Speech-Language Pathologist

Summary This position is assigned to work in the Speech Therapy Clinics at the VA Western New York Healthcare System - as assigned - at the Buffalo NY or Batavia NY campus. Speech Therapy is located in the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service at the VA Western New York Healthcare System. 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: 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)English Language Proficiency: Speech-Language Pathologist candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f)Education: 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 experienceOR A doctoral degree in speech-language pathology - communication disorders and sciences or a related field - from an accredited college or university""Accredited"" means 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 (ASHA)Licensure: Individuals must hold a full - current and unrestricted license in a U.S. state - territory - commonwealth or the District of ColumbiaGrandfathering Provision: All persons employed in VHA in this occupational series or in another occupational series that are also performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held - including positive education and licensureFor 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: SLPs may be reassigned - promoted up to and including the full performance level or changed to a lower grade within the occupation - but may not be promoted beyond the full performance level or placed in supervisory or managerial positionsIf SLPs who are retained under this provision leave the occupation - they will lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the occupationSLPs initially grandfathered into this occupation - who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard - must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employmentSLPs who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed - on a temporary or permanent basis - until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standardMay 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-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 pathologyDemonstrated Knowledge - Skills and Abilities (KSAs)In addition to the experience requirements - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: 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 Skill in administering and interpreting instrumental swallowing evaluationsAbility to assess the effectiveness of clinical outcomes and adapt clinical procedures and techniques to accommodate unique patient conditionsReference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/Preferred Experience: 1 year of experience in acute care Physical Requirements: The work requires frequent stooping - bending - walking - handling of wheelchairs and lifting in conjunction with treatment of patientsAt times - there may be undue heavy lifting due to unforeseen circumstances such as preventing a patient from fallingDexterity and skill in safe machinery techniques are requiredThe work involves regular and recurring exposure to moderate risks and discomforts which require special safety and health precautions - eg. - working regularly with patients and in situations where there is risk of exposure to contagious diseases - odors and/or flammable gasesThe therapist is required to wear protective clothing such as gloves and a mask to prevent disease and the spread of infection. Duties The speech-language pathologist at this level conducts - plans - and coordinates all clinical and administrative aspects of a full range of services associated with contemporary speech-language pathology practiceMajor duties include - but not limited to: Independent diagnostic assessment and evaluation of cases that are referred to Speech-Language Pathology without limitation as to difficulty or complexityConduct interviews with the patients and appropriate family members and/or friends - selects - administers and interprets the diagnostic test necessary to detect and evaluate any type of speech - language - voice - fluency - cognitive - and/or swallowing disordersResponsible for the adequacy of assessment and for the reporting of the findings to other professional workers with whom he/she works or other members of the Speech-Language Pathology service may cooperate in formulating diagnostic and clinical judgmentsassesses patient condition from close observation and consultation with other members of the inter-disciplinary health care teamand utilizing all diagnostic and evaluative procedures and techniques consistent with contemporary speech-language pathology practicePlanning - 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 functioningAdministration of a full range tests of speech - language - voice - fluency - and cognition including modal level and variation of vocal pitch and loudnessvariability of the rate of vocal utterancefrequency and complexity of speech disfluencyconsistency and adaptation of disfluency in sustained or repeated speaking and aural readingphonetic analysis of speech designed to identify and evaluate patterns of misarticulation - such as distortions and omissions of sounds - as well as phonemic substitutions - including patterns of variation and speech sound articulationand identification of phonetic and semantic factors related to this variationDevelops an effective and comprehensive plan of care for swallowing disorders in collaboration with other health care practitionersestablishes and maintains an effective therapy relationship with the patient - family and caregiversand adjusts treatment plan to patient response and indicators of progressServes 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 - and swallowing disordersRemain 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 the profession and related professionsPatient scheduling - assessment - goal setting - patient education - treatment implementation and discharge planning for patients referred to speech therapyPerforms and interprets the results of tests and measurements of the patient's status in order to formulate an appropriate - comprehensive treatment planOther duties as assigned Work Schedule: Sunday - Thursday - 7:00am-3:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual positionFunctional Statement #: 23996-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized