Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below. This job is open to current permanent Gulf Coast employees, VA Nationwide employees, Federal employees of other Agencies, and U.S. Citizens.

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The Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System encompasses one medical center in Biloxi, Mississippi and four CBOCs-one of which in Mobile, Alabama, and three of which are in Florida: Pensacola, Eglin and Panama City. This position will primarily cover the Mississippi and Alabama region and be based out of Biloxi, Mississippi, but it will support the entire region, as workload needs dictate.

Major duties includes but not limited to:

(1) Adjustment Counseling:
This includes enabling Veterans with visual impairment to gain a better understanding of their visual diagnoses and resulting problems; discussing the Veteran's adjustment to sight loss; and assessing the Veteran's mental health status including signs of depression and screening for suicide risk. NOTE: Blind Rehabilitation Specialists and Blind Rehabilitation Outpatient Specialists must have local established procedures for referring Veterans who report mental health conditions to licensed independent providers or licensed independent mental health providers for follow up, further evaluation and supporting engagement in mental health services as needed.
(2) Assessment:
This includes assessing functional capabilities in the use of visual motor and visual perceptual skills, in areas such as reading, writing, self-care, safe independent travel and comprehensively and accurately assessing and identifying the blind rehabilitation needs and goals of Veterans while taking into consideration all other factors affecting the Veteran with visual impairment. These include, level of visual function, physical health, medical conditions, mental health, cognitive function, level of motivation, age, social and cultural elements and other factors that influence the needs and goals of the Veteran with visual impairment. The specialist will utilize department specific assessment techniques and intake forms.
(3) Goal Development and Treatment Plan:
In partnership with the Veteran, developing and modifying, as needed, an individualized rehabilitation treatment plan. This includes developing Veterans goals and rehabilitation plans in an interdisciplinary team and evaluating outcomes of therapeutic interventions.
(4) Therapeutic Instruction: This includes instructing in rehabilitation techniques and assistive technology to support Veterans in reaching their rehabilitation goals; instructing Veterans in effective use of their remaining vision through techniques that improve visual perceptual and visual motor function for daily tasks; providing information and education about visual impairment for family members and significant others, where needed, to support Veterans with visual impairment in incorporating practice of training techniques and use of assistive technology in the home and their surrounding environments.

Work Schedule: 7:30am-4:00pm Monday to Friday. (Subject to change based on the need of the facility).
Telework: Ad-hoc
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 02153F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorize

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.
• Must be able to independently operate Government Vehicle.
• Must provide clean driving record report from the DMV during the pre-employment process.
• 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.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• 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

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Candidates must be a citizen of the United States. Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified candidates in accordance with38 U.S.C. § 7407(a).
• English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).

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).

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.

(2) 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.

c. Certification. Required at all levels.

• (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:

1. Orientation and mobility training - Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialists(COMS®).
2. Communication and daily living therapy - Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapists (CVRT®).
3. Low vision therapy - Certified Low Vision Therapists (CLVT®).
4. [(d) Assistive technology - Certified Assistive Technology Instructional Specialist (CATIS®)].

• 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.

Grade Determination: In addition to the basic requirements, the following criteria must be used when determining the appropriate grade assignment of candidates.

BROS, GS-11 (Entry level)

(1) Experience: [None beyond the basic requirements.]
(2) Certification: Candidates must meet the certification requirements in subparagraph 2c above (at least one certification from ACVREP).

(3) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all [of] the following KSAs:

1. Knowledge and understanding of highly specialized complex evaluations and diagnostic tests and procedures of blind/vision rehabilitation.
2. Ability to properly assess a wide variety of patients having diverse and multiple disabilities to make recommendations for blind/vision rehabilitation therapeutic interventions.
3. [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.
4. Knowledge of teaching methods and learning principles.
5. Ability to employ interventions, unusual motivational techniques, and coordinate treatment with other professionals to achieve outcomes of the rehabilitation plan.
6. Skill in recommending appropriate blind/vision rehabilitation prosthetic devices Skill in recommending appropriate blind/vision rehabilitation prosthetic devices.
7. Ability to plan, direct, and distribute work assignments to volunteers, assistants, interns, and/or BRSs at lower grade levels and perform assigned mentoring duties for staff, students, and interns.

BROS, GS-12 (Full Performance Level)

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.]
Certification: Candidates must meet the certification requirements in subparagraph 3c above. BROS at the GS-12 grade level must achieve two ACVREP certifications to demonstrate full mastery in two areas of blind rehabilitation.

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:

1. Skill to independently develop, plan, and administer complex treatment programs.
2. 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.
3. Ability to coordinate, motivate, and effectively manage staff and/or committee members to include organizing work, setting priorities, and delegating tasks and responsibilities.
4. Ability to disseminate appropriate information through various media as a consultant or mentor.
5. Skill in interpersonal relationships in dealing with patients, employees, other team leaders, managers, and other stakeholders.
6. Ability to identify team group dynamics, objectively observe, and modify behaviors.
7. 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.

How you will be evaluated

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

Area of Consideration - Eligible applications will be reviewed and referred in the following order:

1. Current permanent VA employees of the facility.
2. All other VA employees.
3. Current permanent Federal employees of other agencies.
4. All other applicants.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, 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.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

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

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.