Duties

Summary

The VIST Coordinator plans, develops, implements, directs and evaluates the Visual Impairment Service (VIS) Team program at the VHA sites within the Central Virginia VA Health Care System catchment area.
Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

VIST Coordinators duties include, but are not limited to the following tasks:

• Developing a strong VIST 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 quarterly 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 medical facility and program office.
• Offering all eligible blind and visually impaired veterans and/or active duty service members an annual VIST review, which will include an eye examination, physical examination, benefits review and blind/vision rehabilitation evaluation.
• Coordinate the scheduling of appointments for all eligible blind and visually impaired veterans and/or active duty service members who elected to participate in the annual VIST review.
• Maintain accurate documentation of all relevant interactions with veterans concerning visual impairment services.
• Effectively work with other VA staff to develop and evaluate efficient procedures to help identify and provide quality service for blind and visually impaired veterans and/or active duty service members.
• Maintain accurate and complete data on the national Blind Rehabilitation Service (BRS) database as directed in the VIST Handbook.
• Prepare and submit the annual VIST report.
• Develops and implements quality management criteria to assess the ongoing effectiveness of the VIST program and to assure that the VIST program is in compliance with existing VHA policies, JCAHO recommendations, as well as other local OPCNAMC policies.
• Maintains ongoing continued professional development by attending in-service training programs and workshops related to providing services to the blind or visually impaired and their families. This includes participation in the annual VIST/BROStraining conference sponsored by the Blind Rehabilitation Service.
• 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 with regard to 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.
• Prepare and submit, in a timely manner, complete application packets for VA blind rehabilitation training at any one of our inpatient Blind Rehabilitation Centers. Any requests for additional information will be submitted to the Blind Rehabilitation Center was in the 120 days.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm
Telework: AD HOC
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Title/Functional Statement #:Blind Rehabilitation Specialist-Visual Impairment Services Team (VIST) Coordinator/PD000000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Travel Required

Not required

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
None

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• 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
• Participation in the seasonal influenza and Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Vaccination programs are requirements for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)

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.
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 and Experience (1) 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.

GRADE DETERMINATIONS: Blind Rehabilitation Specialist (VIST Coordinator), GS-12

(1) 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.

(2) Certification. VIST Coordinators may be credentialed/certified through:

• Any certification via the ACVREP,
• Licensure via the Social Worker Licensure Board;
• Certification via the CRCC;

OR,

• Equivalent and relevant professional credential in counseling or rehabilitation.

(3) 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:

• 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 and 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.

(4) Assignment. The GS-12 grade level is the full performance level for a VIST Coordinator. Individuals in this assignment will demonstrate mastery in adjustment counseling, coordinating access to services, assuring adequate compensation and benefits, and must conduct complex negotiations with the medical and benefit systems as well as non-VA service delivery systems. VIST Coordinators convene and manage a local medical center Visual/Impairment Services Team that meets regularly to influence and make recommendations regarding the best programs for Veterans who are visually impaired. They work closely with the BRS national consultants and VA central office staff to continuously upgrade and improve their practice and programs.

References: VA Handbook 5005/109, Part II, Appendix G41

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12.

Physical Requirements:
Work is sedentary but also demands standing, walking, bending, twisting, and carrying light items.

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

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. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. 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.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

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.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

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 .

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, résumé, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Not Required

Drug test required
No

Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

Trust determination process
Credentialing , Suitability/Fitness

Required Documents

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

• Resume
• Transcript

Your resume (Required) (and/or curriculum vitae) must include the following information for each job listed:

Job title Pay Plan and Grades Held (for Federal positions) Duties (Please be as detailed as possible. We recommend that you include information directly related to the position you are applying to. Good examples of pertinent information can be found in the Duties and Qualifications sections of the announcement. If you have performed any of those duties or have any of that experience, we are looking for that on your resume. We make no assumptions in regards to experience. It has to be on the resume under the position it was performed in at the proper grade level to count towards qualifications. Month & year start/end dates (e.g. June 2007 to April 2008) Full-time or part-time status (include hours worked per week)

For example:

• Supervisory Human Resources Specialist (Employee/Labor Relations)
• Any VA Healthcare System, Address City, State ZIP
• Full-Time (40 Hours Per Week)
• GS-12 Step 2 4/2019 - Present
• GS-12 Step 1 4/2018 - 4/2019
  • Duty related to the position you are applying to
  • Duty related to the position you are applying to
  • Duty related to the position you are applying to

VA Form 10-2850c Application for Associated Health Occupations can be found at: https://www.va.gov/vaforms/medical/pdf/vha-10-2850c-fill.pdf .
*Required at time of application.

The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please use this checklist to ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), etc.

• Cover Letter
• DD-214/ Statement of Service
• Disability Letter (VA)
• License
• Professional Certification
• Resume
• SF-15
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire. You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.). If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation. Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as stated on the form. Documentation is required to award preference. For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit Feds Hire Vets - Veterans - Job Seekers - Veterans' Preference .

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education .

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.