OIB Worker (Lubbock)

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.  For more than 100 years VR has been helping individuals with disabilities achieve their employment goals!
-If you are looking for career and advancement opportunities.  38% of employees in VR have 15 years of seniority.  There are various positions with career ladders and opportunities to specialize in areas of interest:  Autism, Blind & Visual Impairments, Deaf & Hard of Hearing, Brain Injury, Foster Youth, Transition Students, Veterans.
-If you need a comprehensive benefits package that offers competitive pay & benefits from health plans, life insurance, retirement programs, paid leave and holidays, and longevity pay.
-If you have direct VR Counseling work experience, receive higher starting salary.
-If you are interested in a flexible work schedule with teleworking as an option.
-If you want to advance your education with our tuition assistance program.
-FREE CEUs to maintain CRC credentials and reimbursement for CRC & LPC renewals.

The mission of the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) is to promote and support a workforce system that creates value and offers employers, individuals, and communities the opportunity to achieve and sustain economic prosperity. To support our missions, we are seeking to fill an Older Individuals who are Blind (OIB) Worker I-IV position to join the Older Individuals who are Blind-Office of Blind Services Support Department team. This position is able to be located in Lubbock.

You must be a Texas resident to work for the Texas Workforce Commission or willing to relocate to Texas.

Benefits to working for TWC include:
- Competitive starting salary: $3,100.00 - $4,866.58/month
- Defined Retirement Benefit Plan
- Optional 401(k) and 457 accounts
- Medical Insurance - Currently, the state pays 100% of the health plan premium for eligible full-time employees and 50% of the premium for their eligible dependents. Eligible part-time employees get a 50% state contribution for themselves and 25% for their dependents. Employees pay the remainder of the premium by paycheck deduction before taxes are withheld.
- Optional Benefits such as dental, vision, and life insurance
- 8 hours' sick leave per month
- 8 hours' vacation leave per month with potential to earn more with longevity
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP) services
- Additional benefits for active employees: https://www.ers.texas.gov/Active-Employees/Health-Benefits

The Older Individuals who are Blind (OIB) Worker I-IV is hired by and reports to the Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Manager. Performs moderately complex (journey-level) to highly advanced and/or supervisory (senior-level) social service or case management work. Work involves collecting, preparing, and reviewing cases to facilitate access to medical, educational, social, and other services; and providing intervention and frequent contact with individuals, facilities, and service providers. Works under general to minimal supervision, with limited to extensive latitude for the use of initiative.

GENERAL DUTIES:
- Oversees, teaches and assists other Older Individuals Who are Blind workers (OIBWs) 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 the purpose of determining eligibility, develops the individuals' independent living plan, and coordinates other services necessary to achievement of goals. 
- Establishes and coordinate business relationships with Center(s) 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 workgroups and other OIB activities. 
- Completes, maintains and monitors documentation of case service delivery.
- Provides training and mentoring to other OIB Workers.
- 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.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
OIB Worker I: 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 Worker II: 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 Worker III: Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in human services, social science, business, or a related field plus three 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 Worker IV: Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in human services, social science, business, or a related field plus four 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. May require two years of full-time qualifying experience to be in a supervisory or administrative management capacity.
For all levels, twelve semester hours of graduate study from an accredited college or university may be substituted for each year of the required qualifying experience; One additional year of full-time qualifying experience may be substituted for each year (30 semester hours) of the required college.

This position involves up to 75% travel in order to provide services to customers in their homes and communities. Method of transportation is the responsibility of employee. Duty may also require the ability to lift/carry 10 pounds.

VETERANS:
Use your military skills to qualify for this position or other jobs! Go to www.texasskillstowork.com to translate your military work experience and training courses into civilian job terms, qualifications, and skill sets. You can also compare this position to military occupations (MOS) at the Texas State Auditor's Office by pasting this link into your browser: http://www.hr.sao.texas.gov/Compensation/MilitaryCrosswalk/MOSC_SocialServices.pdf

HOW TO APPLY:
To be considered, please complete an Application for Employment and apply on Taleo.

TWC is not considering applications from persons who require immediate or future sponsorship for an employment visa to maintain work authorization eligibility on a full-time basis.

A position utilizing this classification will be designated as security sensitive according to the Texas Labor Code, Section 301.042.