Blind Rehabilitation Specialist - Visual Impairment Service Team (VIST) Coordinator

Full Job Description

The Visual Impairment Service Team (VIST) Coordinator functions independently in several settings including hospitals, clinics, rehabilitation centers, long-term care facilities, educational institutions and home environments.

The work environment may be in an office, clinical setting, classroom, private home, VA grounds, nursing home, community sites, and hospitals.

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: Citizenship: Be a citizen of the United States.

(Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3.g., of this part.) 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. See Chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part.

Education: The individual must have earned: (a) A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major field of study in blind or vision rehabilitation, closely related program in rehabilitation, special education for the visually impaired, family and consumer science 3 education, or technology and industrial arts education.

OR, (b) A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university (without a major field of study as outlined in (1)(a) above) that included, or was supplemented by, at least one of the following: At least 30 semester hours of directly related, upper level undergraduate courses (e.g., at least 200-course level or higher, or as identified by the college or university).

One full year of directly related graduate level coursework (typically at least 15 - 18 semester hours).

A certificate from an accredited college or university in the core curriculum in orientation and mobility, vision rehabilitation therapy, assistive technology for blind and visually impaired individuals, or low vision therapy and a directly related practicum/internship in the occupation, either included in the degree or post-degree.

Foreign Graduates must have proof of a minimum of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university (or foreign equivalent, as verified through an independent credential evaluation company), with a specialization in blind rehabilitation.

Certification: Required at the GS-11 grade level and above. (a) 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.

May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

Grandfathering Provision: All BRSs employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and certification(s) that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation.

For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: Such employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation.

Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.

Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or certification(s) that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required equivalent credential(s) as a condition of employment in the occupation.

If a BRS who was retained under this provision leaves the occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation.

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

Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements, the following criteria must be used when determining the appropriate grade assignment of candidates.

BRS - VIST Coordinator, GS-12 (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.

Certification: BRS 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 must be credentialed/certified through: (a) Any certification via the ACVREP, OR, (b) Individuals appointed based on experience as a Social Worker must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level.

A doctoral degree in social work may not be substituted for the master's degree in social work.

If appointed as a VIST Coordinator, Social Workers are appointed to the GS-0601 series, but must still maintain a full, valid, and unrestricted independent license or certification to remain qualified for employment, OR, (c) Certification via the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC) Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, (CRC), OR, (d) Individuals appointed based on experience in other health care occupations must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice in their field.

If appointed as a VIST Coordinator, such individuals are appointed to the GS-0601 series, but must still maintain their full, valid, and unrestricted independent license or certification in their occupation to remain qualified for employment.

Examples of occupations may include but [are not limited to Marriage and Family Therapist or Licensed Mental Health Counselor.] Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to meeting the KSAs described at the GS-11 grade level, the candidate must demonstrate all 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 assess 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.

Preferred Experience: None Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G17.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12.

Physical Requirements: Must be in overall good health, able to sit at a desk working at a computer, engage in light to moderate physical activity including sitting, walking, bending, and carrying supplies.

See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services. Major Duties:

The VIST Coordinator plans, develops, implements, directs and evaluates the Visual Impairment Service (VIS) Team program at the VA NIHCS.

The VIST Coordinator has major responsibility for the coordination of all services for visually impaired Veterans and Service members and their families through the Visual Impairment Services Team.

Case management duties may include cases that are both difficult and complex in terms of the severity of the visual impairment and the presence of complicating physical and emotional factors impinging on treatment.

Functions: Case manages patient care and support services to an adult population of patients which is characterized by a very significant number of older male patients as well as young OEF/OIF Veterans who may have wound and trauma related vision loss.

Tailors patient care and support services to meet the needs of the individual patient.

Has the responsibility for assessment of each patient's needs and the delivery of services which are responsive to the concerns of individual patients to the extent possible.

Outreach and Education: Develops a cache of educational materials, in a variety of media that can be utilized to help achieve VIST outreach goals and objectives.

Provides in-service educational classes for VA and non-VA agencies and personnel. Seeks to improve others' awareness regarding blindness issues.

Utilizes developed methodologies to identify Veterans who are eligible for VIST program services, to include identifying blind Veterans from VA medical center diagnosis codes entered in their electronic medical record.

Educates VA medical center staff on the functional implications of vision loss and on blind rehabilitation matters.

Case Management: VIST Coordinators are case managers for all eligible Veterans who have visual impairments requiring blind rehabilitation services.

Coordinates an overview of all the Veteran's blind rehabilitation needs. Determines the intensity of services based upon clinical judgment and the Veteran's goals.

Flags VIST-eligible Veterans' patient records so that medical center staff who access patients' records electronically are alerted to the Veteran's visual status.

Assess, treat, plan and follow up: Performs assessments to establish Veterans' needs as they relate to the continuum of vision and rehabilitation treatment services.

Refers Veterans to the appropriate service component in the continuum of care for visually impaired Veterans. Develops focused treatment plans containing goals to meet the Veterans' needs.

Provides follow-up for rehabilitation services that the Veteran has received.

Develop, implement and oversee special programs for visually impaired Veterans such as the local provision of computer equipment and training.

Maintains effective communication with all the BRS field elements to maximize Veterans' blind and vision rehabilitation outcomes.

Enters and maintains patients in the BRS 5.0 database as well as providing annual reports for the Veterans Affairs Central Office (VACO).

Provides eligible Veterans on the VIST roster with an initial benefits review, and subsequent annual benefits reviews thereafter.

Is knowledgeable with respect to all VA and non-VA benefits that may serve to enhance the lives of qualified Veterans. Assists Veterans in initiating action to apply for benefits.

Is aware of Veterans Service Organizations that assist Veterans with regard to the acquisition of benefits, and the VIST Coordinator may refer a Veteran to one or more of these agencies.

Assists the Veteran and their family members with the issues surrounding the emotional adjustment aspects of blindness.

Draws on their own professional expertise to personally assist the Veteran and the Veteran's family members in this process, or may make a referral to an appropriate clinician to assist or to various rehabilitation programs within and outside the VA.

Recommends issuance of prosthetic equipment for blind and visually impaired Veterans in accordance with VHA policies.

If the issuance of a prosthetic item is deemed appropriate and subsequently approved, then the VIST Coordinator may request authorization of funds with the intent of utilizing professionally qualified personnel to train the Veteran to appropriately use, care for and maintain the prosthetic device.

Convenes and leads a support group for Veterans and Service members with visual impairment and their families or may partner with another entity to provide such support.

Must be credentialed via licensure or certification. Work Schedule: Mon-Fri, 8:00am - 4:00pm. Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: GS-12, 926120 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized