Summary

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 Visual Impairment Services Team.

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 (1)The individual 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
• Required at the GS-11 grade level and above
• 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 Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation & Education Professionals (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-0601series - 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
• NOTE: The ACVREP administers four certification programs: Low Vision Therapy - Orientation and Mobility - Assistive Technology Instruction and Vision Rehabilitation Therapy
• Grade Determinations: BRS - GS-12 (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 above
• 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: Minimum of one year of experience providing case management patient care and support services to a population of visually impaired patients
• One year of experience that demonstrates mastery in adjustment counseling - coordinating access to services - assuring adequate compensation and benefits - and conducting complex negotiations with the medical and benefits system
• Minimum of one year experience that demonstrates ability to convene and manage a local medical center team that meets regularly to influence and make recommendations regarding the best programs for Veterans who are visually impaired
• Minimum of one year of experience that demonstrates the ability to manage a support group for blinded Veterans
• Minimum of one year of experience that demonstrates the ability to plan and execute programs to locate blinded Veterans previously unknown to the VIST program through outreach
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-12
• Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation - see Duties section for essential job duties of the position
• May require standing - lifting - carrying - sitting - stooping - bending - puling - and pushing
• May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment
• Work Environment: Work is performed in an office/clinic setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautions
• the area is adequately lighted - heated - and ventilated
• However - the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once in sometimes stressful situations.

Duties

• If you are not a current - permanent VA employee or Federal employee from another agency - you should apply CBST-12721905-AB-25
• Duties of the Blind Rehabilitation Specialist - VIST Coordinator include - but are not limited to: Outreach and Education: Develops a cache of educational materials - in a variety of media that can be utilized to help achieve VIST outreach goals and objectives
• Provides in-service educational classes for VA and non-VA agencies and personnel
• Seeks to improve others' awareness with regard to blindness issues
• Utilizes developed methodologies to identify Veterans who are eligible for VIST program services - to include identifying blind Veterans from VA medical center diagnosis codes entered in their electronic medical record
• Educates VA medical center staff on the functional implications of vision loss and on blind rehabilitation matters
• Technical advisor to members of the Home Base Primary Care (HBPC) Team - and Home Improvement and Structural Alterations (HISA)
• Other duties include: Makes home visits to visually impaired - severely disabled Veterans who are unable to travel to the facility to counsel them and their families about benefits
• VIST Coordinators are case managers for all eligible Veterans who have visual impairments requiring blind rehabilitation services
• Coordinates and oversees all of the Veteran's blind rehabilitation needs
• Determines the intensity of services based upon clinical judgment and the Veteran's goals
• Flags VIST-eligible Veterans' patient records so that medical center staff who access patients' records electronically are alerted to the Veteran's visual status
• Case Management for Visually Impaired Veterans: Assess - treats - plans and follows up on treatment for visually impaired Veterans
• Performs assessments to establish Veterans' needs as they relate to the continuum of vision and rehabilitation treatment services
• Refers Veterans to the appropriate service component in the continuum of care for visually impaired Veterans
• Develops focused treatment plans containing goals to meet the Veterans' needs
• Provides follow-up for rehabilitation services that the Veteran has received
• Other VIST Coordinator duties: Develops - implements and oversees 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 and vision rehabilitation outcomes
• 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 - the VIST Coordinator may assist Veterans in initiating action to apply for benefits
• Advise on Veterans Service Organizations that assist Veterans with regard to the acquisition of benefits - and the VIST Coordinator may refer a Veteran to one or more of these agencies
• Assists the Veteran and their family members with the issues surrounding the emotional adjustment aspects of blindness
• The VIST Coordinator may draw on their own professional expertise to personally assist the Veteran and the Veteran's family members in this process - or the VIST Coordinator may make a referral to an appropriate clinician to assist
• Recommends issuance of prosthetic equipment for blind and visually impaired Veterans in accordance with VHA policies
• When the issuance of a prosthetic item is deemed appropriate and subsequently approved - the VIST Coordinator may request authorization of funds with the intent of utilizing professionally qualified personnel to train the Veteran to appropriately use - care for and maintain the prosthetic device
• Convenes and leads a support group for Veterans and Service Members with visual impairment and their families or may partner with another entity to provide such support
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 8:00 am - 4:30 pm - subject to change based on the needs of the facility
• Telework: Available (ad-hoc) Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 564-00884-F Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized