The staff speech-language pathologist position is located in the Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Service of the VA Northern California Health Care System (VANCHCS), in Redding, CA. Service delivery is in person at a clinic site or in a veteran's home or care facility, and via telehealth.

Duties

The speech-language pathologist at this level conducts, plans, and coordinates clinical and administrative aspects of a full range of services associated with contemporary speech-language pathology practice. The incumbent is responsible for independent diagnostic assessment and evaluation of cases that are referred to the Speech-Language Pathology Section without limitation as to difficulty or complexity. The incumbent will be responsible to conduct interviews with the patients and appropriate family members or friends; and to select, administer and interpret the diagnostic test results necessary to detect and evaluate the presence of a speech, language, voice, fluency, communicative, cognitive, and/or swallowing disorder. The incumbent is responsible for (1) assessing patient conditions from examination, observation and consultation with other members of an interdisciplinary health care team; (2) utilizing diagnostic and evaluative procedures and techniques consistent with contemporary speech-language pathology practice, (3) developing an appropriate plan of care and delivering treatment as designed and consistent with principles of evidence-based practice, (4) documenting evaluation and treatment actions and outcomes in appropriate formats in a timely manner, in accordance with facility policy, and completing all related administrative tasks, and (5) reporting the findings to Veterans and their families, and to professional colleagues. The incumbent is responsible for planning, conducting, coordinating, and monitoring the effectiveness and clinical outcomes of patient-centered treatment and rehabilitative services to maximize and restore physical and social functioning to the greatest extent possible. Treatment may be provided to individuals or to a group of Veterans, led either by the incumbent independently or by the incumbent in collaboration with other related professionals. The incumbent serves as a consultant to other facility personnel involving the most difficult and complex cases and is a recognized subject matter expert on matters related to speech, language, voice, fluency, cognitive communicative disorders, and swallowing disorders. The incumbent will remain current with new developments in speech-language pathology and will maintain professional competency by reading professional journals and engaging in continuing education activities and professional learning experiences, and by communicating with other professionals in speech-language pathology and related professions. Professional interpersonal communication is required by this position and the incumbent will be expected to attend staff meetings and inter-disciplinary health care team meetings as appropriate; review policies and procedures; and attend in-service training. The incumbent may participate in research activities pertinent to speech-language pathology. Although limited research is conducted in the clinical setting, the use of carefully executed procedures may be a part of a research design. The incumbent may be requested to assist in gathering clinical research data. The incumbent may perform ancillary assignments, including program management duties on an occasional basis, where the complexity and amount of the work is not substantial. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

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: a. Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States (U.S.). Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with 38 U.S.C. ? 7407(a). b. 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. c. Licensure. Individuals must hold a full, current and unrestricted license in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth or the District of Columbia. (1) Non-licensed applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for SLP licensure may be appointed to a temporary position as a graduate SLP under the authority of 38 U.S.C. ? 7405 (c)(2). Individuals appointed as graduate SLPs may not be promoted to the GS-12 level without being fully licensed. (2) The requirement for licensure may be waived by the Under Secretary for Health or designee in VHA Central Office for individuals engaged in research or academic assignments involving no direct patient care duties, in accordance with current activities. (3) An SLP who has, or ever has had their speech-language pathology license revoked, suspended, denied, restricted, limited or issued/placed on probationary status may be appointed only in accordance with the provisions in Chapter 3, section B, paragraph 16 of this part. d. Failure to Obtain Licensure. In all cases, graduate SLP must actively pursue obtaining the required licensure from the date of their appointment. The Human Resource office staff will provide the unlicensed SLP written requirement to obtain licensure, the date by which the license must be acquired and the consequences for not becoming licensed by the deadline. The written notice must be provided prior to the entrance on duty date. Failure to obtain the required credentials by the prescribed date may result in termination of employment. e. Loss of Credential. Management officials, in collaboration with HR Office staff, must immediately relieve employees of the duties and responsibilities associated with the occupation who fail to maintain the required certification, both current and in good standing, which may result in separation from employment. An SLP who has, or has ever had, their SLP license revoked, suspended, denied, 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. f. Grandfathering Provision. All persons employed in VHA in this occupational series or in another occupational series that are also performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held, including positive education and licensure. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: (1) SLPs may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance level or changed to a lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the full performance level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. (2) If SLPs who are retained under this provision leave the occupation, they will lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the occupation. (3) SLPs initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard, must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment. (4) SLPs who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. g. Foreign Education. To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. program by a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials. i. English Language Proficiency. SLP candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. ? 7403(f). 4. GRADE REQUIREMENTS. In addition to the basic requirements, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. a. Speech-Language Pathologist, GS-12. (1) 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. (2) 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. Preferred Experience: Minimum 3 years' experience working with the adult population in a medical setting Skilled in Videofluoroscopic swallowing examinations Skilled in Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of swallowing Experience with Laryngectomy/Tracheoesophageal voice References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/38, PART II, APPENDIX G30. SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST QUALIFICATION STANDARD, GS-0665, Veterans Health Administration dated September 22, 2022. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on 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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address VA Northern California Health Care System 10535 Hospital Way Mather, CA 95655 US
• Name: AARON POWELL
• Phone: (916) 843-9150
• Email: [email protected]