OIB Service Specialist; Odessa​/Midland

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, VR has been helping individuals with disabilities achieve their employment goals for more than 100 years. If you are looking for career and advancement opportunities, 38% of VR employees have 15+ years of seniority and there are career ladders and opportunities to specialize in Autism, Blind & Visual Impairments, Deaf & Hard of Hearing, Brain Injury, Foster Youth, Transition Students, Veterans.

There is a comprehensive benefits package with competitive pay and benefits from health plans, life insurance, retirement programs, paid leave and holidays, and longevity pay. Direct VR Counseling work experience may yield a higher starting salary. Tuition assistance and FREE CEUs to maintain CRC credentials and reimbursements for CRC & LPC renewals are available.

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 Odessa/Midland 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.

• 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 eligibility, develops the individuals’ independent living plan, and coordinates other services necessary to achievement of goals.
• Establishes and coordinates business relationships with Centers 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 Service Specialists.
• Independently interacts with individuals and community agencies to explain OIB services.
• Participates in planning or leads planning for group skills activities in the region and provide instructions during group skills training for customers.
• Performs related work as directed.

• OIB Service Specialist III:
  Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in human services, social science, business, or a related field plus two years of full-time qualifying experience in social and rehabilitative services work; teaching and counseling persons with disabilities; social services; medical eligibility, or entitlement programs.
• OIB Service Specialist IV:
  Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in human services, social science, business, or a related field plus two years and six months of full-time qualifying experience in social and rehabilitative services work; teaching and counseling persons with disabilities; social services; medical eligibility, or entitlement programs.
• OIB Service Specialist V:
  Graduation from an accredited…