Preferred Qualities of Community Rehabilitation Providers in State Vocational Rehabilitation

Abstract

Objective:State vocational rehabilitation (VR) agencies rely heavily on community rehabilitation providers (CRPs) for placement services. However, little has been published on what CRP qualities are most sought after by state VR staff. The purpose of this article is to explore the abilities and skills that VR staff prefer and seek in the CRPs with whom they contract.Research Design:A Modified Consensual Qualitative Research (CQR-M) approach was used to assess specific qualities state VR staff look for when selecting a community rehabilitation provider. Thirty-five counselors, supervisors, and administrators participated in semi-structured interviews to provide their perspectives of these desired attributes.Results:The results revealed four overarching domains of desired qualities including: professional skills, interpersonal skills, personality attributes, and knowledge. Categories in each domain further specify state VR staff preferences.Conclusions:Results support the need for standardized CRP training and certification to advance provider preparation and the counselor selection process.