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 incumbent identifies, assesses, trains, manages and provides follow-up for Veterans using clinical resources of the facility.

Duties

The Blind Rehabilitation Outpatient Specialist provides direct patient care and support services to an adult population of Veterans which is characterized by a very significant number of older male Veterans as well as OEF/OIF Veterans who may have trauma related vision loss. The incumbent, in concert with Blind Rehabilitation Center, Polytrauma team, VIST Coordinator, Advanced Low Vision Clinic and other facility resources, is responsible for identifying beneficiaries who have the potential to benefit from blind and vision rehabilitation training. Incumbent consults with Poly Trauma team and all VIST, eye clinics, blind and vision rehabilitation services and community resources to locate and serve potential Veterans to offer direct blind and vision rehabilitation service in all five skill areas in the veteran's home, other residence or within the community as the need arises. The incumbent is responsible for blind and vision rehabilitation assessment, planning, training, and outcomes evaluation on each Veteran for whom service is provided. Incumbent uses objective and subjective assessment tools and methods requiring broadly based advanced knowledge in the five skill areas. The incumbent prioritizes rehabilitation training activities so as to maximize Veterans served, consistent with quality care and safety. In order to maximize Veteran's rehabilitation potential, the incumbent makes use of a wide variety complex training aids and devices. Incumbent also uses complex assessment tools and trains Veterans on sophisticated prosthetics and sensory aids to accomplish the work, i.e., sophisticated computer interfaces for use with e-mail and Global positioning systems. The incumbent functions as an independent provider of blind and vision rehabilitation services. When providing direct patient care, the incumbent is responsible for ensuring documents of assessment, rehabilitation training progress, consults, referrals and recommendations are properly entered in the Veteran's chart. The incumbent provides care management for both VA and non-VA outpatient blind and vision rehabilitation activities. The incumbent develops recommendations and specifications for all blind and vision rehabilitation contract services specific for a Veteran's blind and vision rehabilitation care. The incumbent monitors and supervises the quality and quantity of blind and vision rehabilitation services provided to eligible beneficiaries through Care in the Community referrals. The incumbent provides effective patient counseling in the adjustment to blindness as an integral component of the work. The incumbent relies upon his/her extensive knowledge of the psychosocial issues associated with visual impairment to assist the Veteran in adjustment to visual impairment and the blind and vision rehabilitation process. Incumbent may also administer a blind and vision rehabilitation-training program for the operation of the local Poly Trauma Team. This may involve creating necessary local policies, documenting workload, writing reports, outcomes, scheduling of patients, etc. Incumbent must have advanced professional knowledge of theories, principles and practices in Orientation and Mobility, Living Skills, and Low Vision Therapy, as well as applicable knowledge in manual skills, adaptive technology and computer assisted technology. Must have a thorough knowledge of, and the ability to properly administer, the VHA Blind Rehabilitation Service standardized/specialized assessment tool in each of these disciplines. Incumbent will impact assessments to clients' unique medical, physical, psychosocial needs including environmental considerations. Maintains consistent and timely documentation of patient encounters in the electronic medical record in accordance with accepted BRS practice, Joint Commission, facility, and PM&R Service requirements regarding content and timeliness. Enters consults as appropriate to other providers to ensure patient care services beyond the scope of BROS such as primary care, Social Work, Ophthalmology, Optometry, Neurology, PM&R etc. Enters consults to the Prosthetics Service for rehabilitation equipment in accordance with PM&RS and local medical center policies. This position will be required to travel throughout the large geographic area of the VHASLCHCS including all of Utah and portions of Idaho, Nevada and Wyoming. This travel will include frequent overnight stays. Incumbent provides patient care in a clinical setting, directly in Veteran homes as well as through virtual modalities including VVC. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM Telework: Ad-hoc available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 54623-O, 54624-O Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized, recruitment incentive of up to 15% for up to a 3 year agreement may be authorized. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

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 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, [or a closely] related program in rehabilitation, special education, family and consumer science education, technology, and industrial arts education; OR 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 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 completion of one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the BRS, GS-9 grade level; OR Three (3) years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a doctoral degree in blind rehabilitation or a directly related field. 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 All Levels. Applicants must possess at least one active, current, full, and unrestricted certification to be eligible for appointment. 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)). 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: 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 Specialist (CATIS). 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). This qualification standard may be found in VA Handbook 5005/110, Part II, Appendix G42. Grade Determinations: Blind Rehabilitation Outpatient Specialist, GS-11 Experience. None beyond the basic requirements. Certification. Candidates must meet the certification requirements as listed above (at least one certification from ACVREP). Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all [of] the following KSAs: Knowledge and understanding of highly specialized complex evaluations and diagnostic tests and procedures of blind/vision rehabilitation. Ability to properly assess a wide variety of patients having diverse and multiple disabilities to make recommendations for blind/vision rehabilitation therapeutic interventions. 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. Knowledge of teaching methods and learning principles. Ability to employ interventions, unusual motivational techniques, and coordinate treatment with other professionals to achieve outcomes of the rehabilitation plan. Skill in recommending appropriate blind/vision rehabilitation prosthetic devices for patients within scope of practice, making adaptations and modifications as required. 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. Blind Rehabilitation Outpatient Specialist, 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. Candidates must meet the certification requirements as listed 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 (KSAs). In addition to meeting the KSAs at the GS-11 grade level, the candidate must fully demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Skill to independently develop, plan, and administer complex treatment programs. 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. Ability to coordinate, motivate, and effectively manage staff and/or committee members to include organizing work, setting priorities, and delegating tasks and responsibilities. Ability to disseminate appropriate information through various media as a consultant or mentor. Skill in interpersonal relationships in dealing with patients, employees, other team leaders, managers, and other stakeholders. Ability to identify team group dynamics, objectively observe, and modify behaviors. 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: 2 years of Blind Rehabilitation Outpatient Specialist experience. Previous Computer and Assistive Technology experience. References: VA Handbook 5005/110, Part II, Appendix G42 The full performance level of this vacancy is 12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of 11 to 12. Physical Requirements: Ability to walk or to get to all clinics daily requires standing, bending, and sitting as well as carrying light objects. Due to the complexity of the work, the multiplicity of the projects at any one time, and deadlines, the job may be psychologically stressful at times. Frequent travel, typically by government vehicle, is required.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on 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: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. 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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address VA SALT LAKE CITY HCS 500 Foothill Drive Salt Lake City, UT 84148 US
• Name: Smaranda Georgescu
• Phone: 8015821565 X7320
• Email: [email protected]