The VA Boston Blind Rehabilitation Program provides inter-disciplinary vision impairment services. This Full-Time position is for a Blind Rehabilitation Outpatient Specialist/Computer Access Training Instructor (BROS/CAT Specialist) located at the Jamaica Plain campus. 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. Citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g, of this part.) English Language Proficiency. [Candidates who are not proficient in written and spoken English will not be appointed to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA under the authority of 38 U.S.C. chapters 73 or 74. 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, [or a closely] related program in rehabilitation, special education, family and consumer science education, technology, and industrial arts education. OR, (b) A master's degree from an accredited college or university with a major field of study in blind or vision rehabilitation, [or a closely] related program in rehabilitation, special education, family and consumer science education, technology, and industrial arts education. OR, (c) A bachelor's [or master'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 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. This education must have included supervised practice; and (d) Completion of one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the BRS, GS-9 grade level. OR, (e) Three (3) years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a doctoral degree in blind rehabilitation or a directly related field. Certification: (1) Applicants must possess at least one active, current, full, and unrestricted certification to be eligible for appointment. (2) An applicant who has, or ever had his/her certification suspended, restricted, limited, or issued/placed in a probationary status may be appointed only in accordance with the provisions in Chapter 3, Section B, Paragraph 16 of this part. An applicant who has or has ever had a certification revoked or terminated for cause, or voluntarily relinquished such certification after being notified in writing by the State of potential revocation or termination for cause, is ineligible for employment and must be removed from the GS-0601 series. This applies even if the applicant possesses one or more valid certifications or registration (38 U.S.C. § 7402(f)). 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: (3) BROS who provide the following services must obtain and maintain one certification at the GS-11 grade level and two certifications at the GS-12 grade level granted by ACVREP as follows: (a) Orientation and mobility training - Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialists (COMS®). (b) Communication and daily living therapy - Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapists (CVRT®). (c) Low vision therapy - Certified Low Vision Therapists (CLVT®). [(d) Assistive technology - Certified Assistive Technology Instructional Specialist (CATIS®)]. d. Loss of Credential. Once certified, a BROS must maintain a full, valid, and unrestricted independent certification[(s)] to remain qualified for employment. Loss of certification[(s)] will result in removal from the BROS occupation and may result in termination of employment. e. Grandfathering Provision. All BROS 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. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: (1) Such employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation. (2) Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. (3) Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or certification(s) that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required equivalent credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. (4) If a BROS who was retained under this provision leaves the occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation. GRADE LEVEL DETERMINATIONS BROS, GS-11 Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): Experience. In addition to meeting the basic requirements, completion of a minimum of 1 year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level is required. (a) Knowledge and understanding of highly specialized complex evaluations and diagnostic tests and procedures of blind/vision rehabilitation. (b) Ability to properly assess a wide variety of patients having diverse and multiple disabilities to make recommendations for blind/vision rehabilitation therapeutic interventions. (c) Skill in development and writing of a] blind/vision rehabilitation plan that includes evaluation information from multiple disciplines with observable, measurable goals and that identifies specific outcomes. (d) Knowledge of teaching methods and learning principles. (e) Ability to employ interventions, unusual motivational techniques, and coordinate treatment with other professionals to achieve outcomes of the rehabilitation plan. BROS, GS-12 (Full Performance Level) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to meeting the KSAs at the GS-11 grade level, the candidate must fully demonstrate all [of] the following KSAs: (a) Skill to independently develop, plan, and administer complex treatment programs. (b) 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. (c) Ability to coordinate, motivate, and effectively manage staff and/or committee members to include organizing work, setting priorities, and delegating tasks and responsibilities. (d) Ability to disseminate appropriate information through various media as a consultant or mentor. (e)Skill in interpersonal relationships in dealing with patients, employees, other team leaders, managers, and other stakeholders. (f) Ability to identify team group dynamics, objectively observe, and modify behaviors. (g) 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 References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G41 Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. ["The BROS/CAT Specialist must be well versed in assessment, training, and technical support of blind rehabilitation computer access technology. The incumbent must be proficient in ZoomText, JAWS, Guide Connect, OCR, Voiceover, Windows OS, iProducts, mobile, and tablet computing devices. The Blind Rehabilitation Specialist possesses professional knowledge and skill in applying concepts, principles, and practices of rehabilitation. The incumbent should demonstrate mastery in two of the blind/vision rehabilitation specialty areas including: orientation and mobility, low vision therapy, vision rehabilitation therapy, or assistive technology. Duties included but are not limited to: The incumbent reviews and interprets pertinent patient documentation and records as consulted. The incumbent assesses the patient's background, interests, future plans, motivation, learning needs, and aptitude. The incumbent independently evaluates the patient's functional visual capabilities and ability to use large print, synthetic speech, and/or voice recognition to perform computer related activities. The incumbent determines appropriate instructional techniques, implements training plans, and continues to reassess patient needs and goal attainment with the use of specialized access assistive technology throughout the rehabilitation process; modifies as necessary. The incumbent considers input from team members and actively communicates treatment plans. The incumbent recommends appropriate blind rehabilitation devices for patients within scope of practice, making adaptations and modifications as required and articulating justification and training. The incumbent writes a blind rehabilitation plan that includes evaluation information from multiple disciplines with observable, measurable goals and that identifies specific outcomes. The incumbent assesses a wide variety of patients having diverse and multiple disabilities to make recommendations for blind rehabilitation therapeutic interventions. The incumbent must be experienced with Telehealth and telephone technical support for patients. The incumbent must demonstrate professional interpersonal relationships in dealing with patients, co-workers, supervisors, and other stakeholders. The incumbent sets priorities, meets multiple deadlines, and develops/implements effective solutions. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday range from 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Compressed/Flexible Work Schedule: Not Authorized Travel Required: You will be expected to travel on home visits for this position Telework/Virtual/Remote Work: Not Authorized Position Title/Functional Statement #: F03955/F05588 -Blind Rehabilitation Specialist BROS CAT Specialist Relocation/Recruitment, Permanent Change of Station (PCS) or Travel Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Notifications: This position is an AFGE Bargaining Unit position. Travel and relocation expenses are not authorized. Selectee may be required to work at any Boston Healthcare System campus, as needed. This position is in the Excepted Service. Selectee will be required to complete additional forms to proceed with employment process. Current and former Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50, (Notice of Personnel Action). The SF-50 must identify the position title, series, grade, step, tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). In some cases, more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held. Veteran's preference does not apply for other current permanent Federal agency employees."]
Providing Health Care for Veterans: The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, providing care at 1,255 health care facilities, including 170 medical centers and 1,074 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics), serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year.
