, develops the individuals’ independent living plan, and coordinates other services necessary to achievement of goals.
• Establishes and coordinate business relationships with Center(s) for Independent Living (CILs) and other community resource contacts to ensure customers continue to receive service delivery for goods/services not available through the OIB program.
• Participates in unit administration and program development and develops internal policies and procedures.
• Serves as back-up to Manager for representation on work groups and other OIB activities.
• Completes, maintains and monitors documentation of case service delivery.
• Provides training and mentoring to other OIB…