Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

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The position is in the Audiology & Speech Pathology Service of VA New York Harbor Healthcare System (VA NYHHS). VA NYHHS is a multi-campus system composed of two tertiary care medical centers, a community living center, and two CBOCs. The duties and responsibilities are discharged throughout VA NYHHS in all clinical and patient care areas involved with the Service. This position is located at each of three major divisions of VA NYHHS and any of the incumbents may discharge their duties and responsibilities at any of the sites within VA NYHHS. Incumbent is a staff speech-language pathologist at the full performance level.

Performs functions associated with contemporary speech-language pathology practice. Incumbent functions at the full performance level.

In carrying out the duties and responsibilities of this position, the incumbent:

• Uses a wide range of knowledge of, and skill in applying, a wide range of theories, principles, and methodologies in the practice of speech-language pathology to a wide range of populations.
• Develops coherent treatment strategies.
• Incorporates new clinical procedures sufficient to perform clinic services independently.
• Conducts assessments, provides treatment interventions, and provides consultation to other health care professionals.
• Has knowledge of instrumentation used in speech-language pathology.
• Has knowledge of principles and techniques to use and prescribe assistive technology including augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems, cognitive-communication, and swallowing aids.
• Has knowledge of principles and techniques used in voice disorders including laryngeal and trach/ventilator-dependent patients to perform functions associated with contemporary speech-language pathology scope of practice
• Exercises independent clinical judgment and adapts clinical procedures and techniques to accommodate age-specific and unique patient conditions, needs, and expectations.
• Consults with physicians and other health care practitioners related to diagnostic evaluation and treatment.
• Documents in the medical record: evaluates, diagnosis and clinical opinion, treatment plans, outcomes of treatment, changes in functional status, and patient/family education.
• Attends interdisciplinary team meetings; participates with other health care practitioners to address the global needs of the patient, advises on diagnosis and treatment.
• Provide patient and family education including informed consent.
• Has knowledge of and mastery in use of varying service-care delivery modalities including telehealth/virtual care.
• Follows applicable informed consent, HIPAA rules on privacy and protecting patient rights.
• Provide orientation/training of medical staff.
• Assist in orientation and training of new staff.
• Keep current with theory and practice through continuing education programs, journals, textbooks, and other literature, and in-service programs.
• Provide professional supervision to students, interns or trainees from accredited academic affiliates while they are in a training environment at VA NYHHS. This may include practicum and Clinical Fellowship Year (CFY) externs.
• The following administrative duties may also be required:
  • Participates in developing guidelines and protocols, new patient programs, and evaluation of existing programs.
  • Maintains patient records and other data required by the clinic, service, and medical center.
  • Maintains, supplies, equipment and clinical areas to optimize safety and efficiency.
  • May be requested to service on service-level committees or task forces or to represent to service/section on medical center, network, or national committees.
  • May perform ancillary assignments, including program management duties on an occasional basis, where the complexity and amount of work is not substantial
• Other duties as assigned

Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Telework: Not available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 12391-F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.Contact VISN2EDRPCoordinators@va.gov , the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not authorized

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 evaluation.
• 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 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.

Note:(1) 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).(2) 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.(3) 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).(4) Foreign Education. To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. program by a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials.

• Licensure. Individuals must hold a full, current and unrestricted license in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth or the District of Columbia.

Note:(1) Non-licensed applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for S-LP licensure may be given a temporary appointment as a graduate SLP 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. Individuals appointed as graduate S-LPs may not be promoted to the GS-12 level without being fully licensed.(2) 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.(3) Employees who lose their credential or who fail to maintain the required certification, both current and in good standing, must be immediately relieved of the duties and responsibilities associated with the occupation, which may result in separation from employment. 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.

• English Language Proficiency. SLP candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).

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 Requirements: In addition to the basic requirements, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.

For the GS-12 Speech-Language Pathologist (Journey Level/Full Performance Level):

• 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,
  • 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 evaluations.
  • Ability to assess the effectiveness of clinical outcomes and adapt clinical procedures and techniques to accommodate unique patient conditions.

Assignment. This is the full performance level. At this level, SLPs independently provide evidence-based assessment and treatment interventions to individuals with a wide range of speech, language, voice, cognitive-communication and swallowing disorders. Staff SLPs select, administer and interpret standardized and non-standardized assessment measures. They integrate assessment findings into a patient-centered treatment plan of care and evaluate the effectiveness of interventions by collecting and documenting treatment outcomes. SLPs may be assigned to work in a specific clinical area such as traumatic brain injury, head and neck cancer, movement disorders or spinal cord injury. They may provide clinical training experiences for trainees and students and participate in research activities.

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 GS-12.

Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.