Summary The Supervisory Blind Rehabilitation Specialist (BRS) provides supervision and subject matter expertise for provision of blind and vision rehabilitation services for visually impaired Veterans and Service Members. The position is located at the West Palm Beach VA Medical Center and reports to the Blind Rehabilitation Service Chief. Responsibilities The Supervisory BRS provides supervision as well as direct patient care and support services to an adult population of patients which is characterized by a very significant number of older male patients. This work involves overseeing the evaluation and needs assessment, capabilities and limitations, goals and development of a treatment plan for individuals experiencing blindness/visual impairment caused by injury or disease. The Supervisory BRS oversees the staff as part of a team supervising and coordinating care for blind and visually impaired Veterans. The Supervisor will also provide training/direct patient care, to visually impaired Veterans. Duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to: Assisting in managing the BRS program by providing administrative, management and technical supervision, compliance with rehabilitation program accreditation standards, strategic direction and leadership for blind rehabilitation professional staff at their respective VA medical facilities. Managing staff education and performance improvement including establishing local operating procedures on obtaining and using patient outcomes data to continually improve the quality of care to patients and their families. Ensuring BRS staff competencies and quality of clinical practice for each supervised staff member adhere to evidence-based practices. Core competencies are reviewed annually by the employee's supervisor or designee. Monitoring practice credentials, certifications and/or licenses of the blind rehabilitation professionals for whom they supervise are current. Confirming BRS providers evaluate various aids, devices, appliances and technologies to determine their clinical effectiveness for Veterans with visual impairment and recommending inclusion and exclusion criteria for use, if delegated by the Blind Rehabilitation Center (BRC) Service Chief. Supporting outreach efforts to inform internal and external stakeholders about the benefits of blind and vision rehabilitation. Participating in the planning, review and evaluation of proposed therapy programs at the inpatient BRC. Coordinating with BRC Admissions Coordinator the scheduling of patient's treatment program. The Supervisor manages the weekly/daily staff teaching schedule and patient assignments for the unit. Supervising a staff of employees to accomplish the work of the organizational unit; assigning and reviewing work as well as the administrative and personnel management functions. Collecting clinical, FIM and patient care data, analyzing trends and developing definitive plans and programs in order to optimize delivery of care specific to the Service. Providing coverage of Veterans' treatment programs in the absence of their regularly assigned blind rehabilitation specialists. Other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: 7:30am - 4:00pm, Monday - Friday Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 40072F 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. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. 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: 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. 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. 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. 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. OR, 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). 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 Grade Determinations: GS-12 Supervisory Blind Rehabilitation Specialist Experience. In addition to meeting the basic requirements, completion of a minimum of one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level. AND: Certification. BRS must meet the certification requirements listed above. AND: Meet the following GS-12 Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Ability to plan, direct, mentor, and distribute work assignments to volunteers, assistants, interns, and/or Blind Rehabilitation Specialists at lower grade levels. 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 Veterans in specialty or program areas. Ability to coordinate, motivate, and effectively manage staff and/or committee members to include organizing work, setting priorities, and delegating tasks and responsibilities. Ability to disseminate appropriate information through various media as a consultant or mentor. Skill in interpersonal relationships in dealing with Veterans, employees, other team leaders, managers, and other stakeholders. Ability to identify team group dynamics, objectively observe, and modify behaviors. Ability to apply decision-making principles to adjust programs on a day-to-day basis, develop short term and long-range goals, and plan for future utilization of resources. Skill in developing, planning, and administering complex treatment programs. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. 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 inpatients and occasionally with outpatients in a medical center setting. 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/. Additional Information Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. 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. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.
