[nfbmi-talk] Job Vacancy Posting

[Terry D. Eagle]

Job Title:

Blind Rehabilitation Specialist

Department:

Department Of Veterans Affairs

Agency:

Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration

Job Announcement Number:

AG-T38-13-342-CSy-920688

SALARY RANGE:

$38,790.00

to

$74,628.00

/ Per Year

OPEN PERIOD:

Friday, July 05, 2013 to

Friday, July 19, 2013

SERIES & GRADE:

GS-0601-00

POSITION INFORMATION:

Full Time -

Permanent

DUTY LOCATIONS:

1 vacancy in the following location:

Waco, TX United States

View Map

WHO MAY APPLY:

US Citizens and Status Candidates

JOB SUMMARY:

Vacancy Identification Number (VIN)920688

OUR MISSION:

To fulfill President Lincoln’s promise – “To care for him who shall have
borne the

battle, and for his widow, and his orphan” – by serving and honoring the men
and

women who are America’s Veterans. How would you like to become a part of a
team providing

compassionate care to Veterans?

Central Texas Veterans Health Care System (CTVHCS) is one of the largest
integrated

health care systems in the Department of Veterans Affairs and includes
facilities

in Temple, Waco, and Austin, TX.  Community-Based Outpatient Clinics are
located

in Brownwood, Cedar Park, Palestine, and Bryan-College Station.

NO STATE TAXES!!!

Special Employment Consideration:

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible
for hiring

under 5 CFR 213.3102(u), Schedule A,

Appointment of persons with disabilities

[i.e., intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or
psychiatric disabilities],

and/or

Disabled veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or
more

.

KEY REQUIREMENTS

DUTIES:

Back to top

IF PATIENT NEEDS ARISE, THE INCUMBENT OF THE ABOVE POSITION MAY BE
REASSIGNED WITHIN

THE CENTRAL TEXAS VETERANS HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.

THIS IS A BARGAINING UNIT POSITION.

TOUR OF DUTY:  8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday

DUTIES:

The primary purpose of this position is to provide blind and

vision rehabilitation services for visually impaired Veterans and service

members.

Blind Rehabilitation includes

the disciplines of low vision therapy, orientation and mobility, vision

rehabilitation therapy, manual skills instruction and computer access

training.

The Blind Rehabilitation

Specialist possesses professional knowledge of and skill in applying
concepts,

principles, and practices of blind and vision rehabilitation that includes

assessment, treatment, and follow-up.

The Blind Rehabilitation Specialist (BRS) is responsible for functioning

as a full member of a rehabilitation team for the total rehabilitation
process

including assessing needs and identifying Veteran-specific goals, developing
an

individualized treatment plan, implementing that plan, counseling Veterans

regarding visual impairment, and recommending prosthetic and adaptive
equipment

to best meet the Veterans training goals.

The BRS is responsible for participating in cross-training in blind

rehabilitation disciplines, assisting in the cross-training instruction of

other BRSs, and developing instructional materials to be utilized by other
BRSs

in the program.

The BRS provides direct

patient care and support services to a population of Veterans which is

characterized by a very significant number of older males, but includes both

females and males of all adult ages.

The

incumbent must tailor patient care and support services to meet the needs of

the individual Veteran.

He/she must

assess the needs of each Veteran and the delivery of services.

The BRS works as part of a team coordinating

care for blind and visually impaired Veterans.

The BRS may serve as team coordinator for developing and coordinating

the Veteran’s Interdisciplinary Team Plan (IDTP).

 The BRS maintains close communication with

all members of the interdisciplinary Blind Rehabilitation Center staff.

The incumbent studies visual and non-visual

barriers and related processes that may result in activity limitations,

participation restrictions, loss of vocational and avocational opportunities

and psychological distress.

The BRS

develops a treatment plan in conjunction with an interdisciplinary team.

The BRS is responsible for using and

maintaining discipline-specific technology necessary to assist in the
Veteran’s

rehabilitation needs.

The BRS determines

the need for devices based on assessments and on the type, nature and
severity

of the visual problem.

The BRS enters

into the electronic medical record evaluations of visually impaired Veterans

and recommendations for treatment.

The

incumbent is expected to maintain certification in the appropriate
discipline

of blind/vision rehabilitation.

Performs

other duties as assigned.  Preference will be given to candidates with
experience

in Manual Skills.  This includes use of basic and power tools and adaptive
techniques

to handle and mold materials (e.g., wood, leather, clay, cloth); perform
home repairs;

develop manual dexterity; use multiple skills and senses; develop
self-confidence.

Relocation Expenses:Relocation expenses are notauthorized for this position.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:

Back to top

BASIC REQUIREMENTS

NOTE:  The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11.  The
Professional Standards

Board (a peer-review group) will review the selected candidate’s education
and experience

and recommend the step at which the candidate will be placed.  The salary is
based

on the step approved for the selected candidate.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT
MAKE ASSUMPTIONS

REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

References :VA Handbook 5005 at

http://www.va.gov/ohrm/joblistings/VAQualStds.doc

(also available in the local Human Resources Office) and

OPM Group Coverage Qualification Standard for Professional and Scientific
Positions

at

http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/standards/index-Standards.asp

.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

 Work may require minimal to moderate physical exertion during instruction,
such

as walking long distance or lifting heavy objects.

APPLICANTS PLEASE NOTE: Education must be accredited by an accrediting
institution

recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be
credited towards

qualifications (particularly positions with a positive education
requirement.) Therefore,

applicants must report only attendance and/or degrees from schools
accredited by

accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Applicants

can verify accreditation at the following website: All education claimed by
applicants

will be verified by the appointing agency accordingly.

http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html

accreditation/Search.aspx?6d6f64653d30267264743d362f33302f3230313020393a3233
3a313820414d

FOREIGN EDUCATION: To receive credit for education completed outside the
United States,

you must show proof that the education has been submitted to a private
organization

that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and
such education

has been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S.
education

programs.

Veterans' Preference:

When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference on
the

Occupational Questionnaire in the section provided and provide a legible
copy of

your DD214(s) and/or documentation related to your active duty service which
shows

dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), or dates
of impending

separation.

Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference
(such

as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15
"Application

for 10 Point Veterans Preference" with required proof as stated on the form.
For

more information, please review the information for disabled Veterans in the
application

checklist

visit

http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/veterans.aspx

.

HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED:

Your résumé and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow
all instructions

carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for
employment.

BENEFITS:

Back to top

Working for the Department of Veterans Affairs offers a comprehensive
benefits package

that includes, in part, paid vacation, sick leave, holidays, life insurance,
health

benefits, thrift savings plan, and participation in the Federal Employees
Retirement

System. In addition to traditional "dollars and cents" benefits, we offer a
range

of benefits to help balance work and life.  For more information please
visit us

at

http://www.va.gov/JOBS/Job_Benefits/benefits.asp

.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

OTHER INFORMATION:

Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave:

  Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay
period)

which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal
employee.   VA

may offer newly-appointed Federal employees credit for their job-related
non-federal

experience or active duty uniformed military service.  This credited service
can

be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave.

HOW TO APPLY:

Back to top

To begin the process, click theApply Online

button at the right side of this screen to create an account or log in to
your existing

USAJOBS account. Follow the prompts to complete the occupational
questionnaire. Please

ensure you click the

Submit My Answers

button at the end of the process.

YOU MUST INCLUDE VA FORM 10-2850c IN YOUR APPLICATION PACKAGE TO BE
CONSIDERED FOR

THIS VACANCY.

  You may upload the completed form to your USAJOBS or Application Manager
account

if you apply online.  Then you can use the uploaded form again and again
when applying

for future vacancies.  Please see this guide (

http://www4.va.gov/OHRM/joblistings/uploading-and-using-documents-online.doc

) for more information on uploading and re-using the form in your
applications.

Other required forms and documents can also be saved in your account and
used the

same way.  Applicants are urged to apply online; this process is much easier
and

faster.

Note:

To return to a previously Saved or Incomplete application, just reapply
through your

account in USAJOBS.  Check your account (

https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login

) to see the status of your application after applying, including any
messages that

may have been sent to you.

If you cannot apply online:

1. Click the following link to view and print the occupational
questionnaire: View Occupational

Questionnaire.

To fax supporting documents you are unable to upload:

1. Complete this cover page  http://staffing.opm.gov/pdf/usascover.pdf using
the following

Vacancy ID: 920688.  You must use this fax cover sheet in order for your
documents

to be matched with your online application.

The complete Application Package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST)
onFriday, July

19, 2013.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:

You must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

1. CV or Resume.

AGENCY CONTACT INFO:

Cynthia Sykora

Phone: (254)297-5107

Fax: (478)757-3144

Email: CYNTHIA.SYKORA at VA.GOV

Agency Information:

VHA Central Texas HCS Temple

DO NOT EMAIL OR MAIL APPLICATIONS

APPLY ONLINE OR BY FAX ONLY  ,

TX

00000

Fax: (478)757-3144

WHAT TO EXPECT NEXT:

After we receive your complete application package (including any required
documents),

your qualifications will be reviewed to decide if you meet the basic
requirements.

You will be notified when this decision is made.

Back to top

EEO Policy Statement

|

Reasonable Accommodation Policy Statement

|

Veterans Information

|

Legal and Regulatory Guidance

Dock

Go to section of this Job:

Go to section of this Job:

Apply Online

Print Preview

Save Job

Share Job

Agency Information:

VHA Central Texas HCS Temple

DO NOT EMAIL OR MAIL APPLICATIONS

APPLY ONLINE OR BY FAX ONLY  ,

TX

00000

Fax: (478)757-3144

Questions about this job:

Cynthia Sykora

Phone: (254)297-5107

Fax: (478)757-3144

Email: CYNTHIA.SYKORA at VA.GOV

Job Announcement Number:

AG-T38-13-342-CSy-920688

Control Number:

346866700