This position is located in the Audiology Service and Speech Pathology Service in Salisbury VA Health Cate System in Salisbury, NC. The duties and responsibilities are carried out throughout all clinical and other patient care areas involved with the Salisbury VA Health Care System including the Community Living Center and associated Health Care Centers.

Duties

The supervisory speech language pathologist manages effectively a diverse clinical staff; set priorities; communicates assignments and objectives; provides advise on work methods, practices, and procedures; develops performance standards and may conduct performance appraisals. The supervisory speech language pathologist analyzes and uses data to effectively manage resources, workload, quality, performance, productivity, and access within the service and implements continual performance improvement activities to meet performance benchmarks. The supervisory speech language pathologist ensures compliance with accrediting agency and regulatory requirements, monitors staff performance, and develops and implements programs based on Veterans' needs and current research findings. The supervisory speech language pathologist is familiar with the VA Handbook 5005/153 September 22, 2022 Part II Appendix G29 and G30. The incumbent may interview candidates for positions, recommend appointments, advancements, or disciplinary actions when appropriate. The incumbent may develop functional descriptions and is responsible for professional management of assigned areas of the Service. The incumbent may assess current and prospective employees; and oversee the professional practice of peers, including recommending clinical privileges or scope of practice for clinical staff. The Supervisory Speech Language Pathologist may serve as a mentor to help employees develop their full potential. The supervisory speech language pathologist provides oversight and assistance in the training and supervision of students, trainees and fellows; and identifies continuing education needs of staff to ensure that the mission of the service and the medical center has been satisfied. The supervisory speech language pathologist maintains interdepartmental relationships with other services to accomplish medical center goals as well as fosters and maintain community contacts. The incumbent may develop and initiate new assessment and treatment programs and may develop policies and procedures. Work Schedule: M-F, 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: Ad-hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Requirements

Qualifications

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: A master's degree or its equivalent in speech-language pathology, communication disorders, or a directly related field from an accredited college or university. "Accredited" means a college or university [recognized] by a regional accreditation organization and a speech-language pathology academic program [recognized] by the Council on Academic Accreditation of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). Licensure: For those grades that require licensure (GS-12 and above). Must hold a full, current, and unrestricted license in a State, Territory, Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia. English Language Proficiency: Speech Language Pathologist must be proficient in spoken and written English. 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). All Speech-Language Pathologists employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard (September 22, 2022) are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and licensure/certification/registration that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. 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: Such employees, may be reassigned, promoted [up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. If an employee who was retained in an occupation listed in 38 U.S.C. § 7401(3) under this provision leaves that occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation. GS-12 Grade Determinations: (a) Licensure. The incumbent must hold a full, current, and unrestricted license in a State, Territory, Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia. (b) Education and Experience. Completion of 1 year of professional experience comparable to the next lower level and possession of a full, current, and unrestricted license to practice speech-language pathology. For positions engaged in research S-LP assignments involving no direct patient care, completion of a doctoral degree in speech-language pathology, communication disorders, or a related field is fully qualifying. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the KSAs identified for the assignment. Speech-Language Pathologist. Staff S-LPs at this grade level must demonstrate professional knowledge of, and skill in applying, a wide range of theories, principles, and methodologies of the practice of speech-language pathology to a wide range of populations. Individuals may perform ancillary assignments, including program management duties on an occasional basis, where the complexity and amount of work is not substantial (less than 25% of the time). The following KSAs are required: Ability to develop coherent treatment strategies Ability to incorporate new clinical procedures sufficient to perform clinical services independently Ability to conduct assessments, provide treatment interventions, and provide consultation to other health care professionals Knowledge of instrumentation used in speech-language pathology Knowledge of principles and techniques used in alternative and augmentative communication (AAC) systems, diagnosis and treatment of dysphagia, and cognitive-communication disorders Knowledge of principles and techniques used in voice disorders including alaryngeal and trach/ventilator-dependent patients Ability to perform functions associated with contemporary speech-language pathology practice. Preferred Experience: In addition to the basic requirements at the GS-13 level, completion of one year of professional experience comparable to the next lower level. Skill in applying budgetary, regulatory, productivity and quality standards such as those established by the Joint Commission or the Comprehensive Accreditation for Rehabilitation Facilities to guide provision of clinical services effectively; Ability to perform supervision, administrative management, and direction of Speech Language Pathologists; Skill in communicating assignments and objectives, service achievements, resource requirements and short and long-term plans to facility leadership; Ability to manage a diverse clinical staff in a service-level department or equivalent organization structure; Ability to analyze and use data to effectively manage resources, workload, quality, performance, productivity, and access within the service, and implement continual performance improvement activities to meet performance benchmarks. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience requirements, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Skill to translate management goals and objectives into efficient service operations. Skill in providing clinical and administrative oversight of service operations within complex facilities and/or multiple sites. Skill in conflict resolution to facilitate positive working relationships between employees, team leaders and management. Ability to effectively collaborate with local, VISN, and national leadership. References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G30, dated September 22, 2022. Physical Requirements: See VA Handbook 2019.

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 WG Bill Hefner Salisbury VA Medical Center 1601 Brenner Avenue Salisbury, NC 28144 US
• Name: Hunter Akers
• Email: [email protected]