Manage and provide direct blind and vision rehabilitation training services to visually impaired Veterans and Service members. Identifies, assesses, trains, manages, and provides follow-up. Member of Blind Rehabilitation Service, interdisciplinary Visual Impairment Services Team, and interacts with many services and agencies of the VA and the community. May also be a member of the polytrauma team at polytrauma centers and sites.

Duties

BROS functions independently in a number of settings including hospitals, clinics, rehabilitation centers, long-term care facilities, educational institutions, and home environments. Environment may be in an office, clinical setting, classroom, private home, VA grounds, nursing home, community sites, and hospitals. Clinical encounters may include in-person and virtual care. The five skill areas are orientation and mobility, low vision therapy, vision rehabilitation therapy, computer assisted training and manual skills training. Functions/Scope of Assigned Duties: 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 younger OEF/OIF Veterans who may have wound and trauma related vision loss. The Veteran population served includes a wide range of age from young adult to over 100 years old. 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. Responsible for identifying beneficiaries who have the potential to benefit from blind and vision rehabilitation training. Consults with Polytrauma 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. Responsible for blind and vision rehabilitation assessment, planning, training, and outcomes evaluation on each Veteran for whom service is provided. Uses objective and subjective assessment tools and methods requiring broadly based advanced knowledge in the five skill areas. Consults with local, regional, and national resources for information. Selects, interprets and adapts traditional strategies in order to meet Veteran needs. Develops an individualized rehabilitation-training plan for each Veteran with rehabilitation potential. Each plan includes Veteran and/or family goals, as well as achievable and measurable outcomes. Prioritizes rehabilitation training activities so as to maximize Veterans served, consistent with quality care and safety. Veterans who have urgent safety or post inpatient discharge needs are prioritized for outpatient treatment. Makes use of a wide variety complex training aids and devices. Also uses complex assessment tools and trains Veterans on sophisticated prosthetics and sensory aids to accomplish the work. 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. Functions as an independent provider of blind and vision rehabilitation services. When serving as a manager for direct care, responsible for ensuring documents of assessment, rehabilitation training progress, consults, referrals, and recommendations are properly entered in the Veteran's electronic health record. Documentation also includes initiating and tracking referrals within the BR National Database in accordance with guidelines detailed in the Blind Rehabilitation Service Directive. Provides care management for both VA and non-VA outpatient blind and vision rehabilitation activities. Develops recommendations and specifications for all blind and vision rehabilitation contract services specific for a Veteran's blind and vision rehabilitation care. Monitors and supervises the quality and quantity of Community Care, non-VA contract, or fee-basis blind and vision rehabilitation services provided to eligible beneficiaries. Provides effective patient counseling in the adjustment to blindness as an integral component of the work. Relies upon 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. 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. Expected to provide blind and vision rehabilitation services as a team member but also as an independent clinician as he/she carries out treatments. Assesses compliance with applicable regulatory standards (e.g. The Joint Commission.) Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30am - 4pm Compressed/Flexible:Consideration 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. 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 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, 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. NOTE: 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)). 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: 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®). Loss of Credential: Once certified, a BROS must maintain a full, valid, and unrestricted independent certification(s) to remain qualified for employment. Loss of certification(s) will result in removal from the BROS occupation and may result in termination of employment. English Language Proficiency: Candidates who are not proficient in written and spoken English will not be appointed to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA under the authority of 38 U.S.C. chapters 73 or 74. See Chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part. 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: BROS, GS-11 (Entry level) Experience: None beyond the basic requirements. Certification: Candidates must meet the certification requirements above (at least one certification from ACVREP). 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. Assignment: Individuals in this assignment serve in a developmental capacity as the BROS at a medical center, or an outpatient clinic, and in patients' homes and communities. BROS are responsible for decision-making and independent care under the direction of their supervisors and the Blind Rehabilitation National Consultant for their region. Individuals in this assignment serve as a member of a specialty care team. At the GS-11 level, BROSs will receive training and oversight from the Blind Rehabilitation National Consultant for their regions. 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 above. BROS at the GS-12 grade level must achieve two ACVREP certifications to demonstrate full mastery in two areas of blind rehabilitation. QUALIFICATIONS CONTINUED IN EDUCATION SECTION

Education

QUALIFICATIONS CONTINUED

In addition to meeting the KSAs at the GS-11 grade level, the candidate must fully demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

1. Skill to independently develop, plan, and administer complex treatment programs.
2. 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.
3. Ability to coordinate, motivate, and effectively manage staff and/or committee members to include organizing work, setting priorities, and delegating tasks and responsibilities.
4. Ability to disseminate appropriate information through various media as a consultant or mentor.
5. Skill in interpersonal relationships in dealing with patients, employees, other team leaders, managers, and other stakeholders.
6. Ability to identify team group dynamics, objectively observe, and modify behaviors.
7. 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.

Assignment: Individuals in this assignment may serve as the only BROS at a medical center, or an outpatient clinic, or in patients' homes and communities, and are responsible for independent decision-making and independent care. Individuals in this assignment may serve as a member of, or as a consultant to a specialty care team, such as the Polytrauma System of Care. BROS will demonstrate mastery abilities in two of the blind/vision rehabilitation specialty areas: orientation and mobility, low vision therapy, vision rehabilitation therapy, and assistive technology for blind and visually impaired individuals. BROS will also demonstrate advanced skill in the practice of the other content specialties in blind rehabilitation, e.g., computer training and manual skills. At the GS-12 grade level, BROS practice independently, seeking support from the Blind Rehabilitation Service National Consultant for the region when necessary.

Preferred Experience: 3 or more years experience in blind rehabilitation service provision

References: VA Handbook 5005/110 Part II Appendix G42

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.

Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting (15-44lbs), light lifting (under 15lbs), moderate and light carrying, emotional stability, and operation of motor vehicle. Environmental factors are working outside and inside, working closely with others, and working alone.

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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Contacts

• Address VA Puget Sound Health Care System 1660 South Columbian Way Seattle, WA 98108 US
• Name: Rebecca Hanson
• Phone: 509-434-7320
• Email: [email protected]