Speech Language Pathologist

Description:

The incumbent serves as a staff Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) in the Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Service (PM&R), at the VACCHCS Fresno. The SLP is a therapist who identifies, diagnoses, and provides speech/language/cognitive retraining therapy for all appropriately referred inpatients, outpatients, and Community Living Center (CLC) patients.

Requirements:

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.

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).

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.
• Licensure: The incumbent must hold a full, current, and unrestricted license in a State, Territory, Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia.
• 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 or
• A doctoral degree in speech-language pathology, communication disorders and sciences or a related field, from an accredited college or university. c. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the KSAs identified for the assignment.
• Assignment: Staff Speech-Language Pathologist. Staff S-LPs at this grade level 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. Individuals may perform ancillary assignments, including program management duties on an occasional basis, where the complexity and amount of work is not substantial (less than 25% of the time).

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

(3) 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

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

• The following KSAs are required:
  • Ability to develop coherent treatment strategies.
  • Ability to incorporate new clinical procedures sufficient to perform clinical services independently.
  • Ability to conduct assessments, provide treatment interventions, and provide consultation to other health care professionals.
  • Knowledge of instrumentation used in speech-language pathology.
  • Knowledge of principles and techniques used in alternative and augmentative communication (AAC) systems, diagnosis and treatment of dysphagia, and cognitive-communication disorders.
  • Knowledge of principles and techniques used in voice disorders including alaryngeal and trach/ventilator-dependent patients.
  • Ability to perform functions associated with contemporary speech-language pathology practice.

Preferred Experience: Acute inpatient experience, outpatient experience, has knowledge of speech-language pathology instrumentation FEES and VFSS, has knowledge of principles and techniques used in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems, diagnosis and treatment of dysphagia, and cognitive communication disorders; has experience in patients with TBI.

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.