Audiologist (Clinical Specialist)

Summary This position is located in the Audiology & Speech Pathology Section of the Greenville Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC). The duties and responsibilities are carried out throughout the medical center and all clinical and patient care areas involved with the service. Responsibilities Major duties may include, but are not limited to: The Clinical Specialist provides leadership and directs oversight in the design, development, implementation, planning and management of the ASP- traineeship program. He/she serves as a coach or facilitator for an interdisciplinary team and is responsible for training all support staff and trainees as it relates to the specialty program. This incumbent will serve as the SME in matters regarding the specialty program. EDUCATION: (10%) Provides orientation/training of medical staff and trainees; Assists in orientation and training of new staff and trainees; The incumbent will act as the primary preceptor and will provide supervision to students, trainees, and staff; Keeps current with theory and practice through continuing education programs, journals, textbooks, and other literature, and in-service programs; Ensures all TMS training is completed by trainees to current standards in compliance with VHA and HIPAA guidelines; Has overall responsibility for developing and directing education and training programs within the unified audiology and speech pathology clinic at all campuses within the Columbia VA Health Care System; ADMINISTRATIVE: (10%) In carrying out the administrative duties and responsibilities of the position, incumbent: Uses knowledge in a focused area of contemporary audiology education practices; Assists as a coach or facilitator for an interdisciplinary team and for training of staff and trainees as it relates to preceptor coordination processes within the CVAHCS ASP Clinic; Articulates and communicates goals, objectives, and focused initiatives for a specialized clinical program, as well as guiding other service staff members on work methods, practices, and procedures; Monitors and evaluates the work of a specialized clinical program and makes adjustments in procedures or practices to accomplish program goals; Creates and maintains the handouts, training guides, questionnaires and presentations for the audiology and speech pathology clinical education program; Tracks the performance of each program through analysis of data supplied by the clinicians; Recommends appointment, advancement, or disciplinary actions of trainees under the clinical education program; Plans, assesses, and evaluates programs to ensure proper coordination between care delivery within the section or service and the overall delivery of healthcare; Makes decisions that affect staff and other resources associated with the section and are made with wide latitude of control and independent judgement; Develops, organizes, directs, manages, supervises, controls, and implements policies and procedures in focused clinical programs. CLINICAL: (80%) Uses knowledge and skills acquired through education and experience to evaluate patients presenting with complex problems, develop coherent treatment strategies, and to perform functions associated with contemporary audiology or speech pathology scope of practice; Exercises independent clinical judgment and adapts clinical procedures and techniques to accommodate age-specific and unique patient conditions, needs, and expectation; Consults with physicians and other health care practitioners related to diagnostic evaluation and treatment; Evaluates patients to determine nature, type, and severity of disorders using a full range of diagnostic tests and techniques, past, family, and social history, record review, and consultation with family and other healthcare practitioners; Provides evaluations, assessments, training, and follow up programs appropriate to the scope of practice. Evaluates functional status before and after intervention and verifies appropriate use of any issued technology and or amplification items; Plans, coordinates, and implements a full range of patient - focused treatment programs designed to optimize function; Documents in the medical record: evaluation, diagnosis and clinical opinion, treatment plans, outcomes of treatment, changes and functional status, and patient or family education; Attends interdisciplinary team meetings; participates with other health care practitioners to address the global needs of the patient and advises on diagnosis and treatment. Work Schedule: 7:30am - 6:00pm | Tuesday- Friday Compressed/Flexible: Not Available Telework: Not Eligible Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #:544-55083F 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. 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 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. Education. (1) Doctor of Audiology (AUD) from an audiology program recognized by the Accreditation Commission for Audiology Education (ACAE) or Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). HR office staff and management officials may verify a program's accreditation from ACAE at acaeaccred.org and CAA at caa.asha.org. OR (2) Other doctoral degree in hearing science or a directly related field from an institution accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. NOTE: Effective January 1, 2007, the CAA in Audiology and Speech- Language Pathology of ASHA accredits only doctoral degree or AUD programs in audiology. c. Licensure. Individuals must hold a full, current and unrestricted license in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth or the District of Columbia. Grandfathering Provision. Employees in VHA in this occupation, under a permanent, appropriate, and legal placement on the effective date of the qualification standard, are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade and/or assignment held, including positive education and licensure, where applicable. For employees who do not meet all the basic or assignment specific requirements in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed, the following provisions apply: (1) Employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or be changed to a lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or be newly placed in supervisory or managerial positions. (2) Employees 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. (3) Employees retained in this occupation under this provision who subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re entry to the occupation. (4) Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional licensure that meets all the basic or assignment specific qualification requirements of this standard must maintain the required credential as a condition of employment in the occupation. (5) NOTE: This grandfathering provision is not intended to regularize appointments/ placements. GS-13 Grade Determinations: (1) Experience. At least two years of experience as a professional audiologist, with at least one year comparable to the next lower grade level. (2) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the KSAs required at the full performance level, the following KSAs are required: (a) Skill in determining nature, type, and severity of hearing/communication/vestibular disorders. (b) Skill in counseling patients and family members regarding management of hearing/communication/vestibular disorders. (c) Ability to provide professional advice and consultation in areas related to professional audiology to other health care professionals. (d) Ability to independently apply professional contemporary audiologic treatments to the full range of patient populations. References: Former VA Handbook Reference: Part II Appendix G29 Effective date: March 18, 2024 Physical Requirements: See VA Handbook 5019. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. The actual grade at which an applicant will be selected is GS-13. Education IMPORTANT: A transcript (displaying the conferred date) 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. 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.