VA Caribbean Healthcare System (VACHS) is currently recruiting an Blind Rehabilitation Outpatient Specialist (BROS) for their Blind Rehabilitation Service located in Ponce, PR. 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

Incumbent is a member of the Blind Rehabilitation Service, the interdisciplinary Visual Impairment Services Team, and interacts with Rehabilitation Medicine, Audiology, Social Work, Prosthetic and Sensory Aids, and other Services and agencies of the VA and the community. Incumbent may also be a member of the poly-trauma team at polytrauma centers and sites. The Blind Rehabilitation Outpatient Specialist (BROS) 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 (San Juan VA, POPC, MOPC), nursing home, community sites, and hospitals. The five skill areas addressed by BROS are orientation and mobility, low vision therapy, vision rehabilitation therapy, computer assisted training, and manual skills training. Duties include but not limited to: The Blind Rehabilitation Outpatient Specialist provides direct 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. Review of demographic data discloses that the average age of a Caribbean Health System patient is 78 years with a distribution of 98.5% male and 1.5% female. 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 the delivery of services which are responsive to the concerns of individual patients to the extent possible. The incumbent is responsible for blind and vision rehabilitation assessment, planning, training, and outcomes evaluation on each Veteran for whom service is provided. The incumbent consult with local, regional, and national resources for information. Incumbent selects, interprets and adapts traditional strategies to meet Veteran needs. The incumbent develops an individualized rehabilitation-training plan for each Veteran with rehabilitation potential. The incumbent makes maximum use of outpatient clinical facilities of the institution, together with proper and judicious use of home-based services as necessary. Incumbent 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 email and Global positioning systems. The incumbent works closely with local VIST, Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service and the regional Blind Rehabilitation Center to identify, recommend and obtain equipment for Veterans during their rehabilitation and provides full training. The incumbent functions as an independent provider of blind and vision rehabilitation services. 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. he incumbent monitors and supervises the quality and quantity of non-VA contract or fee-basis blind and vision rehabilitation services provided to eligible beneficiaries, if applicable. Incumbent may also administer a blind and vision rehabilitation- training program for the operation of a Poly Trauma unit, creating necessary local policies, projecting, and administering budgets, documenting workload, writing reports, outcomes, scheduling of patients, etc. The incumbent is expected to provide blind and vision rehabilitation services as a team member but also as an independent clinician as he/she carries out treatments This is the full performance level for BROS. BROS at the full performance level have degree in blind/vision rehabilitation disciplines or expected to maintain two certifications in blind/vision rehabilitation disciplines, accordingly. The Blind Rehabilitation Specialist is expected to obtain and maintain certification in the appropriate discipline of blind/vision rehabilitation or allied field as required. Must possess a valid, state driver's license to operate a motor vehicle. Performs other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:30am to 4:00pm subject to change based on patient requirement. 9 and 10 hour shift available. Telework: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: Blind Rehabilitation Outpatient Specialist Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

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 (1) 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. (2) 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. (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 (4)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 (2)) below: (3) 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®). 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 the basic requirements, the following criteria must be used when determining the appropriate grade assignment of candidates. BROS, GS-11 (Entry level) Experience. None beyond the basic requirements. Certification. Candidates must meet the certification requirements in subparagraph 2c 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: 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. NOTE: Upon hire, GS-11 BROS are required to obtain a 2nd certification from ACVREP within 2 years of the initial appointment date to demonstrate journey mastery in two specialty areas and to become a GS-12 BROS. Failure to do so will result in removal from the BROS occupation and may result in termination of employment. BROS, GS-12 (Full Performance Level) 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 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 (KSAs). In addition to meeting the KSAs at the GS-11 grade level, the candidate must fully demonstrate all of 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. Selective Placement Factor: Must be proficient in in written and spoken Spanish. References: VA Handbook 5005/110, Part II, Appendix G42 (May 14. 2019) Blind Rehabilitation Outpatient Specialist The full performance level of this vacancy is 12. Physical Requirements: Reaching overhead, reaching at or below the shoulder, pushing, pulling, some light lifting less than 25lbs. Walking, bending, sitting and stooping. The employee works with outpatients and occasionally with inpatients in a medical center setting.

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 San Juan VA Medical Center 10 Calle Casia San Juan, PR 00921 US
• Name: Manuel Colon
• Phone: 321-370-3040
• Email: [email protected]