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Health Technician (Speech Pathology)

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is located in the Audiology and Speech Pathology Service at the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, West Los Angeles, California. The duties and responsibilities are carried out in all clinical and other patient care areas involved with the Speech Pathology Service.


Overview

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Job canceled
Open & closing dates
03/17/2023 to 03/31/2023
Salary
$48,655 to - $63,247 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 6
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Los Angeles, CA
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
None
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
CBSX-11858905-23-SMW
Control number
712234200

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

ALL US CITIZENS DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY: This position is being filled using Direct-Hire Authority (5 CFR 337.201) for this occupation.

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Duties

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The health technician supports the function of the clinical programs in Speech Pathology. The incumbent is a staff health technician (Speech Pathology) under the supervision of a GS-12 Speech Pathologist or above. On-the-job training is anticipated for the incumbent of this position. Primary responsibility is for patient care, supporting diagnostic and treatment procedures, patient charting and patient education, which do not require full professional speech pathology education or knowledge and skills represented by speech pathology licensure. Support functions include both direct patient care and administrative duties.

Direct patient care duties may include, but not limited to the following:

  • Greeting and escorting patients
  • Triaging patients to a Speech Pathologist based on the patient's needs and nature and complexity of the procedures being completed
  • Set-up, support and involvement in procedures including fluoroscopic swallow evaluation, rigid and flexible endoscopy, tracheostomy phonatory valve assessment and management, expiratory muscle strength training.
  • Preparing assessment batteries, tools and therapeutic materials for communication and cognitive-linguistic evaluations and treatments.
  • Participating and assisting in assessment and treatment for use of augmentative, alternative and environmental computerized communication systems and assistive cognitive devices.
  • Patient instruction and education on communication, cognitive and swallowing disorders and assistive communication aids, either on an individual basis or in a group setting.
  • Administering speech, language, dysphagia, voice and oral mechanism screenings and reflux inventories without clinical interpretation.
  • Assisting patients and caregivers in completing case history and other relevant forms; Checking patient readiness for procedures.
  • Collaborating with Nursing and other services regarding candidacy and readiness for participating in fluoroscopic and endoscopic swallow and laryngeal evaluations.
  • Setting-up, preparing and breaking down equipment and test supplies, for fluoroscopic and endoscopic procedures.
Work Schedule: Monday Thru Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement # 00000Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Available
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Available
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
  • All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
  • Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
  • Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
  • You may be required to serve a probationary period.
  • Subject to background/security investigation.
  • Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
  • 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).
  • Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

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:

a. 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).

b. Experience and Education.

  • (1) Experience. Six months of experience comparable to the next lower level which demonstrates the knowledge, skills and abilities related to the duties of the position to be filled.
OR
  • (2) Education. Successful completion of two academic years above high school leading to an associate degree or a bachelor's degree with at least 12 semester hours in courses related to the position.
OR
  • (3) Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying. An example of a combination of experience/education is three months of experience comparable to the next lower level which demonstrates the knowledge, skills and abilities related to the duties of the position to be filled and one year above high school with a minimum of 6 semester hours related to the health care industry.

c. Grandfathering Provision. All individuals employed in VHA in this occupational series or in another occupational series performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of the qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held including positive education and licensure/trademark/registration/certification. For 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:
  • (1) They may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions.
  • (2) If an HTA, HTSLP or HTASLP who was retained under this provision leaves the occupation, the employee will lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the occupation.
  • (3) HTAs, HTSLPs or HTASLPs 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 standard.
  • (4) Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation.

f. Foreign Education. To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education must have been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. programs.

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 Determinations: GS-06

(1) Experience:
Completion of one year of progressive experience and/or experience equivalent to the next lower grade level directly related to the position being filled.
(2) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
  • (a) Knowledge of anatomy of the head and neck and oral structures and functions.
  • (b) Knowledge of medical terminology as it relates to speech-language pathology for communication and swallowing impairments.
  • (c) Knowledge of prosthetic items and communication devices often prescribed by speech-language pathology staff and assist with ordering and tracking process.
  • (d) Ability to prepare supplies and equipment for speech, language, voice and/or swallowing evaluation and treatment.
  • (e) Ability to document and code patient procedures.

(3) Assignment.
Employees at this grade level serve as a full performance level HTSLP. The HTSLP at this level works independently under the direction of a licensed SLP. Assignments associated with this position include but are not limited to triaging inpatient and outpatient consults in collaboration with the SLP and checking the integrity of instrumentation such as speech science equipment and voice measurement equipment in the clinic. The health technician assists in setting up and delivering face to face and telehealth visits by preparing the equipment for patient evaluation and preparing evaluation rooms for speech-language pathology procedures. The health technician generates therapeutic stimuli and home programs for routine treatments in collaboration with the SLP; monitors facility compliance with established policies; and verifies radiology orders for swallow procedures. The health technician tracks the progress of prosthetic orders and communicates with the SLP and patient regarding the order status. The health technician completes documentation in the patient record for each episode of care and codes procedures as appropriate in preparation for co-signature by the SLP.

References: VA Handbook 5005/143, Part II, APPENDIX G70

Physical Requirements:
The work requires some physical exertion such as prolonged periods of standing, bending, reaching, crouching, stooping, stretching, and lifting moderately heavy items such as manuals, record boxes, equipment or assisting patients. The work requires above average agility and dexterity.

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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

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.

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.

Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.

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.

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, résumé, 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.

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