Vocational rehabilitation consultants help injured workers, people with disabilities, and those transitioning to new careers. They assess clients’ situations, create rehabilitation plans, and require strong interpersonal skills. They typically have a four-year degree and may work in various settings.
A vocational rehabilitation consultant is someone who helps others in their professional lives. The types of people vocational rehabilitation consultants help vary greatly from workers injured on the job to people with physical or mental disabilities and people who have been laid off or need to transition into a different career or field of work. Some professional rehabilitation consultants are also certified as Qualified Rehabilitation Consultants (QRCs).
The first step with a new client usually involves an initial assessment to understand the client’s situation and begin to formulate a plan. The next step usually involves meeting other people to better understand the customer’s situation. These meetings can, for example, be held with the client’s health professionals, such as physiotherapists, occupational therapists or psychologists. Once the vocational rehabilitation consultant develops a good understanding of the client’s situation, a rehabilitation plan is created and the consultant helps the client achieve the goals of that plan.
Vocational rehabilitation consultants usually have a four-year college degree in rehabilitation services or a related field. Courses generally cover a range of subjects, including social work, psychology and counseling. As a good understanding of medical reports is also required, students also take courses in medicine. In addition to schooling, these consultants often need to complete one or more internships to receive their license. Even once licensed, consultants may also be required to complete continuing education courses to maintain their certification.
Because vocational rehabilitation consultants often deal with important and sensitive issues with their clients, strong interpersonal skills are required. Clients often struggle with the new realities they are facing and have a hard time finding the motivation to find new work or return to an old job. Additionally, clients may see a vocational rehabilitation consultant demanding their insurance benefits, which can be an additional source of resistance to working with the consultant.
Due to the nature of the work, the workplace of a vocational rehabilitation consultant can vary greatly. He or she may carry out his or her duties in the office, at the client’s workplace, at a healthcare provider’s office, or at a client’s home. They typically work to set hours, but may work days, nights, or weekends to meet their clients’ needs.
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