The Visual Impairment Service Team (VIST) Coordinator plans, develops, implements, directs, and evaluates the Visual Impairment Service (VIS) Team program at the VHA West Palm Beach and includes all sites within their 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.

Duties

Duties Include: 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 with regard to blindness issues Utilizing developed methodologies to identify Veterans who are eligible for VIST program services, to include identifying blind Veterans from the VA medical center diagnosis codes entered in their electronic medical record Providing outreach and education to VA medical facility and non-VA agencies and personnel through brochures, presentations and other educational materials about Veteran counseling and family information. Regardless of the level of care coordination, VIST Coordinators counsel Veterans with visual impairment about their health needs and refer them annually for medical examinations to include, but not limited to, ocular health. The identification of visually impaired and blind Veteran population The VIST Coordinator conducts a comprehensive evaluation of needs for all identified Veterans experiencing functional difficulty due to visual impairment The VIST Coordinator reviews are offered at a minimum at least annually; and, as best practice, should be offered whenever the VIST Coordinator becomes aware of a significant change in visual, physical or mental functioning; a significant change finances (i.e. loss of employment); or Veteran relocation Performing assessments to establish Veterans' needs as they relate to the continuum of vision and rehabilitation treatment services. Determining if additional intervention by other providers will be needed to develop a Veteran's individualized treatment plan. In such instances, the BRC clinician is expected to refer, consult, educate and/or cotreat with other providers to support the Veteran in addressing individualized goals (e.g., assessment for supplementary adaptive interventions, issuance criteria and core competencies for prosthetic recommendation). Developing focused treatment plans containing goals to meet the Veteran's needs. Documenting care. This includes understating the importance of recording and maintaining clear, accurate and concise documents that pertain to Veteran's profiles. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:30pm to 4pm Telework: Available, Ad-hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: Blind Rehabilitation Specialist (VIST Coordinator) 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: 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. Physical Requirements: It requires 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 in a medical center setting and occasionally with inpatients. 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 West Palm Beach VA Medical Center 7305 North Military Trail West Palm Beach, FL 33410 US
• Name: Samantha Portuondo
• Phone: (727) 398-6661
• Email: [email protected]