Blind Rehabilitation Outpatient Specialist

Veterans Health Administration • Los Angeles, CA

9d • Onsite

About The Position

The Blind Rehabilitation Outpatient Specialist provides blind and vision rehabilitation services to visually impaired Veterans and service members. Services may include low vision therapy, orientation and mobility, vision rehabilitation therapy, manual skills instruction, and computer access instruction. The specialist applies professional knowledge and skills in blind and vision rehabilitation to provide direct care and support to adult patients, including older Veterans and younger Veterans with wound- or trauma-related vision loss. Care is tailored to each patient's needs and home-safety concerns, based on individual assessment and responsive service delivery.

The specialist works with the Blind Rehabilitation Center, Polytrauma Team, VIST, eye clinics, facility resources, and community resources to identify people who may benefit from rehabilitation and coordinate care. Services may be provided in patients' homes or other residences, at a VA facility, or in the community. The position includes educating and communicating with other services, contributing to local policies and quality-assurance and accreditation activities, documenting workload, preparing reports and outcome information, and scheduling patients. The specialist works both as a member of a team and independently as a clinician while following local hospital standards.

The position's stated schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Compressed or flexible scheduling and telework are not authorized, and the position is not virtual. The role requires regular physical exertion, including prolonged standing or sitting, lifting or carrying supplies weighing up to 50 pounds, and bending or stooping.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• A bachelor's degree in blind or vision rehabilitation or a closely related field; a master's degree in such a field; or a bachelor's or master's degree plus an accredited certificate in a specified blind-rehabilitation core curriculum, including supervised practice. The posting also describes a qualifying pathway involving three years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a doctoral degree in blind rehabilitation or a directly related field.
• Completion of one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the BRS GS-9 grade level where required by the applicable education pathway.
• At least one active, current, full, and unrestricted ACVREP certification for appointment. Certification requirements vary by grade; GS-12 specialists must hold two ACVREP certifications.
• For GS-12 consideration, at least one year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 level and two ACVREP certifications.
• Demonstrated knowledge and abilities appropriate to the grade, including specialized evaluation, patient assessment, rehabilitation planning, teaching methods, treatment coordination, use of interventions, and recommendation or adaptation of prosthetic devices within scope of practice.
• GS-11 specialists must obtain a second ACVREP certification within two years of initial appointment to demonstrate mastery in two specialty areas and become eligible for GS-12; failure may result in removal from the occupation and may result in termination.
• Foreign graduates must provide proof of a qualifying bachelor's degree or foreign equivalent, verified through an independent credential evaluation company, with a specialization in blind rehabilitation.
• Pass a pre-employment physical examination and, if tentatively selected for a testing-designated position, urinalysis screening for illegal drug use.
• Meet background and security investigation requirements and complete the online onboarding process and required application documentation.
• Register for Selective Service if male and born after December 31, 1959.
• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program as VA health care personnel.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period, as specified by the employer.
• Regularly perform physical exertion involving prolonged standing or sitting, lifting or carrying supplies weighing up to 50 pounds, and bending or stooping.

Responsibilities

• Assess patients' individual blind and vision rehabilitation needs, including home-safety concerns, and provide responsive direct care and support.
• Provide rehabilitation in one or more relevant skill areas, including low vision therapy, orientation and mobility, vision rehabilitation therapy, manual skills, and computer access instruction.
• Identify Veterans and service members who may benefit from blind and vision rehabilitation, coordinating with the Blind Rehabilitation Center, Polytrauma Team, VIST, eye clinics, facility resources, and community resources.
• Provide services in patients' homes or other residences, at VA facilities, or in the community as needs arise.
• Present in-services as needed to support communication and coordinated patient care.
• Collaborate with staff to develop local policies, document workload, write reports and outcome information, and schedule patients.
• Participate in quality-assurance procedures and accreditation preparations.
• Provide services as part of a team and independently as a clinician, following local hospital standards.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• At the GS-11 level, plan, direct, and distribute work assignments to volunteers, assistants, interns, or lower-grade specialists, and perform assigned mentoring duties.
• At the GS-12 level, independently develop, plan, and administer complex treatment programs; consult, supervise, or mentor in specialty or program areas; coordinate staff or committee work; communicate information through various media; and adjust programs and plan resource use.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package; specific benefits are not detailed in the posting.
• Potential credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior federal employment or military service, subject to request and approval and not guaranteed.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior