Blind Rehabilitation Specialist-Visual Impairment Service Team (VIST)

Full Job Description

Recruitment/Relocation Incentive Authorized for this position.

Blind Rehabilitation Specialist (Visual Impairment Services Team) Coordinators follow a model of lifetime care coordination offered to all Veterans with visual impairment who are eligible to receive services.

The model requires varying degrees of intervention based on the clinical and psychosocial needs of each Veteran.

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.

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 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, 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. 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: Low Vision Therapy, Orientation and Mobility, Assistive Technology Instruction and Vision Rehabilitation Therapy.

They may then use the designation for the certification they hold (as listed in subparagraph (2)) below: BRS who provide the following service must obtain certification granted by ACVREP as follows: Orientation and mobility training - Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialists (COMS®).

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

Assistive Technology - Certified Assistive Technology Instructional Specialists (CATIS®). BRS Advanced Practitioners at the GS-13 grade level must possess two certifications awarded by ACVREP.

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: Any certification via the ACVREP, OR, 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, Certification via the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC) Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, (CRC), OR, 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.] 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).

Grade Determinations: In addition to meeting the basic requirements stated above, the following qualifications criteria must be met in determining the appropriate grade assignment of candidates.

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.

OR, Education: Three years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Doctoral Degree; or Doctoral Degree in Blind Rehabilitation or a directly 8 related field.

Certification: VIST Coordinator candidates must meet the certification requirements in paragraph 4c(4) above.

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.] 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.

Certification: VIST Coordinators must meet the certification requirements in paragraph 4c(4) above.

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: The physical demands of the work requires use of fingers; moderate walking and standing; near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; far vision correctable in on eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; hearing aid permitted; clear speech; emotional stability; moderate duty.

Major Duties:

The Blind Rehabilitation Specialist (Visual Impairment Services Team) Coordinator plans, develops, implements, directs and evaluates the Visual Impairment Service (VIS) Team program at the Bay Pines VA Healthcare System.

The duties and responsibilities are carried throughout the Healthcare System including all clinical and other patient care areas involved with the services.

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

Duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to: Following a model of lifetime care coordination offered to all Veterans with visual impairment who are eligible to receive services.

The model requires varying degrees of intervention based on the clinical and psychosocial needs of each Veteran.

Providing 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.

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

In such instances, the BRS clinician is expected to refer, consult, educate and/or cotreat with other providers in order to support the Veteran in addressing individualized goals (e.g., assessment for supplementary adaptive interventions, issuance criteria and core competencies for prosthetic recommendation).

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

Providing 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.

Regardless of the level of care coordination, VIST Coordinators 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.

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

Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm Functional Statement#: 21964F, 20071F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized