This position is located in the Audiology and SLP Service (ASPS) at the James H. Quillen VA Medical Center in Mountain Home, TN. The duties and responsibilities are carried out throughout all clinical and other patient care areas involved with the ASPS. This SLP has special clinical program responsibilities. The SLP coordinates the laryngectomy clinic, serves as the designated SLP for the Polytrauma Team, and advises other staff in these content/practice areas.

Duties

The GS-13 SLP provides leadership and directs oversight in the design, development, implementation, planning and management of the laryngectomy clinic. The incumbent coordinates care with otolaryngologists, surgeons, and other medical personnel. The incumbent serves as subject matter expert (SME) and is responsible for training support staff, other SLPs, and trainees in laryngectomy care. The incumbent also serves as the SLP with 0.5 FTE (i.e., >25% of the time) dedicated to the inter-disciplinary Polytrauma Team as required by VHA Directive 1172 Polytrauma System of Care (Required Core Staffing for the Polytrauma Support Clinic Team [PSCT]). The Polytrauma SLP serves as the SME for evaluating and treating veterans enrolled in the PSCT who have communication disorders related to traumatic brain injury. The incumbent participates in PSCT meetings, and provides input on individualized SLP goals and coordination of care across contributing disciplines, which includes medical and other rehabilitation services. The incumbent provides supervision to trainees who serve patients in the PSCT and includes them in the PSCT meetings. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, based on the needs of the service Telework: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 00000 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: 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). 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. 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. 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. 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. 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). Grade Determinations: Speech-Language Pathologist, GS-13. (1) Experience. In addition to the basic requirements at the GS-12 level, completion of one year of professional experience comparable to the next lower level. (2) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience requirements, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Knowledge of scientific principles and contemporary, evidence-based practice in differential diagnosis and treatment of speech, language, voice, swallowing and cognitive-communication disorders as it relates to a specialized clinical program. Skill in prioritizing program goals and objectives. Ability to build consensus among clinical team members with divergent backgrounds, interests and points of view. Ability to gather and evaluate outcome data to determine program quality and effectiveness. Ability to serve as a resource to other health care providers regarding a specialized clinical program. (3) Assignment. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity and range of variety and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. SLPs with special clinical program responsibilities plan, guide and facilitate the work of a specialized, intra- or interdisciplinary clinical team to accomplish program goals and establish well-coordinated work operations. At this level, SLPs are responsible for communicating team goals and objectives to other medical center staff; and serve as a resource to other health care providers. SLPs with special clinical program responsibilities evaluate the program's work by developing quality improvement indicators and monitoring outcome data, making adjustments as needed. Preferred Experience: Polytrauma, larnyngectomy. References: VA Handbook 5005/153 September 22, 2022 Part II Appendix G30 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. Physical Requirements: Work is sedentary but also demands standing, walking, bending, twisting, and carrying light items

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 James H Quillen VA Medical Center Corner of Lamont Street and Veterans Way Mountain Home, TN 37684 US
• Name: Abigail Haley
• Email: [email protected]