Vocational Services Worker - Clarks Summit State Hospital (DHS Employees Only)

Continue your career with the Department of Human Services in a new and exciting way! We are actively seeking a Vocational Adjustment Services Worker to be a part of our work activities team at Clarks Summit State Hospital. Your work in this role will allow us to continue to facilitate each patient's return to the community by providing individualized treatment. If you are ambitious, confident, and interested in helping people to achieve their individualized vocational goals, this job is for you!

In this position, you will be evaluating psychiatric patients referred to the Workshop Program and designing and implementing vocational goals to best meet their individual needs as contained in their Individual Comprehensive Treatment Plan. Your work will involve receiving referrals for vocational services from the various treatment teams and processing these referrals. Processing will include interviewing patients, obtaining background information, taking them on a tour of the workshop, making an assignment to the workshop, and orienting the patient to the services of the program. You will also assess performance in the program, monitoring the progress of the program, and maintaining clinical records. Additionally, you will participate in the Interdisciplinary Team Meetings as necessary to provide the communication link between the workshop and the overall treatment plan.

Interested in learning more? Additional details regarding this position can be found in the position description.

Work Schedule and Additional Information:

• Full-time employment
• Work hours are 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday - Friday, with a 30-minute lunch. Hours may be adjusted as operationally necessary.
• Overtime and travel as needed
• Free parking!
• Telework: You will not have the option to telework in this position.
• Salary: In some cases, the starting salary may be non-negotiable.
• You will receive further communication regarding this position via email. Check your email, including spam/junk folders, for these notices.

Organization or Location Restrictions:

• This posting is limited to applicants employed by the Department of Human Services. Additional funding restrictions may apply.

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Experience and Training Requirements:

• Four years of paraprofessional experience providing vocational services to individuals with physical, medical, or intellectual disabilities; or
• A bachelor's degree in vocational rehabilitation, vocational education, vocational counseling, or a related human services field; or
• An equivalent combination of experience and training.
• Applicants will be considered to have met the educational requirements once they are within three months of graduating with a qualifying degree.

Other Requirements:

• You must meet the PA residency requirement. For more information on ways to meet PA residency requirements, follow the link and click on Residency.
• You must be able to perform essential job functions.

Legal Requirements:

• A conditional offer of employment will require a medical examination.
• This position falls under the provisions of the Older Adult Protective Services Act.
  • Under the Act, a conditional offer of employment will require submission and approval of satisfactory criminal history reports, including but not limited to, PA State Police and FBI clearance.

This position is subject to the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement or memorandum of understanding.

You must be eligible for selection in accordance with merit system employment regulations.

• Applicants must meet one of the following methods to be considered for this vacancy:
  • Promotion Without Exam
  • Reassignment (Only current civil service employees in the same agency who hold the same or similar job title, with the same maximum salary, within the same occupational group or where there is a logical career movement, will qualify for reassignment.)
    • Meritorious service is defined as (a) the absence of any discipline above the level of written reprimand during the 12 months preceding the closing date of the posting, and
    • (b) the last regular or probationary performance evaluation showing an overall rating of satisfactory or higher.

Promotion Without Examination (PWOE):

• Class Restrictions for Promotion Without Examination Only - You must have or have held regular civil service status in one of the following classifications:
  • Psychiatric Aide
  • Licensed Occupational Therapy Assistant
  • Therapeutic Activities Aide
  • Residential Services Aide Supervisor
  • Residential Services Aide Night Supervisor
• Employees who previously held regular civil service status in the job title of the position being filled are also eligible for promotion without examination.
• The promotion without examination requirements are issued in accordance with merit system employment regulations.
• Meritorious service is defined as (a) the absence of any discipline above the level of written reprimand during the 12 months preceding the closing date of the posting, and (b) the last regular or probationary performance evaluation showing an overall rating of satisfactory or higher.
• Applicants must have a minimum of one year in the next lower classes by the posting closing date with no break in service.

How to Apply:

• Resumes, cover letters, and similar documents will not be reviewed, and the information contained therein will not be considered for the purposes of determining your eligibility for the position. Information to support your eligibility for the position must be provided on the application (i.e., relevant, detailed experience/education).
• If you are claiming education in your answers to the supplemental application questions, you must attach a copy of your college transcripts for your claim to be accepted toward meeting the minimum requirements. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable.
• Your application must be submitted by the posting closing date. Late applications and other required materials will not be accepted.
• Failure to comply with the above application requirements may eliminate you from consideration for this position.

Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS):

• 711 (hearing and speech disabilities or other individuals).

If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodations due to a disability, please discuss your request for accommodations with the interviewer in advance of your interview date.

The Commonwealth is an equal employment opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse workforce. The Commonwealth values inclusion as we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most qualified people to serve the citizens of Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, union membership, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, AIDS or HIV status, disability, or any other categories protected by applicable federal or state law. All diverse candidates are encouraged to apply.