Blind Rehabilitation Outpatient Specialist (BROS)

Summary

The primary purpose of the position is : to manage and provide direct - blind-vision rehabilitation training services to visually impaired Veterans and service members. The Blind Rehabilitation Outpatient Specialist (BROS) identifies - assesses - trains - manages - and provides follow-up for Veterans using clinical resources of the North Texas Health Care System.

Qualifications

HPT's 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 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 - [or a closely] related program in rehabilitation - special education - family and consumer science education - technology - and industrial arts education
• OR (b) A master's degree from an accredited college or university with a major field of study in blind or vision rehabilitation - [or a closely] related program in rehabilitation - special education - family and consumer science education - technology - and industrial arts education
• OR (c) A bachelor's [or master's] degree from an accredited college or university (without a major field of study as outlined in (1)(a) and (b) above) and obtained 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
• This education must have included supervised practice
• and (d) Completion of one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the BRS - GS-9 grade level
• OR (e) Three (3) years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a doctoral degree in blind rehabilitation or a directly related field
• Certification: (1) Applicants must possess at least one active - current - full - and unrestricted certification to be eligible for appointment.(2) An applicant who has - or ever had his/her certification suspended - restricted - limited - or issued/placed in a probationary status may be appointed only in accordance with the provisions in Chapter 3 - Section B - Paragraph 16 of this part
• An applicant who has or has ever had a certification revoked or terminated for cause - or voluntarily relinquished such certification after being notified in writing by the State of potential revocation or termination for cause - is ineligible for employment and must be removed from the GS-0601 series
• This applies even if the applicant possesses one or more valid certifications or registration (38 U.S.C. § 7402(f))
• NOTE: The Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation & Education Professionals (ACVREP) administers four certification programs: Low Vision Therapy - Orientation - and Mobility - Certified Assistive Technology Instructions Specialist] and Vision Rehabilitation Therapy
• They may then use the designation for the certification they hold as listed in subparagraph below: BROS who provide the following services must obtain and maintain one certification at the GS-11 grade level and two certifications at the GS-12 grade level 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 Specialist CATIS
• GS-11 Preferred Experience: 0-2 years of clinical experience in providing rehabilitation to severely visually impaired veterans Prior professional experience working in Visual Impairment Services for one or more years Certification in one of the following: COMS: Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist - CVRT: Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapist CLVT: Certified Low Vision Therapist or CATIS: Certified Assistive Technology Instructional Specialist for People with Visual Impairments 3-5 years of Visual Impairment Services and Vision Rehabilitation Therapy GS-12 Preferred Experience: 3-5 years of clinical experience in providing rehabilitation to severely visually impaired veterans One or more years of GS-11 level professional experience in outpatient blind rehabilitation therapy
• Certification in two or more of the following: COMS: Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist - CVRT: Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapist CLVT: Certified Low Vision Therapist or CATIS: Certified Assistive Technology Instructional Specialist for People with Visual Impairments 3-5 years of Visual Impairment Services and Vision Rehabilitation Therapy Experience in program development - implementation - and evaluation to ensure high-quality care and ability to conduct program analysis and use data to improve service delivery Grade Determinations: GS-11 Experience In addition to meeting the basic requirements - completion of a minimum of one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to GS-9 grade level
• Certification Candidates must meet the certification requirements in subparagraph 2c above at least one certification from ACVREP.
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge and understanding of highly specialized complex evaluations and diagnostic tests and procedures of blind/vision rehabilitation
• (b) Ability to properly assess a wide variety of patients having diverse and multiple disabilities to make recommendations for blind/vision rehabilitation therapeutic interventions
• (c) [Skill in development and writing of a blind/vision rehabilitation plan that includes evaluation information from multiple disciplines with observable - measurable goals and that identifies specific outcomes
• (d) Knowledge of teaching methods and learning principles
• (e) Ability to employ interventions - unusual motivational techniques - and coordinate treatment with other professionals to achieve outcomes of the rehabilitation plan
• (f) Skill in recommending appropriate blind/vision rehabilitation prosthetic devices for patients within scope of practice - making adaptations and modifications as required
• (g) Ability to plan - direct - and distribute work assignments to volunteers - assistants - interns - and/or BRSs at lower grade levels and perform assigned mentoring duties for staff - students - and interns
• Grade Determinations: GS-12 Experience In addition to meeting the basic requirements - completion of a minimum of 1 year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level [is required
• Certification (2) Certification
• Candidates must meet the certification requirements in subparagraph 3c above
• BROS at the GS-12 grade level must achieve two ACVREP certifications to demonstrate full mastery in two areas of blind rehabilitation
• 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: (a) Skill to independently develop - plan - and administer complex treatment programs
• (b) Ability to act as a subject matter expert in the blind/vision rehabilitation field and as consultant - supervisor and/or mentor in evaluating and treating patients in specialty or program areas
• (c) Ability to coordinate - motivate - and effectively manage staff and/or committee members to include organizing work - setting priorities - and delegating tasks and responsibilities
• (d) Ability to disseminate appropriate information through various media as a consultant or mentor
• (e) Skill in interpersonal relationships in dealing with patients - employees - other team leaders - managers - and other stakeholders
• (f) Ability to identify team group dynamics - objectively observe - and modify behaviors
• (g) 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

Duties

• This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until March 09 - 2027 .The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be March 18 - 2026 - with subsequent cut-off dates every two weeks until 03/09/2027
• Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until positions are filled
• Applicants who are referred will be considered for 90 days - after 90 days applicants will have to reapply
• Duties include but are not limited to: The Blind Rehabilitation Outpatient Specialist (BROS) provides direct patient care and support services to an adult population of patients which is characterized by a very significant number of older patients as well as young OEF/OIF/OND Veterans who may have wound and trauma related vision loss
• Within these broad categorizations - the employee must tailor patient care and support services to meet the needs of the individual patient
• This includes the responsibility for assessment of each patient's needs and assuring the delivery of services that are responsive to the concerns of individual patients to the fullest extent possible
• The BROS - in conjuction with Blind Rehabilitation Center - the Visual Impairment Services Team (VIST) - and other facility resources - is responsible for identifying beneficiaries who have the potential to benefit from blind and vision rehabilitation training
• The BROS consults with the VIST - VA eye clinics - the Blind Rehabilitation Center - the Low Vision Clinic - and community resources to locate Veterans and to offer direct blind and vision rehabilitation services in the five skill areas in the Veteran's home or elsewhere in the community as needed
• The BROS is responsible for blind and vision rehabilitation assessment - planning - training - and outcomes evaluation on each Veteran for whom service is provided
• The BROS uses objective and subjective assessment tools and methods that require broad - advanced knowledge across the five skill areas
• The BROS consults local - regional - and national resources for information
• The BROS selects - interprets - and adapts traditional strategies in order to meet Veteran needs
• The BROS develops an individualized rehabilitation treatment plan for each Veteran with rehabilitation potential
• Each plan includes Veteran and/or family goals - along with achievable - measurable outcomes
• For Veterans admitted to a Blind Rehabilitation Center - the plan will be communicated to the center to aid in planning inpatient rehabilitation training
• The BROS prioritizes rehabilitation training activities to maximize the number of Veterans served - consistent with quality care and safety
• Rehabilitation training to meet immediate safety needs will be the highest priority
• Veterans scheduled for admission to an inpatient Blind Rehabilitation Center will have a home assessment by the BROS whenever possible to help guide program planning at the Blind Rehabilitation Center
• The BROS will plan with the Blind Rehabilitation Center treatment team for local Veterans who - on discharge from the Blind Rehabilitation Center - are expected to have post-discharge needs
• Veterans with blind rehabilitation needs who are unable to attend a Blind Rehabilitation Center program will receive appropriate services from the BROS
• When possible - the BROS utilizes outpatient facilities to more efficiently serve the needs of Veterans
• To maximize each Veteran's rehabilitation potential - the BROS uses a wide variety of complex training aids and devices
• The BROS uses complex assessment tools and trains Veterans in the use of sophisticated prosthetics and sensory aids to meet their needs - such as computer access programs for the blind and visually impaired
• The BROS works closely with local VIST - the VIST Coordinator - the Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service - and the Blind Rehabilitation Center to identify - recommend - and obtain the necessary equipment for Veterans and to provide the necessary training
• The BROS functions as an independent provider of blind and vision rehabilitation services and is responsible for ensuring that documentation of assessments - rehabilitation training progress - and recommendations - as well as documentation of consults and referrals - is properly entered in the Veteran's electronic medical record
• Other duties as assigned Work Schedule: Monday- Friday 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: Available (Ad-hoc) Needs of the Service Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #:000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.

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