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 Department of Veteran Affairs employees within the SAVAHCS Blind Rehabilitation Department Only.**

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Functions/Scope of Assigned Duties:

• The Supervisory Blind Rehabilitation Specialist provides supervision, as well as direct patient care and support services to an adult population of Veterans which is characterized by a very significant number of older Veterans. Review of demographic data discloses that the average age of the SWBRC Veteran is 73 years with a distribution of 90% male and 10% female. Within these broad categorizations, the employee must ensure rehabilitation care and support services are tailored to meet the needs of the individual Veteran. This includes the responsibility for assessment of each Veteran's needs and the delivery of services which are responsive to the concerns of individual Veterans to the extent possible.
• This work involves oversight in evaluating and assessing needs, capabilities and limitations, goal setting and prescribing a treatment plan for individuals experiencing blindness/visual impairment caused by injury or disease. The Supervisory Specialist oversees the staff as part of the inpatient rehabilitation team coordinating care for blind and visually impaired Veterans. The Supervisory Specialist ensures appropriate staff performance in developing and coordinating the Veteran's Individualized Treatment Plan with input from the Veteran and all team members. The Supervisor ensures that BR Specialists maintain close communication with all other members of the interdisciplinary SWBRC staff, including optometry, psychology, social work, recreation and medical to ensure the needs and goals of the Veteran are being met. The Supervisory Specialist is responsible for ensuring all team members are cross trained and teach in the basic shop and basic iOS.
• Participates in the planning, review, and evaluation of proposed therapy programs for incenter, and telehealth blind rehabilitation training offered through the Southwestern Blind Rehabilitation Center.
• The Supervisor manages the weekly/daily staff teaching schedule and Veteran assignments for the department.
• Supervises a staff of employees to accomplish the work of the organizational unit; assigns and reviews work as well as the administrative and personnel management functions.
• Identifies developmental and training needs for instructors and provides provisions for appropriate training.
• Schedules, plans, and coordinates the orientation and training programs for new employees and clinical trainees under his/her supervision.
• Schedules regular treatment team and departmental meetings for sharing of information.
• Responsible for providing coverage of Veterans' treatment programs in the absence of their regularly assigned blind rehabilitation specialists.
• Resolve instructor problems or complaints, and to advise, counsel, and instruct these employees on both work and administrative matters. The Supervisor is also responsible for dealing with grievances, disciplinary problems or conflicts involving their direct reports.
  Responsible for counseling staff in matters of performance, meeting on a regular basis to encourage personal and professional growth and increased involvement in the rehabilitation program, Periodic performance appraisals provide both the instructors and the supervisor with a formal opportunity to set goals and discuss individual performance.
• Supervisory responsibilities further include periodic evaluation of instructional plans developed by instructors for Veterans assigned to them for training, thus ensuring consistency in curriculum, teaching methodology and quality of instruction.
• Responsible for maintaining the program guidelines, lesson plans and manuals which serve as the method of prescriptive training to be used by other instructors working with patients in the department.
• Oversees the internship training of university trainees assigned to their team, and is responsible for orienting them to SWBRC, for organizing internship experiences to enable development of Blind and Vision Rehabilitation teaching skills, and for providing opportunities for both formal and informal evaluation that will enable optimum learning and growth while establishing realistic goals for each individual trainee.
• Ensures appropriate schedules, plans, and coordinated training programs for family members and visitors.
• Serves as a Subject Matter Expert as assigned. SMEs are responsible for researching and evaluating new devices and training techniques relative to their assigned specific discipline, as well as developing and recommending new therapy approaches.
• Reviews prosthetic requests and tracks orders for patients assigned to their team.
• Responsible for furthering the goals of equal employment opportunity (EEO).
• In conjunction with the SWBRC Chief and/or Assistant Chief, the supervisor supports the recruitment process of candidates for vacancies within the service and makes recommendations for appointments, promotion, or reassignment.

Work Schedule: Full-Time, Monday - Friday, 7:30 AM - 4:00 PM

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.
• 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.
• 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: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.

English Language Proficiency: Must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d).

Education: The individual must have earned:

• 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
• 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
• 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
  • Completion of one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the BRS, GS-9 grade level;
  • OR
  • Three (3) years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a doctoral degree in blind rehabilitation or a directly related field.
• OR
• 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.

Certification:

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:

Supervisory Blind Rehabilitation Specialist requires one certification at the GS-12 grade level granted by ACVREP as follows:

• Orientation and mobility training - Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialists (COMS®).
• Communication and daily living therapy - Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapists (CVRT®).
• Low vision therapy - Certified Low Vision Therapists (CLVT®).
• Assistive Technology - Certified Assistive Technology Instructional Specialists (CATIS®).

GS-12 Supervisory Blind Rehabilitation Specialist

Experience. In addition to meeting the basic requirements, completion of a minimum of one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level.

Certification. BRS must meet the certification requirements above.

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:

• Ability to plan, direct, mentor, and distribute work assignments to volunteers, assistants, interns, and/or Blind Rehabilitation Specialists at lower grade levels.
• 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 Veterans in specialty or program areas.
• Ability to coordinate, motivate, and effectively manage staff and/or committee members to include organizing work, setting priorities, and delegating tasks and responsibilities.
• Ability to disseminate appropriate information through various media as a consultant or mentor.
• Skill in interpersonal relationships in dealing with Veterans, employees, other team leaders, managers, and other stakeholders.
• Ability to identify team group dynamics, objectively observe, and modify behaviors.
• Ability to apply decision-making principles to adjust programs on a day-to-day basis, develop short term and long-range goals, and plan for future utilization of resources.
• Skill in developing, planning, and administering complex treatment programs.

Assignment. The employee assigned to this position is located within an inpatient Blind Rehabilitation Center (BRC) and functions in a supervisory position for BRS professional staff at the GS-9 and GS-11 grade levels and who are not VIST Coordinators or Blind Rehabilitation Outpatient Specialists. This employee serves as a subject matter expert, assuring that a complete range of skills are available for a diverse Veteran population at affiliated blind rehabilitation inpatient centers or outpatient clinics. At this level, the blind or vision rehabilitation program typically includes a variety of specialties, an extensive educational program, and data collection and review as well as research activities. Additional activities include the evaluation of new products and equipment and making recommendations concerning upgrades/new purchases that would improve operations. Other supervisory responsibilities include informing higher-level management of anticipated staffing variances and recommending promotions, reassignments, or other

References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G42 - Blind Rehabilitation Outpatient Specialist Qualification Standard.

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

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, 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.