This position is located in the Audiology & Speech Pathology section of the Columbia VAMC. The duties and responsibilities are conducted through the medical center including all clinical and other patient care areas involved with the service. At this level, the speech-language pathologist plans, conducts, and coordinates all aspects of diagnostic evaluation and treatment of speech, language, voice, cognitive-communication, and swallowing disorders.

Duties

Major duties may include, but are not limited to: The incumbent 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. The incumbent conducts, plans, and coordinates all clinical and administrative aspects of a full range of services associated with contemporary speech-language pathology practice. Clinical duties and responsibilities: Direct patient care involving a full range of speech-language pathology evaluation and treatment services, including all general clinical areas in which advanced certification and training are not required. Competencies for clinical areas within the scope of practice will be maintained and verified by the clinical supervisor on a yearly basis. The incumbent identifies and evaluates individuals with disorders in the reception and perception of speech, language and other acoustic signals to a full range of patient complexity. Administers standardized and informal evaluations as clinically appropriate adequate for the diagnosis of disorders within the speech-language pathology scope of practice. He/she is responsible for planning, delivering and monitoring the effectiveness and clinical outcomes of patient-centered treatment and rehabilitative services for patients with significant physical and psychological complicating conditions, including, but not limited to, self-management of treatment goals and strategies; utilization of high and low technology devices as a compensatory strategy and/or treatment. The incumbent plans, conducts, and coordinates speech pathology rehabilitation, including any programs within the general scope of practice of speech-language pathology for patients; designs patient centered treatment plans to assist patient and caregivers to maximize and restore physical and social functioning to the greatest extent possible. The incumbent will serve as a consultant to other facility personnel involving the most difficult and complex cases and is a recognized subject matter expert on issues related to speech, language, voice, cognitive-linguistics, and dysphagia. The incumbent may be responsible for supervision, evaluating, mentoring, and precepting student trainees in speech-language pathology and maintain liaison with affiliated colleges and universities. The incumbent must complete all documentation in accordance with facility policy in a timely manner. The incumbent is responsible for the proper maintenance of all technology items used in the evaluation, diagnosis, or treatment of patient disorders. The incumbent must have a considerable knowledge base of the technical aspects of the clinical instruments and maintain any education for appropriate competencies. The incumbent may perform ancillary assignments, including program management duties on an occasional basis, where the complexity and amount of work is not substantial. Work Schedule: 7:30am-4:00pm | Monday- Friday Compressed/Flexible: At the discretion of the Hiring Official. Telework: Adhoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #:54856F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

Qualifications

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. 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 (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. c. Licensure. Individuals must hold a full, current and unrestricted license in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth or the District of Columbia. 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: (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. Preferred Experience: 3 years acute care or adult medical experience preferred. Current competencies and experience in instrumental swallow evaluation is also preferred. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/153. Dated September 22, 2022. Physical Requirements: See VA Handbook 5019. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. The actual grade at which an applicant will be selected is GS-12.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript (displaying the conferred date) 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 Columbia VA Health Care System 6439 Garners Ferry Road Columbia, SC 29209 US
• Name: Greta Kirby
• Email: [email protected]