This position is located in the Audiology and Speech Pathology Service in the Salisbury VA Health Care System. The duties and responsibilities are carried out throughout the medical center, community living center and health care centers, including all clinical and patient care areas involved with the service. Incumbent is a staff speech-language pathologist at the full performance level.

Duties

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. In carrying out the duties and responsibilities of this position, the incumbent: a. Uses a wide range of knowledge of, and skill in applying, a wide range theories, principles, and methodologies in the practice of speech-language pathology to a wide range of populations; b. Develops coherent treatment strategies; c. Incorporates new clinical procedures sufficient to perform clinical services independently; d. Conducts assessments, provides treatment interventions, and provides consultation to other health care professionals; e. Has knowledge of speech-language pathology instrumentation; f. Has knowledge of principles and techniques used in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems, diagnosis and treatment of dysphagia, and cognitive-communication disorders; g. 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; h. Exercises independent clinical judgment and adapts clinical procedures and techniques to accommodate age-specific and unique patient conditions, needs, and expectations. i. Consults with physicians and other health care practitioners related to diagnostic evaluation and treatment. j. Documents in the medical record: evaluates, diagnosis and clinical opinion, treatment plans, outcomes of treatment, changes in functional status, and patient/family education. k. Attends interdisciplinary team meetings; participates with other health care practitioners to address the global needs of the patient, advises on diagnosis and treatment. 3. Education a. Provides orientation/training of medical staff. b. Assists in orientation and training of new staff. c. Assists in the training and supervision of students, trainees, and fellows, providing feedback on progress toward established educational goals. d. Keeps current with theory and practice through continuing education programs, journals, textbooks, and other literature, and in-service programs. e. Provides patient and family education including informed consent. 4. Administrative a. Participates in developing guidelines and protocols, new patient programs, and evaluation of existing programs. b. Maintains patient records and other data required by the clinic, service, and medical center. c. Maintains, supplies, equipment and clinical areas to optimize safety and efficiency. d. 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. e. May perform ancillary assignments, including program management duties on an occasional basis, where the complexity and amount of work is not substantial; f. Follows applicable informed consent, HIPAA rules on privacy and protecting patient rights. 5. Supervisory Controls Incumbent functions as an independent practitioner and is fully responsible for all clinical decisions under general direction of a program manager, service chief, assistant chief, or supervisory speech-language pathologist or audiologist/speech-language pathologist, or person of equivalent organizational rank. 6. Qualifications: See VA Handbook 5005/152, Part II, Appendix G30. 7. Minimum Professional Requirements Education and Experience. Master's degree or its equivalent in speech-language pathology or a doctoral degree in, communication science and disorders, or a directly related field from an accredited college or university and one year of professional experience comparable to the GS-11 grade level directly to the position. License. Full, current, and unrestricted license to practice speech-language pathology. 8. Age-Specific Competencies Incumbent provides a full range of speech, language, voice, and dysphagia evaluation, assessment, and treatment 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. 9. Safety Management: a. Verifies supervisees meet national and agency standards for OSHA, JCAHO and CARF. b. Ensures that work areas are clean and free of safety hazard. c. Responds per hospital policy to fire drills, codes and emergency preparedness situations. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm Telework: Not Eligible 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 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. 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-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 and possessing a full, current and unrestricted license to practice speech-language pathology. Examples of specialized experience include but are not limited to: 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. 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. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/153, PART II , APPENDIX G30 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. Physical Requirements: Stand for long periods of time while repeating same movements or walking. Bending and twisting body to lift, push, and pull light weight objects. Lift, carry, or move objects weighing up to 15 pounds. Stand for as much as 85% of work time. Reach above shoulder level in order to perform work. Move, adjust, and manipulate a variety of equipment. Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously.

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]