Vocational Interviewing and Counselling

ROLES AND FUNCTIONS OF VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION PROFESSIONALS:
Vocational rehabilitation professionals assist clients with informed choice and consent throughout the process by providing clients with information about their various options; providing recommendations and professional opinions; and providing clients with information concerning the policies and procedures for services.

A vocational rehabilitation professional's major job functions in today’s practice environment may include: vocational counselling and consultation, assessment, counselling interventions, community-based rehabilitation service activities, case management, applied research, and professional advocacy.

Vocational counselling and consultation may involve the following tasks and activities:
- career counselling, vocational assessment and planning, job development and placement, and employer consultation.

Counselling interventions may involve the following activities and tasks:
- providing individual, group, and family counselling; building client working relationships; and helping clients cope with psychosocial issues related to disabilities.

Community-based rehabilitation services may involve activities and tasks such as:
- researching resources and funding available for clients, advocating for clients and their families, benefits counselling, and marketing rehabilitation services to the community.

Case management may involve activities and tasks such as:
- obtaining written reports on client progress, developing referral networks with physicians and other rehabilitation health professionals, reporting to referral sources regarding client progress, and making financial decisions for caseload management.

Applied research for professional practice may involve activities and tasks such as:
- selecting and administering standardized tests and conducting assessments.

Professional advocacy may involve activities and tasks such as:
- applying disability-related policy and legislation to rehabilitation practices.

In summary, on any given day, the most frequently performed practice tasks for vocational rehabilitation professionals may include case management, professional advocacy, counselling, consultation, assessment, using community-based services, and applied research.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS OF VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION PROFESSIONALS:
Vocational rehabilitation professionals possess a variety of interdisciplinary knowledge and skills to serve people with disabilities in complex employment and health care system environments. There are at least six domains which vocational rehabilitation professionals view as important for the contemporary practice of vocational rehabilitation including:

1. Career counselling, assessment and consultation (knowledge and skills in vocational consultation and employer services, job development/job placement, and career counselling and assessment techniques);

2. Counselling theories, techniques, and applications (knowledge and skills in mental health counselling, group and family counselling, individual counselling, psychosocial and multicultural counselling, and professional issues);

3. Rehabilitation services and resources (knowledge and skills in supported employment and school to work transition, independent living, benefits counselling, healthcare and rehabilitation systems, and other community resources);

4. Case and caseload management (knowledge and skills in caseload management, clinical problem-solving, case recording and documentation, interdisciplinary teamwork, and conflict resolution strategies);

5. Healthcare and disability systems (knowledge and skills in rehabilitation case management within integrated disability management systems); and

6. Medical, functional, and environmental aspects of disability (knowledge and skills in the medical and functional limitations of disabilities and their vocational implications).

REFERENCES:
College of Vocational Rehabilitation Professionals, Board of Directors. 2021-2023. Standards of Practice. College of Vocational Rehabilitation Professionals. https://cvrp.net/wp-content/uploads/129-Approved-Version-02-CVRP-SoPs.pdf

College of Vocational Rehabilitation Professionals, Board of Directors. 2019. Vocational Rehabilitation Competencies. College of Vocational Rehabilitation Professionals. https://cvrp.net/wp-content/uploads/60-Competencies.pdf