Career Center

Summary

This position is located in the Audiology & Speech Pathology Service of Northport VAMC. The duties and responsibilities are discharged throughout Northport VAMC in all clinical and patient care areas involved with the Service. The speech-language pathologist at this level conducts a broad range of communication assessment to determine a patient's need for therapy and/or other interventions for the veteran and their family.

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. Note: Experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title - series and grades for all federal positions held - duties - month and year start/end dates AND hour worked per week. (Failure to provide an SF-50 that demonstrates one-year time-in-grade will result in disqualification from being considered) You will not be contacted for additional information. Applicants will be deemed ineligible if supporting documentation is not submitted.

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
• Education and Experience
• (1) A master's degree - or its equivalent - in speech-language pathology - communication disorders or a directly related field from an accredited college or university and one year of creditable experience (see paragraph 2.g.)
• OR (2) A doctoral degree in speech-language pathology - communication disorders and sciences or a related field - from an accredited college or university
• Licensure
• Individuals must hold a full - current and unrestricted license in a U.S. state - territory - commonwealth or the District of Columbia
• Physical Requirements
• See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Service
• English Language Proficiency
• SLP candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 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)
• Grade Determinations: Speech-Language Pathologist - GS-12
• Experience
• In addition to the basic requirements at the GS-11 level - completing one year of professional experience comparable to the next lower level and possessing a full - current and unrestricted license to practice speech-language pathology
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills and Abilities (KSAs)
• In addition to the experience requirements - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Skill in applying principles and techniques of diagnosis and treatment associated with contemporary speech-language pathology following evidence-based practice for adult patients exhibiting the full range of speech to the full range of patient populations
• (b) Skill in administering and interpreting instrumental swallowing evaluations
• (c) Ability to assess the effectiveness of clinical outcomes and adapt clinical procedures and techniques to accommodate unique patient conditions
• (3) Assignment
• This is the full performance level
• At this level - SLPs independently provide evidence-based assessment and treatment interventions to individuals with a wide range of speech - language - voice - cognitive-communication and swallowing disorders
• Staff SLPs select - administer and interpret standardized and non-standardized assessment measures
• They integrate assessment findings into a patient-centered treatment plan of care and evaluate the effectiveness of interventions by collecting and documenting treatment outcomes
• SLPs may be assigned to work in a specific clinical area such as traumatic brain injury - head and neck cancer - movement disorders or spinal cord injury
• They may provide clinical training experiences for trainees and students and participate in research activities
• Preferred Experience: Evaluation of Feeding and Swallowing Disorders/ Completing Modified Barium Swallows - Experience in healthcare settings - particularly with adult populations and complex medical conditions
• 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: The incumbent is required to assist in transferring of patient in order for the patient to participate in studies
• Other duties such as moving equipment and assisting patients are required.

Duties

• Duties include but are not limited to: A
• GENERAL Incumbent is a full-time staff speech-language pathologist and performs functions associated with contemporary speech-language pathology practice
• Incumbent functions at the full performance level
• B
• CLINICAL 1
• Incumbent provides a full range of speech - language - voice - and dysphagia evaluation - assessment - and treatment services to a diverse population of veterans
• Works independently - exercises clinical judgment in dealing with complex clinical decisions and daily problems - and coordinates with other disciplines concerning total patient care using professional knowledge and skill in applying a wide range of concepts - principles - and methodology
• 2
• Uses a wide range of knowledge and skill in applying a wide range theories - principles - and methodologies in the practice of speech-language pathology to a diverse range of populations
• 3
• Develops coherent treatment strategies
• 4
• Incorporates new clinical procedures sufficient to perform clinical services independently
• 5
• Conducts assessments - provides treatment interventions - and provides consultation to other health care professionals
• 6
• Has knowledge of speech-language pathology instrumentation
• 7
• Has knowledge of principles and techniques used in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems - diagnosis and treatment of dysphagia including both bedside assessment and experience with modified barium swallow Studies (MBS) as well as cognitive-communication disorders such as traumatic brain injury (TBI)
• 8
• Has knowledge of principles and techniques used in voice disorders including alaryngeal and trach/ventilator-dependent patients to perform functions associated with contemporary speech-language pathology scope of practice
• Knowledge of TEP placement and maintenance
• 9
• Exercises independent clinical judgment and adapts clinical procedures and techniques to accommodate age-specific and unique patient conditions - needs - and expectations
• 10
• Consults and refers with physicians and other health care practitioners related to diagnostic evaluation and treatment
• 11
• Documents in the medical record: evaluates - diagnosis - and utilizes clinical opinion - creates treatment plans and outcomes of treatment - adapts to changes in functional status - and provides patient/family education
• 12
• Attends interdisciplinary team meetings to participate with other health care practitioners to address the global needs of the patient and advise on diagnosis and treatment
• C
• EDUCATION 1
• Provides orientation/training of medical staff
• 2
• Assists in orientation and training of new staff
• 3
• Assists in the training and supervision of students - trainees - and fellows - providing feedback on progress toward established educational goals
• 4
• Keeps current with theory and practice through continuing education programs - journals - textbooks - and other literature - and in-service programs
• 5
• Provides patient and family education including informed consent
• D
• ADMINISTRATIVE 1
• Participates in developing guidelines and protocols - new patient programs - and evaluation of existing programs
• 2
• Maintains patient records and other data required by the clinic - service - and medical center
• 3
• Maintains - supplies - equipment - and clinical areas to optimize safety and efficiency
• 4
• May be requested to participate on service-level committees or task forces or to represent service/section on medical center - network - or national committees
• 5
• May perform ancillary assignments - including program management duties on an occasional basis - where the complexity and amount of work is not substantial
• 6
• Follows applicable informed consent - HIPAA rules on privacy - and protecting patient rights
• E
• SUPERVISION The incumbent may provide professional supervision to students - interns - or trainees from accredited academic affiliates while they are in a training environment at VA Northport
• This may include practicum and Clinical Fellowship Year (CFY) externs
• This will require ASHA certification Perform other duties as assigned
• Work Schedule: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
• Telework: Ad-hoc Functional Statement #: 23824-A