Vocational Rehabilitation Counsellor, Forensic

**Job Summary**:
In accordance with the Mission, Vision and Values, and strategic directions of Provincial Health Services Authority patient safety is a priority and a responsibility shared by everyone at PHSA, and as such, the requirement to continuously improve quality and safety is inherent in all aspects of this position. Under the direction of the Supervisor, Occupational Therapy, the Vocational Rehabilitation Counsellor is responsible for assessing requirements and developing individual vocational plans for patients; monitoring and evaluating patients' progress and participating in overall case planning; developing and supporting training and employment opportunities both in hospital and in the community; and performing other related duties in order to provide vocational opportunities and improve work skills which will assist patients towards successful integration into the community.

**Duties/Accountabilities**:
1. Assesses and evaluates patients’ vocational rehabilitation needs on an ongoing basis through methods such as collaborating with the Case Management Coordinator, Treatment Team, Primary Nurse and the patient to determine interests, skills and abilities, encouraging patients’ involvement in plan development and facilitating the setting of appropriate vocational rehabilitation goals in accordance with clients’ preferences, needs and abilities.
2. Receives referrals and develops individual vocational rehabilitation plans to integrate vocational goals into the mental health treatment plan through methods such as engaging patients in discussion to determine individual needs and potential career paths, abilities and interests and building a trusting and respectful relationship; orienting patients to programs at the hospital, making recommendations for placement considering patients’ expressed preferences/interests and suitability. Coordinates pre-vocational training for patients so that they are able to take full advantage of programs available.
3. Liaises with the Case Management Coordinator, collaborates with members of the interdisciplinary team and community professionals and advocates on behalf of the patient to assist them in accomplishing a goal of competitive employment or other viable vocational pursuits in an integrated community setting.
4. Monitors vocational training placements, tracks progress, evaluates programs, and participates in over-all case planning for patients by methods such as visiting work/program areas on a regular basis and, in collaboration with the program staff, assessing patient progress, writing progress notes and reports; informing the treatment team of progress, any concerns, changes recommended regarding the patients’ development in the program; and managing the patient incentive gratuity program and administering the Holiday Program.
5. Provides ongoing support services to clients related to employment through methods such as providing vocational rehabilitation counselling to clients on an individual basis by telephone or at the job site, facilitating group meetings and liaising with Case Management Coordinator and other members of the interdisciplinary care team. Provides on-site job coaching to ensure orientation and on-going training for patients as required.
6. Monitors patients’ progress on a continual basis through methods such as meeting with the patient, revisiting goals, highlighting accomplishments, re-evaluating goals, communicating patient progress to the Case Management Coordinator and other members of the interdisciplinary care team and coaching the patient to help them meet their goals and objectives.
7. In collaboration with the treatment team, assists with comprehensive discharge planning. Appears before the B.C. Board of Review as required to respond to inquiries regarding the patient such as the patient's progress, vocational assessment findings and recommended discharge plans.
8. Works with patients to develop an awareness of the value of money in the community through methods such as developing individual budgets with each patient, encouraging patients to open bank accounts and to bank on a regular basis.
9. Promotes and develops training and employment opportunities in the community for individual patients through methods such as arranging testing, course registration and payment, and facilitating transportation for patients. Liaises with community employment offices concerning work opportunities/patient referrals and with community agencies that provide work opportunities such as Hemm Industries, Aware (Port Coquitlam), Community Vocational Rehabilitation Services, Job Start or other potential employers.
10. Maintains a variety of records including clinical and evaluation records through methods such as recording information into approved formats, collating data, analyzing trends and preparing reports as required in accordance with established standards, policies and procedures to meet regulatory and organizational requireme