The Blind Rehabilitation Outpatient Specialist (BROS) will provide direct blind and vision training rehabilitation services for visually impaired Veterans and Service members. They are a member of the Blind Rehabilitation Service, and interact with Rehabilitation Medicine, Audiology, Social Work, Prosthetic and Sensory Aids, and other Services and agencies of the VA and the community. They may also be a member of the polytrauma team at polytrauma centers and sites.
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: Must be US citizen Non-citizens only appointed when not possible to recruit qualified US citizens English Language Proficiency: Must be proficient in spoken & written English Education: Bachelor's degree from accredited college or university w/ major field of study in blind or vision rehabilitation or closely related program in rehabilitation, special education, family & consumer science education, technology & industrial arts education; OR Master's degree from accredited college or university w/ major field of study in blind or vision rehabilitation, or closely related program in rehabilitation, special education, family & consumer science education, technology & industrial arts education; OR Bachelor's or Master's degree from accredited college or university without out a major field of study outlined above AND obtained certificate from accredited college or university in core curriculum in orientation & mobility, vision rehabilitation therapy, assistive technology for blind & visually impaired individuals, or low vision therapy. Education must have included supervised practice; AND Experience: Completion of 1 year progressively complex experience equivalent to Blind Rehabilitation Specialist GS-9 grade; OR 3 years progressively higher-level graduate education leading to doctoral degree in blind rehabilitation or directly related field. Note: Foreign graduates must have proof of minimum of bachelor's degree from accredited college or university or foreign equivalent as verified through independent credential evaluation company w/ specialization in blind rehabilitation Certification: Required at all levels Applicants must possess at least 1 active, current, full & unrestricted certification to be eligible for appointment. Applicants who have ever had certification suspended, restricted, limited or issued/placed in probationary status may be appointed only according to provisions in Chapter 3, Sec B, Para 16. Applicants who have ever had certifications revoked or terminated for cause, or voluntarily relinquished such certification after being notified in writing by State of potential revocation or termination for cause, is ineligible for employment & must be removed from occupation. Applies even if applicant possesses 1 or more valid certifications or registration. Physical Requirements: Please see VA Handbook 5019 and requirements listed in additional information. NOTE: Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation & Education Professionals, ACVREP administers four certification programs: Low Vision Therapy, Orientation and Mobility, Certified Assistive Technology Instructions Specialist & Vision Rehabilitation Therapy. They may then use the designation for certification they hold. BROS Certification(s): BROS who provide following services must obtain & maintain 1 certification at GS-11 grade level & two certifications at GS-12 grade level granted by ACVREP as follows........ Orientation & mobility training - Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialists, COMS® Communication & daily living therapy - Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapists, CVRT® Low vision therapy - Certified Low Vision Therapists, CLVT® Assistive technology - Certified Assistive Technology Instructional Specialist, CATIS® Grandfathering Provision. All BROS employed in VHA on effective date of qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for title, series & grade held, including positive education and certifications that are part of basic requirements Following provisions apply to employees who don't meet all basic requirements in this standard but who met qualifications applicable to position at time they were appointed Such employees may be reassigned, promoted up to & including full performance level or changed to lower grade w/in occupation Employees who are appointed on temporary basis prior to effective date of qualification standard may not have temporary appointment extended or be reappointed on temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet basic requirements Employees initially grandfathered into occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education &/or certifications that meet all basic requirements of qualifications must maintain required equivalent credentials as condition of employment in occupation Employee loses protected status & must meet full VA qualification requirements in effect at time of reentry to occupation if BROS retained under provision leaves occupation Grade Determination Requirements: Candidates must possess following grade determination requirements in addition to basic requirements GS-11 Experience: None beyond basic requirements. Certification: At least one ACVREP certification. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities, KSAs Candidate must demonstrate all following KSAs plus above experience: Knowledge & understanding of highly specialized complex evaluations & diagnostic tests & procedures of blind/vision rehabilitation. Ability to properly assess wide variety of patients having multiple disabilities to make recommendations for blind/vision rehabilitation therapeutic interventions. Skill in development & writing of blind/vision rehabilitation plan that includes evaluation information from multiple disciplines w/ observable, measurable goals & that identifies specific outcomes. Knowledge of teaching methods & learning principles. Ability to employ interventions, unusual motivational techniques & coordinate treatment w/ other professionals to achieve outcomes of rehabilitation plan. Skill in recommending appropriate blind/vision rehabilitation prosthetic devices for patients w/in scope of practice, making adaptations & modifications as required. Ability to plan, direct & distribute work assignments to volunteers, assistants, interns &/or BRSs at lower grade levels & perform assigned mentoring duties for staff, students & interns. GS-12 Experience: In addition to meeting the basic requirements, completion of minimum of 1 year of experience equivalent to GS-11 grade level. Certification At least two ACVREP certifications to demonstrate full mastery in two areas of blind rehabilitation. Demonstrated KSAs: Candidate must demonstrate all following KSAs in addition to experience above: Skill to independently develop, plan & administer complex treatment programs. Ability to act as subject matter expert in blind/vision rehabilitation field & as consultant, supervisor &/or mentor in evaluating & treating patients in specialty or program areas. Ability to coordinate, motivate & effectively manage staff &/or committee members to include organizing work, setting priorities & delegating tasks & responsibilities. Ability to disseminate appropriate information through various media as consultant or mentor. Skill in interpersonal relationships in dealing w/ patients, employees, other team leaders, managers & other stakeholders Ability to identify team group dynamics, objectively observe & modify behaviors. Ability to apply decision-making principles to adjust programs on day-to-day basis, to develop short-term & long-range goals & plan for future utilization of resources. Preferred Experience: Previous experience working with visually impaired Veterans. 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. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-11 to GS-12 .
The Blind Rehabilitation Outpatient Specialist (BROS) functions independently in a number of settings including hospitals, clinics, rehabilitation centers, long-term care facilities, educational institutions and home environments. The work environment may be in an office, clinical setting, classroom, private home, VA grounds, nursing home, community sites, and hospitals. Major Duties include, but are not limited to: Provides direct patient care and support services to an adult population of patients. Employee must tailor patient care and support services to meet the needs of the individual patient. Identifies, assesses, trains, manages and provides follow-up for Veterans using clinical resources of the facility. Functions independently in a number of settings including hospitals, clinics, rehabilitation centers, long-term care facilities, educational institutions and home environments. Assesses each patient's needs and the delivers services which are responsive to the concerns of individual patients to the extent possible. This may include but is not limited to home visits/assessments. Consults with Poly trauma team and all VIST, eye clinics, blind and vision rehabilitation services and community resources to locate and serve potential Veterans to offer direct blind and vision rehabilitation service in all five skill areas in the veteran's home, other residence or within the community as the need arises. Develops an individualized rehabilitation-training plan for each Veteran with rehabilitation potential. Monitors and supervises the quality and quantity of non-VA contract or fee-basis blind and vision rehabilitation services provided to eligible beneficiaries. Provides effective patient counseling in the adjustment to blindness as an integral component of the work. Prioritizes rehabilitation training activities so as to maximize Veterans served, consistent with quality care and safety. Uses complex assessment tools and trains Veterans on sophisticated prosthetics and sensory aids to accomplish the work, i.e., sophisticated computer interfaces for use with e-mail and Global positioning systems. Provides blind and vision rehabilitation services as a team member but also as an independent clinician as they carries out treatments. When serving as a manager for direct care, the incumbent is responsible for ensuring documents of assessment, rehabilitation training progress, consults, referrals and recommendations are properly entered in the Veteran's chart. Work Schedule: Full-Time, Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: Not available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation Incentive: May be authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.