Blind Rehabilitation Specialist (VIST Coordinator)

Full Job Description

This position is located at the Martinsburg VA Medical Center, within Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation service section.

The VIST Coordinator plans, develops, implements, directs and evaluates the Visual Impairment Service (VIS) Team program at the VHA sites within his or her catchment area.

The incumbent has major responsibility for the coordination of all services for visually impaired Veterans and Servicemembers and their families through the Visual Impairment Services Team.

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.

Education: *See Education below* Certification: Required at the GS-11 grade level and above.

Applicants must possess at least one active, current, full and unrestricted certification to be eligible for appointment.

Certification must be granted by the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation & Education Professionals (ACVREP), or another equivalent, closely related professional credential in special education or rehabilitation.

NOTE: The ACVREP administers four certification programs.

They may then use the designation for the certification they hold (as listed below): BRS who provide the following service must obtain certification granted by ACVREP as follows: (a) Orientation and mobility training - Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialists (COMS®).

(b) Communication and daily living therapy - Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapists (CVRT®). (c) Low vision therapy - Certified Low Vision Therapists (CLVT®).

(d) Assistive Technology - Certified Assistive Technology Instructional Specialists (CATIS®). Loss of Credential.

Once certified, a BRS must maintain a full, valid, and unrestricted independent certification to remain qualified for employment.

Loss of certification will result in removal from the BRS occupation and may result in termination of employment.

A BRS who has, or has ever had his/her certification revoked, suspended, denied, restricted, limited, or issued/placed in a probationary status may be appointed only in accordance with the provisions in VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section B, Paragraph 16.

English Language Proficiency. Candidates will not be appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C.

chapters 73 or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA who are not proficient in written and spoken English.

Grade Determinations: BRS GS-11 (VIST Coordinator-Developmental Level): Experience: In addition to meeting the basic requirements, completion of one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the GS-9 grade level.

GS-9 experience includes: Intake, assessment, planning for rehabilitation, intervention, and follow-up in the content specialties.

OR, Education: Three years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Doctoral Degree; or Doctoral Degree in Blind Rehabilitation or a directly related field.

AND, Certification: VIST Coordinator candidates must meet the certification requirements.

BRSs who are VIST Coordinators may be drawn from traditional blind/vision rehabilitation backgrounds and from counseling backgrounds such as social work, vocational rehabilitation counseling, etc.

VIST Coordinators may be credentialed/certified through any of the following: Certification via the ACVREP; Licensure via the Social Worker Licensure Board; Certification via the CRCC; OR, Equivalent and relevant professional credential in counseling or rehabilitation.

[Examples of other health care occupations may include but are not limited to Marriage and Family Therapists or Licensed Mental Health Counselors.] AND, Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to meeting the KSAs at the GS-9 grade level, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Ability to communicate both orally and in writing with staff at all organizational levels; with Veterans and their family members; with community groups; and individuals with varying degrees of understanding about visual impairment.

Ability to assess Veterans having diverse and multiple disabilities to make recommendations for blind/vision rehabilitation therapeutic interventions.

Ability to write a blind/vision rehabilitation plan that includes evaluation information from multiple disciplines with observable, measurable goals and that identifies specific outcomes.

Knowledge of VA blind and low vision rehabilitation treatment programs. Skill in interpersonal relationships in dealing with patients, employees, other team leaders, managers and other stakeholders.

Knowledge of psychological, rehabilitation, and counseling theories and principles. Ability to coordinate with various resources to identify suitable training programs.

BRS GS-12 (VIST Coordinator-Full Performance Level): Experience: In addition to meeting the basic requirements, completion of a minimum of one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to GS-11 grade level.

GS-11 experience includes: Case management, A broad range of knowledge that includes not only the medical conditions and rehabilitation of Veterans who are blind and visually impaired, but also knowledge of their compensation and benefits, as well as VA and non-VA rehabilitation programs.

In addition, VIST Coordinators work with Veterans and their families in readjustment counseling. AND, Certification: VIST Coordinators must meet the certification.

(Requirements listed above.) AND, Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to meeting the KSAs described at the GS-11 grade level, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Skill to effectively communicate both orally and in writing with staff at all organizational levels, with Veterans and their family members, with community groups, and individuals with varying degrees of understanding.

Ability to asses Veterans having diverse and multiple disabilities to make recommendations for therapeutic interventions.

Skill in writing a blind/vision rehabilitation plan that includes evaluation information from multiple disciplines and contains observable, measurable goals that identify specific outcomes.

Knowledge of VA and non-VA blind and low vision rehabilitation treatment programs.

Skill in interpersonal relationships dealing with patients, employees, other team leaders, managers, and other stakeholders.

Knowledge of psychological, rehabilitation, and counseling theories and principles. Ability to coordinate with various resources to identify and refer Veterans to suitable training programs.

Ability to apply decision-making principles to adjust programs on a day-to-day basis, to develop short term and long-range goals, and to plan for future utilization of resources.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12.

The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-11 to GS-12.

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service. Major Duties:

VHA Health Professions Trainee (HPT): VHA Health Professional Trainees (HPT) pending the completion of education or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

NOTE: This applies to current/past/upcoming VHA HPTs only.

An HPT is an individual appointed to a temporary position in one or more VHA medical facilities performing clinical or research training experiences to satisfy program or degree requirements or receiving VA Health Professional Scholarship Program.

HPTs can be either VA-paid or Without Compensation (WOC). Duties may include but are not limited to: Plans, develops, implements, directs and evaluates the Visual Impairment Service (VIS) Team program.

Manages patient care and provides care coordination, assessments and blind and low vision rehabilitation to help Veterans reclaim the confidence and skills needed to lead an independent, fulfilling life after vision loss.

Provides care coordination services to eligible Veterans with visual impairment by assessing (at least annually), coordinating and reviewing the Veteran's rehabilitation and adjustment needs and determining and referring the type and intensity of services needed, based upon clinical judgment and the Veteran's goals.

Determines if additional intervention by other providers will be needed in order to develop a Veteran's individualized treatment plan.

Ensures the update and maintenance of the VIST roster including all legally blind and low vision Veterans enrolled at a given VA medical facility.

Provides outreach and education to VA medical facility and non-VA agencies and personnel through brochures and other educational materials about Veteran counseling and family information.

Counsel Veterans with visual impairment about their health needs and refer them annually for medical examinations to include, but not limited to, ocular health examinations, physical examinations and audiological examinations.

Conducts monthly VIST support groups for Veterans on various topics to enhance outreach, education, adjustment to sight loss, and peer-to-peer engagement.

Ensures the recommended prosthetic devices and rehabilitation interventions are in alignment with the Veteran's goals and individualized rehabilitation plan.

Promoting awareness of the needs of Veterans with visual impairments to the VA medical facility staff through identifying eligible Veterans with visual impairment in the Electronic Health Record.

Coordinates community care and VHA care to assist Veterans with visual impairment in receiving the best services in both the BRS CoC and from community providers.

Monitoring and assisting in developing and updating service agreements and assisting in developing VA medical facility operating procedures pertinent to blindness and visual impairment.

Documenting Veterans with visual impairment assessments, treatment plans, progress notes and discharge summaries which must be consistent with VHA requirements as well as the requirements of rehabilitation program accreditation.

Initiates and tracks referrals in all aspects of BRS CoC on behalf of Veterans with visual impairment in accordance with the BR National Database guidelines. Other tasks/duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Full time. Monday through Friday. 8:00am to 4:30pm. Telework: Not available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.