Summary 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. Functions independently in several settings. Responsibilities The Visual Impairment Service Team 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. Identifying gaps in services and/or programs and revising care in consultation with supervisor VIS Team/management/Blind Rehabilitation National Consultant. 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. 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 GS-12 Blind Rehabilitation Specialists-VIST Coordinators must be credentialed via licensure or certification. The incumbent is aligned organizationally under Chief of VISOR who provides general supervision. The BRS National Consultant provides administrative direction in the form of overall program objectives and defines the mission and closely monitors the Visual Impairment Service Team program outcomes and the VIST Coordinator's caseload. The incumbent operates with some latitude using innovative methods and modem technology. Work is carefully reviewed by the National Consultant working with the VIST Coordinator's supervisor on the basis of patient satisfaction and achievement of program objectives and goals, by means of activity reports, program monitor data, workload data, site visits, etc. Performs other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, with rotating tours of duty as needed. Telework: Not Available. Travel: Yes, Less than 25% (This position is expected to travel to East Orange, Lyons, and Toms River NJ VHA Facilities locations as deemed necessary). Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement : Blind Rehabilitation Specialist -Visual Impairment Service Team (VIST) Coordinator. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized. Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. You may be required to serve a trial period. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Qualifications Applicants pending the completion of educational, or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. BASIC REQUIREMENTS: Citizenship. Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3.g., of this part. English Language Proficiency. Candidates will not be appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C. chapters 73 or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA who are not proficient in written and spoken English. See Chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part. Education The individual must have earned: (a) 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, (b) 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: 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. Note: The ACVREP administers four certification programs: Low Vision Therapy, Orientation and Mobility, Assertive Technology and Instruction and Vision Rehabilitation Therapy. They may then use the designation for the certification they hold. Blind Rehabilitation Specialist (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 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.] 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 Requirements: In addition to the basic requirements, the following criteria must be used when determining the appropriate grade assignment of candidates.GS-12 : Blind Rehabilitation Specialist (VIST) Coordinator 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 in the paragraph above. GS-12 Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA). In addition to meeting the KSA's described at the GS-11 grade level, the candidate must demonstrate all the following KSA's on their resume. GS-12 BRS VIST Coordinator Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA). (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. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. 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.See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. 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. Additional Information This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38,and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.
