Blind Rehabilitation Specialist (VIST Coordinator)

Summary

The primary purpose of the position is to manage and provide direct blind and vision rehabilitation training services to visually impaired Veterans and Service Members.The Visual Impairment Service Team (VIST) Coordinator functions independently in a number of settings. The work environment may be in an outpatient setting, inpatient setting, virtual setting and in a home environment, as deemed appropriate for clinical care.

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Duties

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VIST 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. 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. 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.

Duties include but are not limited to:

• Follows a model of lifetime care coordination offered to all Veterans with visual impairment who are eligible to receive services.
• 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.
• Determine 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.
• 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.
• Ensures seamless coordination of BRS-related care for traveling Veterans with visual impairment who are away from their primary residence and preferred VA medical facility.

Work Schedule : Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm

Telework : Not Available

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement # :10149F

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements ( Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements :

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 and Experience:

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 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 above) that included, or was supplemented by, at least one of the following:

1. 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).
2. One full year of directly related graduate level coursework (typically at least 15 - 18 semester hours).
3. 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.
4. 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.

Blind Rehabilitation Specialist (BRS) who provide the following service must obtain certification granted by ACVREP as follows:

(1) Orientation and mobility training - Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialists (COMS®).

(2) Communication and daily living therapy - Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapists (CVRT®).

(3) Low vision therapy - Certified Low Vision Therapists (CLVT®).

(4) Assistive Technology - Certified Assistive Technology Instructional Specialists (CATIS®).

In addition to meeting the Basic Requirements listed above, you must meet the following requirements below:

GS-12 Grade Determination: BLIND REHABILITATION SPECIALIST (VIST COORDINATOR):

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. Experience must demonstrate case-management responsibilities supporting individuals who are blind or visually impaired. Experience includes managing an active caseload; completing assessments; developing individualized rehabilitation or adjustment plans; coordinating services; and documenting progress and outcomes. It also includes applying broad knowledge of medical conditions related to vision loss; educating individuals and their families on available rehabilitation services and resources; providing guidance on compensation and benefit options; delivering readjustment counseling to support psychosocial adjustment; and collaborating with interdisciplinary staff to ensure timely and effective service delivery.

AND,

In addition to the Experience above, the candidate must demonstrated the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs):

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) .In addition to meeting the KSAs at the GS-11 grade level, the candidate must fully demonstrate all [of] the following KSAs:

(1) 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.

(2) Ability to assess Veterans having diverse and multiple disabilities to make recommendations for therapeutic interventions.

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

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

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

(6) Knowledge of psychological, rehabilitation, and counseling theories and principles.

(7) Ability to coordinate with various resources to identify and refer Veterans to suitable training programs.

(8) 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.

GS-12 BLIND REHABILITATION SPECIALIST (VIST COORDINATOR) 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:

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.

Preferred Experience: Low vision Experience Needed: Experience with individuals who are blind or visually impaired, particularly in assessment, coordination of care, case management and rehabilitation. Experience providing direct services to, or coordinating services for individuals with vision loss or blindness.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit

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

Physical Requirements: This position is typically non-sedentary, and frequently involves being in the standing position. Physical demands may include repetitive body movements including the following: frequent reaching, standing, walking, and lifting of equipment and/or patients to provide patient care. This position requires extension of the hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction including above or below shoulder level, during the provision of patient care, including retrieval of needed equipment, supplies and to make contact with the patient. This position may require the maintenance of an upright position to perform duties associated with patient care.

Education

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit:

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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