Summary 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. Responsibilities Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 08939F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Speech-language pathologists at this grade level are advanced practice independent licensed practitioners and must demonstrate ability to apply advanced knowledge, theories, and techniques to a full range of complex patient populations. The following KSAs are required: a. Advanced knowledge of normal anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology in the areas of speech, language, voice, fluency, swallowing, and cognition; b. Advanced skill to perform and interpret diagnostic tests to a full range of patient populations; c. Advanced skill to provide treatment interventions including analysis of instrumental tests of swallowing function and fitting of voice prostheses in the post-surgical management of patients with head/neck cancer, and advanced augmentative/alternative communication technology in a full range of patient populations; d. Knowledge of embryology, genetics, nutrition, laboratory values, pharmacology, ethics, compliance, diagnostic imaging, and biostatistics; e. Advanced knowledge of, and ability to perform, functions associated with contemporary speech language pathology scope of practice; and f. Significant professional achievements such as continuing education, leadership, graduate-level teaching, or scholarly works included research articles, presentations, seminar, or workshops. g. Provides patient, family, and caregiver training and education as related, in order to implement treatment strategies used in clinic and at home. Directly reports to the Supervisory Therapist/Rehab Manager and both are responsible to Chief of PM&R Service. The Speech Therapist is expected to work independently. The defined goals, priorities and deadlines for administrative related duties are under the direct supervision of the Supervisory Therapist/Rehab Manager. The employee performs work independently in accordance with policies, education, experience, and training. The supervisor makes assignments (patient evaluations and interventions and all related administrative tasks) by defining regulations, objectives, priorities and deadlines and assists the employee with unusual situations that do not have clear precedents. The employee independently plans, designs, implements, and administers a full range of speech therapy assessments, programs and educational materials for the referred patients. The work is executed in accordance with instructions, policies, previous training, and accepted practices in the occupation and as allowed by professional license and certificate and local scope of practice. The employee seeks guidance from supervisor in unusual or complex cases. Work is evaluated for technical soundness, appropriateness, methods, and conformity to policy and requirements. Evaluation of work is frequently monitored in the orientation period. After the orientation period, work is reviewed at least quarterly for accuracy and adherence to policy. Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. 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: A master's degree or its equivalent in speech-language pathology, communication disorders, or a directly 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: For those grades that require licensure (GS-12 and above), the incumbent must hold a full, current, and unrestricted license in a State, Territory, Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia. The S-LP must maintain full, current, and unrestricted licensure/registration. Non-licensed applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for S-LP licensure may be given a temporary appointment as a graduate S-LP under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405 (a) (1) (D). Failure to obtain licensure during that period is justification for termination of the temporary appointment. This may result in termination of employment. 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. A S-LP who has, or ever has had his/her speech-language pathology license revoked, suspended, denied, restricted, limited, or issued/placed on a probationary status may be appointed only in accordance with the provisions in Chapter 3, section B, paragraph 16 of this part. 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). Grade Determination: Speech-Language Pathologist, GS-13. (1) Experience. In addition to the basic requirements at the GS-12 level, completion of one year of professional experience comparable to the next lower level. (2) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience requirements, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of scientific principles and contemporary, evidence-based practice in differential diagnosis and treatment of speech, language, voice, swallowing and cognitive-communication disorders as it relates to a specialized clinical program. (b) Skill in prioritizing program goals and objectives. (c) Ability to build consensus among clinical team members, interests and points of view. (d) Ability to gather and evaluate outcome data to determine program quality and effectiveness. (e) Ability to serve as a resource to other health care providers regarding a specialized clinical program. Preferred Experience: Advanced inpatient and outpatient experience and skills to perform and interpret diagnostic tests to a full range of patient populations; advanced skill to provide treatment interventions including analysis of instrumental tests of swallowing function and fitting of voice prostheses in the post-surgical management of patients with head/neck cancer, and advanced ugmentative/alternative communication technology in a full range of patient populations; independent and skilled in treatment of dysphagia and cognitive-communication disorders; knowledge of principles and techniques used in voice disorders including alaryngeal and trach/ventilator-dependent patients to perform functions associated with contemporary speech-language pathology scope of practice. 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-13. 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/. Additional Information Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.
