The Visual Impairment Service Team (VIST) Coordinator plans, develops, implements, directs and evaluates the VIST 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 VIST.

Duties

VIST Coordinators are responsible for: Program Administration including: - Developing a strong VIS Team program by providing effective leadership and high visibility at the VA facility - Conducting VIS Team meetings with agenda and minutes and promoting member investment - Identifying gaps in services and/or programs and revising care in consultation with supervisor, VIS Team, management, and Blind Rehabilitation National Consultant - Participating and developing quality assurance and quality improvement activities with oversight from the program office - Developing written policies/procedures/documentation for VIST program to meet Joint Commission Home Care standards for Vision Rehabilitation; and Completing written narrative reports and presenting same as requested for VA medical facility and program Office Outreach and Education including: - Developing a cache of educational materials, in a variety of media that can be utilized to help achieve VIST outreach goals and objectives - Providing in-service educational classes for VA and non-VA agencies and personnel - Seeking to improve others' awareness regarding blindness issues - Utilizing developed methodologies to identify Veterans who may be eligible for VIST program services, to include identifying blind Veterans from VA medical center diagnosis codes entered in their electronic medical record - Educating VA medical center staff on the functional implications of vision loss and on blind rehabilitation matters and services VIST Coordinators are case managers for all eligible Veterans who have visual impairments requiring blind rehabilitation services. Other duties include: - The coordination and overview of the Veteran's blind rehabilitation needs - Determining the intensity of services based upon clinical judgment and the Veteran's goals - Assuring that legally blind patients have this status in their problem lists VIST Coordinators assess, treat, plan and follow up treatment for visually impaired Veterans. This includes: - Performing assessments to establish Veterans' needs as they relate to the continuum of vision and rehabilitation treatment services - Referring Veterans to the appropriate service component in the continuum of care for visually impaired Veterans - Developing focused treatment plans containing goals to meet the Veterans' needs - Collaborating closely with Blind Rehabilitation/clinical staff for coordination of care - Completing required patient record documentation that is meaningful, accurate, timely and concise - Inputting referrals/required information in national Blind Rehabilitation database to avoid fragmented care - Providing follow-up for rehabilitation services that the Veteran has received Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 0730-1600 Compressed/Flexible:Available Telework: Ad-hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement. 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: Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States. 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. Education. The individual must have earned: (1) 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 (2) 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: 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. Required at the GS-11 grade level and above. (1) 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. NOTE: The ACVREP administers four certification programs: Low Vision Therapy, Orientation and Mobility, Assistive Technology Instruction, and Vision Rehabilitation Therapy. (2) 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: a) Any certification via the ACVREP. OR b) 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 c) Certification via the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC) - Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, (CRC). OR d) 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. BRS GS-11 (VIST Coordinator-Developmental Level) 1. Experience. In addition to meeting the basic requirements, completion of one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the GS-9 grade level. OR 2. 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. 3. Certification. VIST Coordinator candidates must meet the certification requirements in paragraph 3 above. 4. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to meeting the KSAs described at the GS-9 grade level, the candidate must demonstrate all the following KSAs: (a) 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. (b) Ability to assess Veterans having diverse and multiple disabilities to make recommendations for blind/vision rehabilitation therapeutic interventions. (c) Ability to write a blind/vision rehabilitation plan that includes evaluation information from multiple disciplines with observable, measurable goals and that identifies specific outcomes. (d) Knowledge of VA blind and low vision rehabilitation treatment programs. (e) Skill in interpersonal relationships in dealing with patients, employees, other team leaders, managers and other stakeholders. (f) Knowledge of psychological, rehabilitation, and counseling theories and principles. (g) Ability to coordinate with various resources to identify suitable training programs. BRS GS-12 (VIST Coordinator-Full Performance Level) 1. 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. 2. Certification. VIST Coordinators must meet the certification requirements in paragraph 3 above. 3. 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 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. (b) Ability to assess Veterans having diverse and multiple disabilities to make recommendations for therapeutic interventions. (c) Skill in writing a blind/vision rehabilitation plan that includes evaluation information from multiple disciplines and contains observable, measurable goals that identify specific outcomes. (d) Knowledge of VA and non-VA blind and low vision rehabilitation treatment programs. (e) Skill in interpersonal relationships dealing with patients, employees, other team leaders, managers, and other stakeholders. (f) Knowledge of psychological, rehabilitation, and counseling theories and principles. (g) Ability to coordinate with various resources to identify and refer Veterans to suitable training programs. (h) 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: Experience managing a caseload References: VA Handbook 5005/109, Part II, Appendix G41, March 13, 2019 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-11 to GS-12. Qualifications continued below.

Education

Continued from Qualifications:

Physical Requirements: Light lifting/carrying (up to 15 pounds). Environmental factors include working closely with others, working alone, and emotional stability.

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 Puget Sound Health Care System 1660 South Columbian Way Seattle, WA 98108 US
• Name: Michelle Rootes
• Phone: (907)257-3713
• Email: [email protected]