Summary

The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this occupational series. For more information - refer to Required Documents below. The Speech Language Pathologist is assigned to the Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Service (PM&Rs) at the Jack C Montgomery VA Medical Center and within the PM&Rs Service locations.

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
• 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
• The requirement for licensure may be waived by the Under Secretary for Health or designee in VHA Central Office for individuals engaged in research or academic assignments involving no direct patient care duties - in accordance with current activities
• 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-11
• Education
• None beyond the basic requirements
• 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
• 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
• 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: Inpatient Rehabilitation & Acute Care - 4+ years experience - proficiency performing swallow studies
• Reference: 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 in the range of GS-11 to GS-12
• Physical Requirements: The physical demand of the work requires regular and recurring physical exertion such as standing or walking for prolonged periods of time - frequent bending - reaching - stooping - and stretching to set up and take apart equipment and apparatus
• lifting and repositioning patients
• and pushing or pulling heavy objects
• The work may require specific physical characteristics and abilities such as above average dexterity to perform intricate therapy procedures.

Duties

• Duties Include but are not limited to: The SLP will be committed with-in the facility related to IRU Compliance
• Writing and establishing of new operational guidelines and/or departmental and policies for new or expanded programs
• Develop - implement - and monitor evidence-based rehabilitative practices and clinical practice guidelines for interdisciplinary teams throughout EOVAHCS
• Setting priorities for the purchase of new rehabilitative medical equipment for interdisciplinary teams
• Collection and analysis of stakeholder feedback from internal and external stakeholders related to care provided in PMRS
• Responsible for coordinating - collecting IRU data for all CIIRP patients - Acute Strokes - and Amputees per regulations
• Conducts durability calls on all CIIRP and OPRP patients - with appropriate chart documentation
• Coordinates and oversees performance improvement activities as well as participates in PI activities
• Assisting in develops quality improvement indicators
• Notifies PM&R Service Chief of program related concerns and provides solutions to issues
• Maintains IRU related polices - SOPs - memorandums and assist in revisions per standards Independently providing assessment and treatment interventions to inpatients and outpatients received through healthcare provider referrals and patient self-referrals
• Accurately interprets providers consult instructions and adapts clinical procedures and techniques to accommodate age- specific and unique patient conditions - needs - and expectations
• Guided by different diagnoses - SLP conducts and coordinates all aspects of diagnostic assessments - evaluations - and therapeutic and rehabilitative services for speech - language - voice - fluency - cognitive - and swallowing disorders
• Demonstrates professional knowledge of - and skill in applying a wide range of theories - principles - and methodologies of the practice of Speech Pathology to a wide range of populations
• Conducts interviews with the patients and appropriate family members and/or significant others - selecting - administering - and interpreting the diagnostic test necessary to detect and evaluate any types of speech - language - voice - fluency - cognitive - and/or swallowing disorders
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday - 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: Situational (Ad Hoc) Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 623-55683-0 - 623-55684-0 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized