Blind Rehabilitation Outpatient Specialist (BROS)

• Duties

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Duties

Summary

This position is designed to manage and provide direct blind rehabilitation training services to eligible beneficiaries at the WJB Dorn VAMC. Incumbent is a member of the interdisciplinary Visual Impairment Services Team (VIST), and interacts with Rehabilitation Medicine, Audiology, Social Work, Prosthetic and Sensory Aids and other services and agencies of the VA medical center and the community.

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Responsibilities

The incumbent identifies, assesses, trains, manages and provides follow-up for Veterans using clinical resources of the facility.

Major duties for this position are described below:

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 young OEF/OIF Veterans who may have wound and trauma related to vision loss.

Responsible for blind and vision rehabilitation assessment, planning. Training, and outcomes evaluation of each Veteran for whom service is provided. Incumbent uses objective and subjective assessment tools and methods requiring broadly based advanced knowledge in low vision, orientation and mobility, living skills teaching, manual skills and other associated disciplines. Incumbent selects, interprets and adapts traditional strategies in order to meet the Veterans needs.

Works closely with local VIST, Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service and the regional Blind Rehabilitation Center to fabricate, prescribe and obtain equipment for clients during their rehabilitation and full training.

Prioritizes rehabilitation training activities so as to maximize clients served, consistent with quality care and safety.

Documents assessment, rehabilitation training progress, consults', referrals and recommendations in the clients' chart. The incumbent should function as an independent provider of blind rehabilitation training services.

Provides effective patient counseling in the psychosocial adjustment to blindness as an integral component of the work.

Work Schedule:4 days/10 hours or 9 hours days with a decided day off on week 1 or 2 of the pay period as applicable per VA payroll rules after discussion between employee and management

Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Travel Required

75% or less - \"Travel Required: Frequent travel required with in the covered areas for Columbia VA Health care system.\"

Supervisory status

No

Promotion Potential

12

• Job family (Series)

0601 General Health Science

• Requirements

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Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Designated and/or random drug testing may be required
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Subject to a background/security investigation
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 06/30/2020.

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.
• English Language Proficiency. BROSs must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section A, Paragraph 3j
• Education and Experience: The individual must have earned one of the following:
• (a) A bachelor's degree [from an accredited college or university with a major field of study] in blind or vision rehabilitation, related program in rehabilitation special education[, family and consumer science education, technology and industrial arts education] or health care; or
• (b) A master's degree from an accredited college or university with a major field of study in blind or vision rehabilitation, related program in rehabilitation, special education, family and consumer science education, technology and industrial arts education or health care; or
• (c) A bachelor'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 in the core curriculum in orientation in orientation and mobility, vision rehabilitation therapy or low vision therapy from an accredited college or university. NOTE: For individuals this education must have included supervised practice; and, (2) Completion of 1 year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the BRS, GS-9; or
• Three (3) years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a doctoral degree in blind rehabilitation or a directly related field.
• 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. If the applicant has or has ever had a licensure or certification revoked for cause, or voluntarily relinquished such license or certification after being notified in writing by the State of potential revocation for cause, the applicant is ineligible for appointment. This applies even if the applicant possesses one or more valid, unrestricted license or registration (38 \u00a7U.S.C. 7402(f)). If all certifications are impaired, the individual is also ineligible for appointment in VA.
• 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 BROSs at the GS-12 grade level must obtain and maintain and two certifications at the GS-12 level granted by ACVREP as follows:
• (a) Orientation and mobility training - Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialists (COMS\u00ae).
• (b) Communication and daily living therapy - Certified Vision Rehabilitation

Therapists (CVRT\u00ae).

• (c) Low vision therapy - Certified Low Vision Therapists (CLVT\u00ae)
• [(d) Assistive technology - Certified Assistive Technology Instructional Specialist (CATIS\u00ae)].
• Loss of Credential (1) Once certified, a BROS must maintain a full, valid and unrestricted independent certification to remain qualified for employment. Loss of certification(s) will result in removal from the BROS occupation and may result in termination of employment.

All BROSs employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and certification(s) that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation.

Preferred Experience: Preferred Experience: Candidate has at least two (2) of the four (4) certifications granted by the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation & Education Professionals (ACVREP): 1-Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist (COMS), 2-Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapists (CVRT), and 3-Certified Low Vision Therapists (CLVT), 4-Assistive technology-Certified Assistive Technology Instructional Specialist (CATIS).Experience working in a an outpatient blind rehabilitation setting

Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements, the following criteria must be used when determining the appropriate grade assignment of candidates.

GS-12 BROS (Full Performance Level) (a) Certification. Candidates must meet the certification requirements in subparagraph 2c above. BROSs at the GS-12 level must achieve two ACVREP certifications to demonstrate full mastery in two areas of blind rehabilitation. (b) Experience. In addition to meeting the basic requirements, completion of a minimum of 1 year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. In addition to meeting the KSAs at the GS-11 level, the candidate must fully demonstrate the following KSAs:

1. Ability 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

References: VA Handbook 5005/35/ 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 GS-12.

Physical Requirements: The work of this position requires light lifting and carrying less than 15 pounds. Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously.

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.