The incumbent is a professional whose required training and professional experience qualifies for the Certificate of Clinical Competence established by the American Board of Examiners in Speech Pathology and Audiology, American Speech-Language and Hearing Association, and also holds State licensure in Speech Language Pathology. Serves as a professional member of the Speech Pathology Section within the Rehabilitation and Extended Care (REC) at the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

Duties

Major Duties: Clinical The incumbent will administer standardized and non-standardized measures of swallowing, communication and cognition, accurately interpreting the results of these measures. Based on results of evaluation, pertinent medical history, and the patient's objectives, the incumbent will collaboratively develop goals in conjunction with the patient. The incumbent will develop and implement treatment plans designed to improve cognitive-communication processes or to compensate for cognitive-communication disability using adaptive strategies. Where dysphagia or communication impairments are present, the incumbent will develop and implement treatment plans to improve swallowing and/or communication. Treatment may be implemented in the context of individual and group therapies. The incumbent will participate in team meetings involving members of the treatment team and care conferences involving patients, their families and the treatment team. These meetings will serve to collaboratively set treatment goals, monitor progress towards those goals, revise goals and programming where indicated, and determine when patients are ready for discharge from the program. The incumbent will participate with other team members on ongoing program development. The incumbent will document results of evaluation, development of treatment goals and treatment plans, discharge recommendations, and education of patients and families within the medical record in the form of evaluation reports, progress notes, education notes and discharge reports. The incumbent will collect outcome measures for veterans receiving treatment. Education The incumbent provides education to patients and their families regarding the nature and consequences of cognitive communication difficulties, communication impairments and swallowing difficulties, as well as counseling and instruction to families on how they may support their family member in returning to home and community. The incumbent may provide training and supervision to trainees and graduate students in speech pathology assigned to the hospital, covering methods of testing and evaluation, diagnosis, treatment planning and techniques, and preparation of reports. The incumbent is responsible for maintain current knowledge in the evaluation and treatment of cognitive disorders, communication disorders, and dysphagia by reading current literature and attending professional in-services and meetings. The incumbent may also provide ongoing education to treatment teams in the community through the presentation of in-services and lectures. Administrative The incumbent will adhere to the facility's rules, policies, and procedures and to the American Speech-Language Hearing Association's policies regarding professional standards and ethics. The incumbent is responsible for maintaining required supplies, reporting needed repairs, and maintaining clinical areas. The incumbent will follow all safety procedures that provide for a safe environment for participants and staff including standard precautions, infection control, and hazardous waste disposal. Research The incumbent may support and participate in research related to the evaluation and treatment of participants with polytrauma receiving treatment. In this process, the incumbent will comply with procedures and reporting requirements of VA Central Office and Department of Defense regarding research protocol. Work Schedule: Intermittent; On-Call Telework: ADHOC Only 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: 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 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; or 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. English Language Proficiency: SLP candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). 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, which includes, but not limited to: Knowledge of principles and techniques in assessing and treating disorders of speech, language, cognitive-communication and swallowing; Knowledge of instrumentation and technologies for assessing and treating communication and swallowing disorders; Ability to adapt clinical procedures and techniques to accommodate unique patient conditions, needs and goals. and possessing a full, current and unrestricted license to practice speech-language pathology. AND; Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience requirements, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: 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. Skill in administering and interpreting instrumental swallowing evaluations. Ability to assess the effectiveness of clinical outcomes and adapt clinical procedures and techniques to accommodate unique patient conditions. References: VA Handbook 5005/153 Part II, Appendix G30 Preferred Experience: Conducting dysphagia instrumental evaluations and cognitive-communication evaluations; trach/vent acute medical/surgical evaluation and treatments. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

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 Minneapolis VA Medical Center One Veterans Drive Minneapolis, MN 55417 US
• Name: Ken Johnson
• Phone: 612-467-2294
• Email: [email protected]