ABOLISHED 06/04/2015 PER PAY LETTER 15-17 - Workers' Compensation Rehabilitation Series

California State Personnel Board Specification

Series established March 13, 1975

Scope

This series specification describes three classes in the specialized field of Workers' Compensation Rehabilitation.

Definition of Series

Classes in this series are involved in the development and maintenance of rehabilitation programs and bringing about compliance with rules, regulations and Labor Code provisions concerning the vocational rehabilitation of injured workers.

Factors Affecting Position Allocation

Degree of supervisory responsibility, area of geographic concern, and program and policy involvement serve as differentiating factors between individual classes.

Definition of Levels

Workers' Compensation Rehabilitation Consultant

This is the full journeyperson level. At this level incumbents assist insurance carriers, public agencies and self-insured employers in developing and initiating overall programs for the rehabilitation of industrially injured workers in accordance with Division of Industrial Accidents rules and procedures affecting workers' compensation; evaluate such programs and approve them or identify and assist in correcting deficiencies; provide assistance and advice to employees and their representatives on rehabilitation benefits associated with workers' compensation; resolve disputes between employers and injured workers, or their representatives, over the appropriateness of the rehabilitation plan; appear in judicial proceedings of the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board on disputed determinations; coordinates and enforces implementation of rehabilitation plans; provides advice and information on rehabilitation matters to employers, employees, insurance carriers, labor organizations, physicians, attorneys and other interested parties; conducts, reviews and audits of rehabilitation program operations; analyze medical reports, employment potential and rehabilitation estimates to determine the need and feasibility of providing rehabilitation services to individual injured workers; issue benefit determinations of reasonable and necessary rehabilitation services on an individual case basis; encourage the expansion of community rehabilitation resources to ensure the prompt delivery of rehabilitation services to injured workers; and do other related work.

Area Supervisor, Rehabilitation Bureau

This is the first supervisory level serving as a direct line assistant to the Bureau Chief. Incumbents plan, organize and direct the work of a group of Workers' Compensation Rehabilitation Consultants in a major geographic area; provide training, evaluate performance and recommend appropriate action; assist staff with or personally handle problems arising from unusual or difficult rehabilitation cases or programs; interpret and apply administrative policies assuring their uniform application through coordination and evaluation of area activities; propose changes in administrative policies and practices; attend meetings and act for the Chief in the latter's absence or as directed; and do other related work.

Chief, Rehabilitation Bureau

Incumbents at this level plan, organize, establish policies for, and direct the work of the staff of the Rehabilitation Bureau, Division of Industrial Accidents; formulate rules and regulations for the Bureau; issue enforcement orders following rehabilitation benefit determinations by Bureau personnel; select and train personnel; evaluate performance and take or recommend appropriate action; develop budget recommendations for the Bureau; serve as expert consultant on rehabilitation matters to administrators within the Department of Industrial Relations, to the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board, and to public and private organizations and groups; promote the expansion of available rehabilitation services through both public and private agencies and organizations; and do other related work.

Minimum Qualifications

Workers' Compensation Rehabilitation Consultant

Experience:

1. Three years of journey level professional experience providing vocational rehabilitation services involving counseling, vocational evaluations, and rehabilitation plan development in a rehabilitation agency, workshop, medical facility, or comparable organization, at least one year of which must have included as a primary assignment a case load of industrially injured clients receiving workers' compensation insurance benefits. (California state service experience applied toward this requirement must have been performing the duties of a class comparable in level to Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor.) or

2. Three years of journey level professional experience adjusting workers' compensation insurance claims for a workers' compensation insurance carrier, public agency, or self-insured employer or such employer's adjusting agent, at least one year of which must have included as a primary assignment the coordination of vocational rehabilitation services and direct client contact. (California state service experience applied toward this requirement must have been performing the duties of class comparable in level to Workers' Compensation Insurance Representative II.) or

3. Possession of a Master's Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from an accredited education institution. The Masters' program must have included a supervised clinical internship. Plus, two years of journeylevel professional experience, one of which have been providing vocational rehabilitation services with a primary assignment of a case load of industrially injured clients receiving workers' compensation insurance benefit. and Education: Equivalent to graduation from college, preferably with a concentration in social science, liberal arts, or business administration. (Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis.)

Area Supervisor, Rehabilitation Bureau

Either I

One year performing the duties of the class of Workers' Compensation Rehabilitation Consultant in the California state service.

Or II

Experience:

1. Four years of journey level professional experience providing vocational rehabilitation services in a rehabilitation agency, workshop, medical facility, or comparable organization, at least one year of which must have included as a primary assignment a case load of industrially injured clients receiving workers' compensation insurance benefits. (Experience applied toward this requirement must include at least one year of supervision of a professional staff. (California state service experience applied toward this supervisory requirement must have been performing the duties of a class comparable in level to Rehabilitation Supervisor.) or

2. Four years of journey level professional experience adjusting workers' compensation claims for a workers' compensation insurance carrier, public agency, or self-insured employer or such employer's adjusting agent, at least one year of which must have included as a primary assignment the coordination of vocational rehabilitation services and direct client contact. Experience applied toward this requirement must include at least one year of supervision of a professional staff. (California state service experience applied toward this supervisory requirement must have been performing the duties of a class comparable in level to Workers' Compensation Insurance Representative III.) and

Education: Equivalent to graduation from college, preferably with a concentration in social science, liberal arts, or business administration. (Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis.)

Chief, Rehabilitation Bureau

Either I

One year performing the duties of the class of Area Supervisor, Rehabilitation Bureau, in the California state service.

Or II

Two years performing the duties of the class of Workers' Compensation Rehabilitation Consultant in the California state service.

Or III

Experience:

1. Five years of journey level professional experience providing vocational rehabilitation services in a rehabilitation agency, workshop, medical facility or comparable organization, at least one year of which must have included as a primary assignment a case load of industrially injured clients receiving workers' compensation insurance benefits. Experience applied toward this requirement must include at least two years in a supervisory or managerial capacity. (California state service experience applied toward this supervisory requirement must have been performing the duties of a class comparable in level to Area Supervisor, Rehabilitation Bureau.) or

2. Five years of journey level professional experience adjusting workers' compensation claims for a workers' compensation insurance carrier, public agency, or self-insured employer or such employer's adjusting agent, at least one year of which must have included as a primary assignment the coordination of vocational rehabilitation services and direct client contact. Experience applied toward this requirement must include at least two years in a supervisory or managerial capacity.

(California state service experience applied toward this supervisory requirement must have been performing the duties of a class comparable in level to Area Supervisor, Rehabilitation Bureau.) and

Education: Equivalent to graduation from college, preferably with a concentration in social science, liberal arts, or business administration. (Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis.)

Knowledge and Abilities

Workers' Compensation Rehabilitation Consultant

Knowledge of: Principles, practice and procedures of the California workers' compensation system; the provisions of the Workers' Compensation Act; Labor Code provisions relating to rehabilitation; existing occupations and their duties; basic principles and practice so physical and vocational rehabilitation; medical terminology and anatomical terms; familiarity with available rehabilitation facilities; employment trends and occupations associated with public and private employers.

Ability to: Interpret medical reports to determine the significance of injury to the mental and physical demands of various occupations; relate effectively, and establish and maintain effective working relationships with diverse groups such as professional, skilled, and unskilled workers and representatives of employer and employee organizations; act as conciliator or mediator on disputed issues; interview injured workers and their employers; work independently with little direction; analyze data and situations accurately and adopt an effective course of action; speak and write effectively.

Area Supervisor, Rehabilitation Bureau

Knowledge of: All of the above, and principles of personnel management, training, and supervision; the Department's Affirmative Action Program objectives; a manager's role in the Affirmative Action Program and the processes available to meet affirmative action objectives.

Ability to: All of the above, and plan, organize and direct the work of and train others; plan, organize and administer an area-wide program; interpret and apply established policies and procedures of the Rehabilitation Bureau; effectively contribute to the department's affirmative action objectives.

Chief, Rehabilitation Bureau

Knowledge of: All of the above, and divisional and departmental policies and procedures; principles and practices of public administration; the Department's Affirmative Action Program objectives; a manager's role in the Affirmative Action Program and the processes available to meet affirmative action objectives.

Ability to: All of the above, and plan, organize, administer and evaluate the operation of a statewide program; effectively contribute to the department's affirmative action objectives.

Special Personal Characteristics

All Levels:

Willingness to travel and work irregular hours; tact and impartiality.

Additional Desirable Qualification

All Levels:

Possession of a valid California driver's license.

Class History