Summary The Admission Coordinator provides services to Veterans and Service members who are visually impaired. Management of applications and the GCBRC waiting list, planning for and scheduling Veterans within the program, maintaining a screening process to approve applications, coordinating Veteran admissions and discharges, developing bed control strategies for a consistent bed capacity flow of referrals, conducting outreach and educational activities to identify eligible Veterans and developing. Responsibilities The Admission Coordinator serves as the GCBRC primary liaison with the Visual Impairment Services Team (VIST) Coordinators from referring VA Medical Centers which refer Veterans to GCBRC for comprehensive blind rehabilitation services. Counsels and advises VIST Coordinators regarding prospective applicants for services for the GCBRC, as well as referral procedures, policies and procedures and programmatic changes as they occur. Incumbent must maintain good public relations with a relatively large number of local, state, and nonprofit organizations in addition to the Blinded Veterans Association and other Veterans organizations and special interest groups. Function or scope of assigned duties: Incumbent manages applications for blind rehab virtual care and the inpatient GCBRC waiting list, ensuring that program waiting list complies with VA requirements, developing initial introductions and explanations of the vision rehabilitation experience of each Veteran, planning for and scheduling Veterans within the program, maintaining a screening process to approve applications, coordinating Veteran admissions and discharges and developing bed control strategies for a consistent bed capacity flow of referrals, conducting outreach and education activities to identify Veterans eligible for GCBRC program services. Incumbent facilitates travel arrangements for Veterans to and from inpatient GCBRC. Incumbent reviews Veteran applications for admission to the GCBRC and utilizes professional knowledge of blind rehabilitation to determine appropriateness of the Veteran's application for services. Incumbent ensures timely and appropriate access to care. Incumbent coordinates Veteran admissions in cooperation with other VAMC elements. Application review frequently requires consultation with the GCBRC nurse practitioner/physician, optometrist, psychologist, social worker, nursing and/or the Assistant Chief/Chief, as well as the referring facility. Outreach and education responsibilities include but are not limited to: developing a cache of educational materials, in a variety of media that can be utilized to help achieve outreach goals and objectives; providing in-service educational classes for VA and non-VA agencies and personnel. The incumbent is responsible for identifying beneficiaries who have the potential to benefit from blind and vision rehabilitation training. Incumbent consults with VIST Coordinators, eye clinics, blind and vision rehabilitation services, and community resources to locate and serve potential Veterans to offer direct blind and vision rehabilitation service. Incumbent utilizes developed methodologies to identify Veterans who are eligible for GCBRC program services, to include identifying blind Veterans from VA medical center staff on the functional implications of vision loss and on blind rehabilitation matters. Incumbent coordinates with clerical staff to accomplish and finalize the admission and assigns and reviews work as well as the administrative functions. Demonstrates the ability to set priorities, delegate tasks, and solve problems to meet multiple deadlines and identify/address organizational problems. The incumbent must have a thorough knowledge of, and the ability to properly administer, the VHA Blind Rehabilitation Service standardized/specialized assessment in each of the disciplines. Incumbent will adapt assessments to Veteran's unique medical, physical, psychosocial needs including environmental considerations. Work Schedule: Monday to Friday. 7:30am - 4:00pm. subject to change based on the needs of the facility. Telework: Ad-hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 00487-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. You may be required to serve a trial period. 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). Qualifications 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: United States Citizenship: Be a citizen of the United States. Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. English Language Proficiency: Candidates will not be appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C. chapters 73 or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA who are not proficient in written and spoken English. See Chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part. b. Education: 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, closely related program in rehabilitation, special education for the visually impaired, family and consumer science education, or technology and industrial arts education. OR, (b) A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university (without a major field of study as outlined in (1)(a) above) that included, or was supplemented by, at least one of the following: i. At least 30 semester hours of directly related, upper level undergraduate courses (e.g., at least 200-course level or higher, or as identified by the college or university). ii. One full year of directly related graduate level coursework (typically at least 15 - 18 semester hours). iii. 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 and a directly related practicum/internship in the occupation, either included in the degree or post-degree. iv. 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 the GS-11 grade level and above. (1) Applicants must possess at least one active, current, full and unrestricted certification to be eligible for appointment. Certification must be granted by the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation & Education Professionals (ACVREP), or another equivalent, closely related professional credential in special education or rehabilitation. NOTE: The ACVREP administers four certification programs: Low Vision Therapy, Orientation and Mobility, Assistive Technology Instruction and Vision Rehabilitation Therapy. They may then use the designation for the certification they hold (as listed in sub- paragraph (2)) below:(2) BRS who provide the following service must obtain certification 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 Specialists (CATIS®). 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). Grade Determinations: BRS, GS-12 (Admission Coordinator) (1) Experience: In addition to meeting the basic requirements, completion of one year of experience as a BRS equivalent at the GS-11 grade level. (2) Certification: Candidates must meet the credentialing/certification requirements in paragraph 3c(1) above. (3) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the education and experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all the following KSAs: (a) Ability to plan, coordinate, and manage applications, admissions and discharges, and ensure provision of the appropriate clinical care for Veterans in an inpatient BRC. (b) Ability to ensure that cooperative partnerships exist among Veterans, Service members and their families, VHA rehabilitation providers, community providers, and other stakeholders, to support a comprehensive blind rehabilitation program structure. (c) Ability to develop, maintain, analyze, and present statistical and programmatic data and information related to BRC operations. (d) Knowledge of budgetary and financial management processes, including VERA reimbursement, catastrophic disability, and beneficiary travel policies. (e) Ability to perform the full range of supervisory duties, when authorized, which would include responsibility for assignment of work to be performed, competency assessments, performance evaluations, hiring decisions, and recommendations for awards, advancements, and disciplinary actions. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-12. Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting, 45 pounds or more; light lifting, under 15 pounds, moderate carrying, 15-44 pounds; use of fingers; both hands required; walking, 2 hours; standing, 5 hours; kneeling, .5 hours; repeated bending, .5 hours; both legs required; ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; emotional and mental stability; pass physical to drive Veteran, if a driver. Education Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional Information Receiving Service Credit or 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. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.