The Blind Rehabilitation Specialist - Visual Impairment Service Team (VIST) Coordinator is located at the Orlando VA Healthcare System, which provides a state-of-the-art continuum of services, education and resources to caregivers of Veterans with complex needs.

Duties

The Orlando VA Healthcare System Blind Rehabilitation Specialist - Visual Impairment Service Team (VIST) Coordinator Coordinator plans, develops, implements, directs, and evaluates the Visual Impairment Service (VIS) Team program at the VHA sites within his or her catchment area. The VIST Coordinator has major responsibility for the coordination of all services for visually impaired Veterans and Service Members and their families through the Visual Impairment Services Team. 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. The VIST Coordinator functions independently in many settings including hospitals, clinics, rehabilitation centers, long-term care facilities, educational institutions, and home environments. The VIST Coordinator will operate independently within the Orlando VA Medical Center Social Work Services. The ORL VIST Coordinator is responsible for providing blind and vision rehabilitation services for visually impaired veterans in the following counties: Orange, Seminole, Osceola, and Lake counties. Additionally, the ORL VIST Coordinator may provide blind and vision rehabilitation services for visually impaired veterans living in other counties but their Primary Care provider is located at the OVAMC Lake Nona. Employee is required to travel between sites and at times make home visits and meet with community partners. The VIST Coordinator case manages 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/OND Veterans who may have wound and trauma related vision loss. Review of demographic data discloses that the average age of an Orlando VAMC patient is 75 years and older with a distribution of 96% male and 4% 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 assuring the delivery of services that are responsive to the concerns of individual patients to the extent possible. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00am - 4:30am Telework: Yes Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000, 004843 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not 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: Applicants 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 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: 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. 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 the basic requirements, the following criteria must be used when determining the appropriate grade assignment of candidates. GS-11 BRS VIST Coordinator-Developmental Level Experience: In addition to meeting the basic requirements, completion of a minimum 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 related field. Certification. VIST Coordinator candidates must meet the certification requirements listed above. BRS who are VIST Coordinators may be drawn from traditional bind/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 CRSS; *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. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to meeting the KSA's described at the GS-9 grade level, the candidate must demonstrate all the following KSA's: [Ability to 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 about visual impairment.] Ability to assess Veterans having diverse in multiple disabilities to make recommendations for blind/vision rehabilitation therapeutic interventions. Ability to write a blind/vision rehabilitation plan that includes evaluation information from multiple disciplines with observable, measurable goals and that identifies specific outcomes. Knowledge of VA blind and low vision rehabilitation treatment programs. Skill in interpersonal relationships in dealing with patients, employees, other team leaders, managers and other stakeholders. Knowledge of psychological, rehabilitation, and counseling theories and principles. Ability to coordinate with various resources to identify suitable training programs. GS-12 BRS 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 listed above. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to meeting the KSA's described at the GS-11 grade level, the candidate must demonstrate all the following KSA's: 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. Ability to assess Veterans having diverse and multiple disabilities to make recommendations for therapeutic interventions. Skill in writing a blind vision rehabilitation plan that includes evaluation information from multiple disciplines and contains observable measurable goals that identify specific outcomes. Knowledge of VA /non VA blind and low vision rehabilitation treatment programs. Skill in interpersonal relationships dealing with patients employees other team leaders managers and other stakeholders. Knowledge of psychological rehabilitation and counseling theories and principles. Ability to coordinate with various resources to identify and refer Veterans to suitable training programs. 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. References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G41

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 Orlando VA Medical Center 13800 Veterans Way Orlando, FL 32827 US
• Name: Olivia Gregg
• Phone: 407-640-1476
• Email: [email protected]