This position is located in the Audiology and Speech Pathology Service at the Washington DC VA Medical Center. The duties and responsibilities are carried out throughout the medical center including all clinical and other patient care areas involved with the service. Incumbent is a Staff Speech-Language Pathologist at the full performance level.

Duties

"Whole Health is an approach to health care that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their life to the fullest. The VA is committed to Whole Health and values Veteran and Employee health and wellbeing. As a VA employee, you will practice Whole Health in an environment that supports personalized and proactive care." PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Incumbent is a staff speech-language pathologist and performs functions associated with contemporary speech-language pathology practice. Incumbent functions at the full performance level. Incumbent provides a full range of speech, language, cognitive, voice, and dysphagia evaluation, assessment, treatment and/or management services to young adult (18-40 years), middle adult (41-64 years), and older adult (65+ years) 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. In carrying out the duties and responsibilities of this position, the incumbent: Uses a wide range of knowledge of, and skill in applying theories, principles, and methodologies in the practice of speech-language pathology to adult populations. Conducts assessments, develops functional treatment strategies, and adapts treatments as progress is made. Incorporates new clinical procedures and performs clinical services independently. Demonstrates knowledge of speech-language pathology instrumentation. Demonstrates knowledge of principles and techniques used in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems, diagnosis and treatment of dysphagia, and cognitive-communication disorders. 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. Exercises independent clinical judgment and adapts clinical procedures and techniques to accommodate age-specific and unique patient conditions, needs, and expectations. Consults with physicians and other health care practitioners related to diagnostic evaluation and treatment and provides recommendations. Documents in the medical record: evaluation results, diagnosis and clinical opinion, treatment plans, outcomes of treatment, changes in functional status, and patient/family education. Participates in interdisciplinary team meetings to address the global needs of the patient. EDUCATION: Provides orientation/training of medical staff. Assists in orientation and training of new staff. Assists in the training and supervision of students, trainees, and fellows, providing feedback on progress toward established educational goals. Keeps current with theory and practice through continuing education programs, journals, textbooks, and other literature, and in-service programs. Provides patient and family education including informed consent. ADMINISTRATIVE: Participates in developing guidelines and protocols, new patient programs, and evaluation of existing programs as requested. Maintains patient records and other data required by the clinic, service, and medical center. Maintains, supplies, equipment and clinical areas to optimize safety and efficiency. May be requested to service on service-level committees or task forces or to represent to service/section on medical center, network, or national committees. May perform ancillary assignments, including program management duties on an occasional basis, where the complexity and amount of work is not substantial. Follows applicable informed consent, HIPAA rules on privacy and protecting patient rights. Other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:30 am - 4:00 pm Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is NOT a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): This occupation is being considered for a Veterans Health Administration enterprise-wide Critical Skills Incentive (CSI). Candidates may be eligible for a lump sum CSI. The amount of lump sum CSI is determined based on appointment date and may be pro-rated as determined by the end date of the CSI. Eligible candidates will be required to sign a service agreement agreeing to an obligated service period and failure to complete the obligated service period may result in a debt for the unearned portion of the CSI.

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 VA Policy 28U.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 (Journey Level. The full performance level for this qualification standard is GS-12). 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. 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. 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. 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. Foreign Education: To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed at least equivalent to that gained in the conventional U.S. program by a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials. Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. Speech-Language Pathologist, GS-11: (1) Education: None beyond the basic requirements. (2) Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the basic requirements, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of principles and techniques in assessing and treating disorders of speech, language, cognitive-communication and swallowing. (b) Knowledge of instrumentation and technologies for assessing and treating communication and swallowing disorders. (c) Ability to adapt clinical procedures and techniques to accommodate unique patient conditions, needs and goals. (3) Assignment: SLPs at this entry developmental grade level assess and treat patients with routine speech, language, voice, cognitive-communication and swallowing disorders following the principles of evidence-based practice and perform clinical procedures with respect to age-specific, unique patient conditions and needs. When assessing and treating patients with complex or rare speech, language, voice, cognitive communication and swallowing disorders, SLPs may require consultation with an SLP at the full performance or higher level. 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. (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. References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G30 Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Education:
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 (Journey Level. The full performance level for this qualification standard is GS-12).

OR

2. A doctoral degree in Speech-Language Pathology, communication disorders and sciences or a related field, from an accredited college or university.


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 Washington VA Medical Center 50 Irving Street, Northwest Washington, DC 20422 US
• Name: Karen Simmons
• Phone: 202-297-8951
• Email: [email protected]