MightyRecruiterRehabilitation counselors are tasked with helping people with certain disabilities live independently. They often work with clients with physical, developmental, emotional and mental disabilities who need assistance overcoming and managing the personal, psychological and social effects of their situations on their ability to be independent and gainfully employed.
It is vital that rehabilitation counselors have a strong ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing so they can work with their clients. They must also have a great deal of compassion and employ empathy when working with clients in distressing situations. These are important skills to include in your rehabilitation counselor job description.
Patience, listening skills and the ability to work with many different people from a variety of socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds is also essential. Look to our complete rehabilitation counselor job description template, found below, for more insight on what you should include in a top-notch job description.
Rehabilitation Counselor Job Summary
We are looking for a compassionate, skilled and dedicated rehabilitation counselor to join our team of dynamic workers to aid our clients in regaining and maintaining independence in their everyday lives. You will be given the opportunity to work with a multidisciplinary team and one-on-one with certain patients, creating a care plan that will help them accomplish their goals. All work will take place under the direction of the Assistant Director, and you will have his/her guidance and experience to help guide you through making qualified decisions regarding client care and planning. If you have a deep desire to help others and want to change the world one person at a time, this could be the perfect position for you.
Job Responsibilities
- Meet with clients to discuss their goals, preferences and available options prior to creating individualized rehabilitation plans
- Create rehabilitation plans for clients per their individual education levels, aptitudes, physical abilities and goals for future employment, modifying each as care continues
- Work closely with a team of physicians, occupational therapists, psychologist and other medical and mental health professionals to create and execute client rehabilitation programs ideally suited for clients’ specific needs
- Maintain case files and records for clients, documenting each person’s personal information, eligibility, insurance, services provided, correspondence and client contact narratives
- Closely monitor and document client progress to determine whether goals are met or need to be modified for success
- Maintain constant contact with clients while they engage in job training, occupational placement programs and other on-site programs, and resolve any placement problems as they arise
- Work closely with clients’ family and friends to determine how client needs can be met most effectively
Job Skills & Qualifications
Reqiured:
- Master’s Degree in Social Work, Psychology, Human Services, Rehabilitation or Counseling
- Licensed Rehabilitation Counselor or Certified Rehabilitation Counselor
- Four or more years of full-time work in social, vocational or rehabilitation counseling
Preferred:
- Experience working with adults who live with persistent and severe mental illness
- Familiarity with psychological tests, how to administer them and the use of other evaluation techniques
Rehabilitation Counselor Job Responsibilities
While every aspect of a job listing is important, the job responsibilities section is perhaps the most substantial. After reading this section, jobseekers can determine whether they are an ideal fit for the rehabilitation health counselor position and may choose to pursue the role.
Consider this part of your rehabilitation counselor job description as a candidate’s first impression of the job and of your team. How well do you present necessary information? Make sure every task is outlined clearly, and shoot for engaging but brief descriptions. While there are some functions in need of explaining, it is essential that this section is reader-friendly and organized so applicants can know exactly what they are expected to do, should they fill the job opening.
One way to arrange main duties in your rehabilitation counselor job description is to use bullet points. Try using no less than six and no more than eight bullets, and use action verbs at the beginning of each entry. For additional ideas, look to our example rehabilitation counselor job responsibilities below:
- Counsel individuals with varying personal, social and trauma-related issues to help them lead healthy and successful lives
- Coordinate activities and other group-related affiliations to residents
- Analyze the needs of clients and document reports in a timely manner
- Make recommendations and referrals to needed resources
Rehabilitation Counselor Job Specifications
No employer enjoys an overflowing inbox of underqualified applications. To avoid this hindrance in the employee recruitment process, first discuss the necessary requirements with your hiring manager or senior leadership. Discuss the company’s necessary skills for the role and those that are useful but not essential. By making sure the qualifications are straightforward and easily read, you can make your rehabilitation counselor job description all the more efficient. A clearly stated list of specifications can help applicants know what traits they must possess before moving forward with the application.
Though the job responsibilities section typically dominates a job listing, it is important not to overlook the qualifications. Confirm that your requirements are descriptive and accurate, and are worded and arranged in a professional fashion in bullet points. Distinguish between specifications that you require versus prefer, perhaps by offering two separate lists.
Here are some example rehabilitation counselor job specifications you can include in your posting:
- Master’s degree in related field
- Past experience in rehabilitation counseling preferred
- Understanding and awareness of group behavior, social dynamics, ideologies and ethnic and cultural diversity
- Knowledge of psychological, rehabilitation and counseling theories and principles
- Strong social skills, including coordination, instruction, negotiation and social perceptiveness
- Excellent listening, communication and critical thinking aptitudes
