The VIST Coordinator plans, develops, implements, directs, and evaluates the Visual Impairment Service (VIS) Team program at VA NJ Healthcare System. 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

The Visual Impairment Service Team (VIST) Coordinator 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, nursing home, community sites, and hospitals. 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 Veterans who may have trauma-related vision loss. 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. 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. - Building/developing a strong VIS Team with membership consisting of Service Chiefs or designates who are in a position to implement policy. - 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/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. - Completing written narrative reports and presenting same as requested for VA NJHCS and VA 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 training for VA and non-VA agencies and personnel. - Seeking to improve others' awareness regarding blindness issues and services. - Utilizing developed methodologies to identify Veterans who may be eligible for VIST program services, to include identifying blind Veterans from VA medical center encounters and diagnostic codes entered in electronic medical records. - Educating VA medical center staff on the functional implications of vision loss, 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 all 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 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. VIST coordinators may develop, implement, and oversee special programs for visually impaired Veterans such as the local provision of computer equipment and training. The VIST Coordinator maintains effective communication with all of the BRS field elements to maximize Veterans' blind rehabilitation outcomes. They also develop helpful relationships with consumer groups, such as the Blinded Veterans Association. The VIST Coordinator provides eligible Veterans on the VIST roster with an initial benefits review, and subsequent annual benefits reviews thereafter. The VIST Coordinator must be knowledgeable with respect to all VA and non-VA benefits that may serve to enhance the lives of qualified Veterans. Additionally, they may assist Veterans in initiating action to apply for Veterans' benefits. VIST Coordinator is also aware of Veterans Service Organizations that assist Veterans regarding the acquisition of benefits. Performs additional duties as assigned Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 49616F 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, 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. GS-12 Grade Level (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. Creditable Experience. To be creditable, the experience must demonstrate possession of the knowledge, skills, and abilities associated with current blind and vision rehabilitation practice, as outlined in the current scope and standards of practice for blind and vision rehabilitation. Applicants may have one or more of the following: (1) The equivalent of one year of active practice. Active practice means paid/non-paid employment (VA or Non-VA) as a BRS or BROS. (2) Academic course work leading to an advanced degree in blind or vision rehabilitation or closely related rehabilitation therapeutic intervention program. Quality of Experience. Work as a graduate BRS directly related to the position to be filled; and the work to be credited is at a level comparable to BRS experience at the same or next lower grade level than the grade level being considered for placement. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, administrative independence, complexity (difficulty) and range of variety as described in this standard at the specified grade level and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. Part-Time Experience. Part-time experience is creditable according to its relationship to the full-time work week. For example, one week of full-time credit is equivalent to two weeks of part-time work Content Specialty. Specialized content areas of blind and vision rehabilitation include, but are not limited to: orientation and mobility, low vision therapy, vision rehabilitation therapy, manual skills, technology and computer access for the people who are visually impaired, and case-management for disability due to blindness. References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G41 Blind Rehabilitation Specialist Qualification Standard

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

Contacts

• Address VA New Jersey Health Care System 385 Tremont Avenue East Orange, NJ 07018 US
• Name: Kelli Bencic
• Phone: 716-458-6982
• Email: [email protected]