RECRUITMENT/RELOCATION INCENTIVE AUTHORIZED FOR HIGHLY QUALIFIED CANDIDATES. This position is in the Speech-Language Pathology Section of the Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology Service at the VA Northern California Health Care System (VANCHCS). Service delivery is in person at a clinical site, or in a veteran's home or care facility, and via telehealth.

Duties

Major duties include but are not limited to the following: Conducts, plan, and coordinate clinical and administrative aspects of a full range of services associated with contemporary speech-language pathology practice. Responsible for independent diagnostic assessment and evaluation of cases that are referred to the Speech-Language Pathology Section without limitation as to difficulty or complexity; conduct interviews with the patients and appropriate family members or friends; and to select, administer and interpret the diagnostic test results necessary to detect and evaluate the presence of a speech, language, voice, fluency, communicative, cognitive, and/or swallowing disorder. Assess patient conditions from examination, observation and consultation with other members of an interdisciplinary health care team; utilize diagnostic and evaluative procedures and techniques consistent with contemporary speech-language pathology practice; develop an appropriate plan of care and delivering treatment as designed and consistent with principles of evidence-based practice; document evaluation and treatment actions and outcomes in appropriate formats in a timely manner, in accordance with facility policy, and complete all related patient care tasks; report the findings to Veterans and their families, and to professional colleagues; provide patient and family education including informed consent; and optimize clinical safety and efficiency by maintaining supplies, equipment in good working order. Plan, conduct, coordinate, and monitor the effectiveness and clinical outcomes of patient-centered treatment and rehabilitative services to maximize and restore physical and social functioning to the greatest extent possible. Serve as a consultant to other facility personnel involving the most difficult and complex cases and is a recognized subject matter expert on matters related to speech, language, voice, fluency, cognitive communicative disorders and/or swallowing disorders. Remain current with new developments in speech-language pathology and will maintain professional competency by reading professional journals and engaging in continuing education activities and professional learning experiences, and by communicating with other professionals in speech-language pathology and related professions. Work Schedule: Full-time; Monday to Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 03558F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: RECRUITMENT/RELOCATION INCENTIVE AUTHORIZED FOR HIGHLY QUALIFIED CANDIDATES. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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: a. 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 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a). b. English Language Proficiency. candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). c. 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, OR (2) A doctoral degree in speech-language pathology, communication disorders and sciences or a related field, from an accredited college or university. Foreign Education: To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. program by a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials. Accredited College or University: 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. Creditable Experience: To be creditable, the experience must have required the use of knowledge, skills and abilities associated with the assessing, diagnosing, treating and preventing communication and swallowing disorders with contemporary professional speech-language pathology practice. This knowledge may be evidenced by one of the following: (1) At least one year of active professional practice or equivalent. Active professional practice means paid or non-paid employment as a professional SLP engaged in the practice of speech-language pathology as defined by the appropriate licensing board. (2) Academic course work leading to a doctoral degree in speech-language pathology, communication disorders and sciences or a related field. Experience is only creditable if it is both of the following: (1) Work as a professional SLP related to the position to be filled; and (2) The work is at a level comparable to speech-language pathology experience at the next lower grade level. d. Licensure. Individuals must hold a full, current and unrestricted license in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth or the District of Columbia.*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. e. Grandfathering Provision: 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). f. 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. 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. References: FORMER VA HANDBOOK REFERENCE 5005/153, PART II, APPENDIX G30. SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST QUALIFICATION STANDARD, GS-0665, Veterans Health Administration dated September 22, 2022. For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12.The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-11 or GS-12 Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

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 Northern California Health Care System 10535 Hospital Way Mather, CA 95655 US
• Name: Charmaine Runne
• Phone: 000-000-0000
• Email: [email protected]