Summary The Eastern Colorado Health Care System VA Hospital is located on the Fitzsimmons Campus in Aurora, Colorado and is currently recruiting for one GS 13 Speech-Language Pathologist. Responsibilities Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf Speech-Language Pathologist duties include, but are not limited to the following: In addition to duties as a speech pathology service provider, the incumbent has a special clinical program responsibilities for the TBI/Polytrauma Program. The incumbent serves as a subject matter expert for Polytrauma for the Speech Pathology section and dedicates no less than 25% of all clinical contact to this pursuit. Applies advanced theories and techniques to patients with polytrauma, provides professional advice and counseling, and provides consultation in the assessment and treatment of individuals with disorders of communication, swallowing and cognition resulting from acquired brain injury; Manages complex cases involving patients with multiple physical, sensory, motor, cognitive, or other issues that complicate communication or swallowing status, and involve multiple clinical management options, challenging clinical decision making, complex data, and high risk of complications, morbidity, or mortality; Exercises independent clinical judgment and adapts clinical procedures and techniques to accommodate age-specific and unique patient conditions, needs, and expectations; Evaluates patients to determine nature, type, and severity of speech, language, voice, cognitive, and swallowing disorders using a full range of diagnostic tests and techniques, past, family, and social history, record review, and consultation with family and other health care practitioners; Plans, coordinates, and implements a full range of patient-focused treatment services designed to optimize function; Safely and effectively uses equipment required for patient care; Consults with physicians and other health care practitioners related to diagnostic evaluation and treatment; Documents in the medical record: evaluation results, 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; Adheres to infection control practices while using equipment and providing patient care; Coordinates continuing education services for staff speech pathologists, allied health professionals, residents and medical staff with regard to Speech Pathology and TBI/Polytrauma, including outreach regionally and nationally; Develops virtual care modalities for the delivery of speech pathology services within the TBI/Polytrauma Program; Coordinates of all performance improvement activities related to speech pathology services within the TBI/Polytrauma Program; Collects and analyses of outcomes data and patient satisfaction for the TBI/Polytrauma Program; Monitors clinical innovations in TBI and Polytrauma; Participation in collaborative research within the TBI/Polytrauma programs. Articulates and communicates goals, objectives, and focused initiatives to an inter-disciplinary team, specialized clinical program, or subunit, as well as guiding the team members on work methods, practices, and procedures; Shows potential ability to monitor and evaluate the work of an inter-disciplinary team, specialized clinical program, or subunit, and to make adjustments in procedures or practices to accomplish program goals; Serves as coach and facilitator in coordinating program or team initiatives and consensus building activities among clinical team members with widely divergent backgrounds, interests, and points of view. Participates educational activities, completes unit based in-services, & mandatory educational activities in a self-directed manner by deadlines Demonstrates positive, effective communication skills & professional behavior that promote cooperation & teamwork Practices good customer customer service and demonstrates VA I-CARE values Participates in unit-based quality of care performance improvement activities, unit based performance improvement measures & results Identifies problem areas by practicing evidence-based practices on unit Perform other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: 8:00-4:30pm, Monday-Friday Compressed/Flexible: May be available for the highly qualified applicant Telework: May be available for the highly qualified applicant Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: PD554-58148-O Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized 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. 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. 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: US Citizenship. Non-citizens may only be appointed when you can't recruit qualified citizens English Language Proficiency. Must be able to speak & write English 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 OR (2) A doctoral degree in speech-language pathology, communication disorders and sciences or a related field, from an accredited college or university. Licensure. Individuals must hold a full, current and unrestricted license in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth or the District of Columbia. Loss of Credential. Management officials, in collaboration with HR Office staff, must immediately relieve employees of the duties and responsibilities associated with the occupation who fail to maintain the required certification, both current and in good standing, which may result in separation from employment. An SLP who has, or has ever had, their SLP license revoked, suspended, denied, restricted, limited or issued/placed in a probationary status may be appointed only in accordance with the provisions in Chapter 3, section B, paragraph 16 of this part. 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. Grade Determination requirements: GS-13-Clinical Specialist Experience/Education. In addition to the basic requirements at the GS-12 level, completion of one year of professional experience comparable to the next lower level and completion of one or more of the following: Board certification such as BRS-S Disorders or BC-ANCDS; OR Completion of a residency or fellowship post-graduate degree; OR College credits (three or more courses) above the graduate degree in the areas relevant to the advance practice. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience requirements, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: 1) Advanced knowledge in a focused area of contemporary speech pathology practice for contemporary and evidence-based practice in differential diagnosis and treatment. 2) Skill in interpreting advanced specialized clinical management programs in focused areas of contemporary speech-language pathology practice. 3) Ability to provide consultation and continuing education in a specific SLP disorder area. Preferred Experience: Brain injury work experience, Inpatient Experience, CBIS certification, Experience with the following: on Interdisciplinary Teams, performing Modified Barium Swallow Studies, Program Development, Involvement with CARF accreditation. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is a GS-13. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is a GS-13. Physical Requirements: Requires frequent physical exertion such as: bending, reaching, crouching, stooping, stretching and lifting moderately heavy items. Must be able to push a patient in a wheelchair and assist in transferring from wheelchair to exam chair. May be sitting for prolonged periods of time: sitting, using computer, keyboard & mouse. Must be able to take, pass & maintain Basic Life Support, BLS certification. Education IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Transcripts must include your name, the school's entire name, can be unofficial transcripts, must have the name of the course, date course taken, grade received for the course, amount of credits earned for the course, date degree conferred, (if applicable), (name of degrees received). 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. 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. 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.