This position is in the Speech Pathology Department at the VA Puget Sound Healthcare System. In addition to the duties and responsibilities at the GS-12 grade level, the incumbent in this position will have administrative responsibility for the department's Clinical Education program. This includes the development, administration, and supervision of all clinical affiliation training programs and fieldwork experiences for Speech Language Pathology graduate students and Clinical Fellows.

Duties

Duties include, but are not limited to: Clinical Conducts, plans, and coordinates all clinical and administrative aspects of a full range of services associated with contemporary speech-language pathology practice to young adults (18-40 years), middle adult (41-64 years), and older adult (65+ years) veterans to determine current levels of functioning. Responsible for independent diagnostic assessment and evaluation of cases that are referred to Speech-Language Pathology without limitation as to difficulty or complexity. Responsible for the adequacy of assessment and for the reporting of the findings to other professional workers with whom he/she or other members of the Speech-Language Pathology service may cooperate in formulating diagnostic and clinical judgments; assesses patient condition from close observation and consultation with other members of the inter-disciplinary health care team; and utilizing all diagnostic and evaluative procedures and techniques consistent with contemporary speech-language pathology practice. Responsible for planning, conducting, coordinating, and monitoring the effectiveness and clinical outcomes of patient-centered treatment and rehabilitative services to maximize and restore to the greatest extent possible physical and social functioning. Responsible for the administration of a full range tests of speech, language, voice, fluency, and cognition. Develops an effective and comprehensive plan of care for swallowing and communication disorders in collaboration with other health care practitioners; establishes and maintains an effective therapy relationship with the patient, family and caregivers; and adjusts treatment plans according to patient response and indicators of progress. Special Clinical Program Responsibilities: Education Coordinator Responsible for the coordination of multiple professionals from a variety of disciplines for optimal clinical care and educational programming. Implements programs, policies, and procedures to meet program goals, policy, and external accreditation requirements. Establishes, negotiates, maintains, and oversees affiliation agreements with all student programs by preparing educational proposals, scheduling students, designating clinical supervision, submitting reports, and evaluating the training program. Responsible for recruiting, onboarding, supervising, mentoring, and precepting student trainees and Clinical Fellows in Speech-Language Pathology. Selects, adapts, and organizes training content; and instructional methods in the Speech Pathology Training curriculum, making changes as necessary. Observes and reviews with Clinical Instructor each trainee's performance, treatment plans, selection, and application of media to assist each in the development of the most effective treatment program assigned for trainees. Confers with and counsels' trainees and other students and staff on matters pertaining to clinical education, including patient treatment, teaching models and their effectiveness, general and specific content of experience, assignments evaluations, and special educational needs and goals for each trainee. Discusses each trainee's performance routinely with the appropriate staff member and trainee at mid-term and at completion of the fieldwork experience. Uses a wide range of motivational and communication techniques necessary to reach the students involved in the various levels of the training program. Models and encourages professional growth of Speech Pathology colleagues. Administrative May perform ancillary assignments, including program management duties on an occasional basis, where the complexity and amount of the work is not substantial. Actively participate in developing guidelines and protocols, new patient programs, and evaluation of existing programs. Will assist the Speech Pathology leadership in ensuring proper supply inventory levels and equipment is available for patient treatment. Will participate in the collection of data for QI monitors, and outcome measures relating to the services provided by Speech Pathologist on unit assigned by the Speech Pathology Program Leadership. May be requested to serve on service-level committees or task forces or to represent service/section on medical center, network, or national committees. Responsible for ensuring that patient appointments made in the computer are checked out and encounter information is completed for all patients in a timely manner. Responsible for tracking and turning in monthly statistics relating to patient visits and workload as requested by the Speech Pathology Program Leadership. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 0800-1630 Compressed/Flexible:May be available Telework: Not Available 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 (see paragraph 2.g.). 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. English Language Proficiency. SLP candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). 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). Grade Determinations: Speech-Language Pathologist, GS-13. 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. 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. Preferred Experience: 3 years experience providing clinical supervision to trainees; serves as mentor to staff in various areas of clinical care. References: VA Handbook 5005/153, Part II, Appendix G30, September 22, 2022. The full performance level of this vacancy is 13. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-13. Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting (15-44 pounds), reaching above shoulder, use of fingers, walking, standing, crawling, kneeling, repeated Bending, near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4, far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other, depth perception, ability to distinguish basic colors, hearing (aid may be permitted), mental/emotional stability. Environmental factors include working outside and inside, working closely with others, and working alone.

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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Contacts

• Address VA Puget Sound Health Care System 1660 South Columbian Way Seattle, WA 98108 US
• Name: Michelle Rootes
• Phone: (907)257-3713
• Email: [email protected]