Chaplain

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Billings (MT); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Billings, MT is seeking a Chaplain to deliver comprehensive religious, spiritual, and pastoral care integrated into the Veterans Health Administration's chaplain program.

The role requires formal endorsing authority, an M.Div., and clinical pastoral education. You will work within an interdisciplinary team to support Veterans, caregivers, and staff, addressing ethical and spiritual concerns with compassion.

Qualifications

• Master of Divinity degree from an approved program.
• Ecclesiastical endorsement dated within 12 months.
• English language proficiency in speech and writing.
• Two units of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive religious ministry and pastoral care.
• Integrate chaplain services within the IDT and VA program.
• Advise and collaborate with other IDT members to deliver care.
• Lead complex spiritual care interventions in high-stress situations.
• Conduct religious services and rites across diverse denominations.

Skills

Pastoral counseling

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Research and outcome evaluation

Mediation and crisis management

Spiritual care integration

English proficiency

Education

Master of Divinity (M.Div.)

Ecclesiastical endorsement

Two units of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) or equivalent

Job description

Summary

The incumbent serves as a Chaplain professional performing clinical assignments for the VHA. The incumbent provides comprehensive religious - spiritual - and pastoral care to all persons that are commensurate with the needs - desires - and voluntary consent of the Veteran - caregiver - or staff. The incumbent addresses the spiritual component of health and wellness in every patient care setting to ensure that pastoral care is fully integrated into all aspects of chaplain services.

Qualifications

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
• English Language Proficiency: Chaplains must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) - and 7407(d) of the VA Handbook 5005
• Ecclesiastical Endorsement: Candidates must have ecclesiastical endorsement - dated within the past 12 months - from the official national endorsing authority of their faith group or denomination
• For the purpose of this standard - ecclesiastical endorsement is a written official statement - by the official national endorsing body of the faith group or denomination - certifying that the applicant is in good standing with the applicant's group or denomination
• and stating that the individual is - in the opinion of the endorsing body - qualified to perform the full range of ministry required in the VA pluralistic setting
• Education: Candidates must possess the Master of Divinity degree - normally based upon completion of 3 years of graduate study - or possess equivalent educational qualifications
• Equivalent educational qualifications means possession of a bachelor's degree of at least 120 semester hours plus successful completion of 70 semester hours of graduate study which included or was supplemented by all of the following: 20 semester hours of pastoral ministry (examples: homiletics - preaching - ministry - pastoral counseling - supervised ministry and/or practice)
• 20 semester hours in any combination of theology - ethics - and philosophy of religion
• 10 semester hours in religious history or world religions
• and 20 semester hours in the study of sacred or religious writings - including the study of languages in which sacred or religious writings are written
• NOTE: Education achieved prior to the issuance of this standard that included the post-baccalaureate Bachelor of Divinity or Bachelor of Sacred Theology Degrees is generally considered substitutable for the Master of Divinity Degree
• Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE): Candidates must have completed at least two units of CPE as defined by the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE) or the National Association of Catholic Chaplains (NACC) or have equivalent training
• Equivalent training is not less than 800 hours of supervised ministry in a health-care setting - such as a hospital or nursing home - which incorporated both ministry formation and pastoral care skills development
• Combinations of CPE and appropriate supervised ministry which total 800 hours meet this CPE requirement
• GS-12: Chaplain Experience
• One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade
• In addition to meeting the requirements above - must have 1 year of progressively responsible specialized professional experience equivalent in complexity and responsibility to the GS-11 level
• This experience must have demonstrated the following Knowledge - Skills and Abilities (KSAs): (a) Ability to apply relevant theories and methodologies to their ministry specialty
• (b) Ability to integrate specialized psychological and sociological theory with an advanced approach to spiritual care
• (c) Skill to seek out primary research and research literature that informs the ministry specialty and one's spiritual care practice
• (d) Skill in developing and implementing methods for measuring effectiveness of chaplain practice and services in the specialty area - utilizing outcome evaluations to improve treatment services and to design system changes
• ( e) Ability to mediate conflict - hold various emotions and diffuse moral distress among staff and complex crisis situations
• (f) Ability to provide specialized consultation - teaching and mentoring to colleagues and students on advanced spiritual care interventions in the service delivery area (g) Ability to apply advanced clinical knowledge to write policies - procedures and/or practice guidelines pertaining to the service delivery area
• Reference: VA Handbook 5005 Part II - Appendix G67 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: Applicants must be physically and mentally able to efficiently perform the essential functions of the position without hazard to themselves or others
• Depending on the essential duties of a specific position - usable vision - color vision - hearing - or speech may be required
• However - in most cases - a specific physical condition or impairment will not automatically disqualify an applicant for appointment
• The loss or impairment of a specific function may be compensated for by the satisfactory use of a prosthesis or mechanical aid
• Work Environment: Work is primarily performed indoors where there is adequate air supply - lighting - heating and/or cooling
• Work may involve exposure to infection and possible contagious diseases
• Standard precautions and isolation techniques will be employed as indicated
• There is occasion where response to physical and/or verbal abuse by patients requires knowledge gained from ongoing violence in the workplace training
• All persons currently employed as permanent GS-060 VA Chaplains on the effective date of this standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the position held
• They may be promoted - demoted - or reassigned within the GS-060 occupational series because they are considered to have met those qualification requirements
• Any employee initially retained in this manner who leaves this job series loses this protected status and must meet the full requirements of this standard in effect at the time of reentry.

Duties

• Serves as a Chaplain professional providing comprehensive - religious ministry services to Veteran patients according to their specific needs and desires
• Carries out a ministry which is highly integrated into VHA's Chaplain program
• Provides thorough guidance and advice to Chaplain Service management staff - other Chaplains - and other stakeholders
• May serve at a facility in a clinical setting - or a small healthcare system - satellite outpatient clinic - other federal agency - or Community Based Out-patient Clinic (CBOC) where there is limited access to onsite supervision
• Provides extended and intensive pastoral counseling as an integral part of the treatment program with patients facing complex - ethical - moral - and spiritual issues
• Ensures program effectiveness and modification of service pattern - which includes research and leadership of clinical teams
• Practices typically in a specialized clinic/program area - that may include intensive and extended pastoral counseling as an integral part of the treatment program - with patients facing complex moral - ethical - or spiritual problems
• Serves as a Chaplain representative and a fully recognized member of an interdisciplinary treatment team (IDT)
• Advises and collaborates with other members of the IDT to provide comprehensive healthcare services to Veterans
• Works with a full understanding of Chaplains' relationships to the objectives of VHA to successfully integrate the work of the medical facility's staff
• Collaborates with and advises the other members of the IDT in the provision of comprehensive healthcare services to Veterans
• Maintains effective rapport with physicians - medical officers - psychologists - nurses - therapists - social workers - or others involved with the IDT
• Ensures equity of access - service - and benefits to Veterans and provides the highest quality of care
• Provides leadership - direction - orientation - coaching - in-service training - staff development - and continuing education programs
• Serves as a primary Chaplain resource - spiritual advisor - and liaison for the spiritual needs of patients - caregivers - and staff
• Conducts comprehensive religious services and worship - pastoral ministry - and administration of Chaplain services
• Leads various complex and sensitive projects - task groups - and assignments to obtain pertinent high-level information needed for Chaplain Service management officials
• Engages as a spiritual leader - a compassionate listener - and counselor - especially during times of crisis
• Provides emotional support and counseling using empathy and strong interpersonal skills to effectively connect with people of all ages
• Ensures various complex assignments are carried out in a pluralistic environment - which encompasses sensitivity to the religious needs of many separate religious denominations and faith groups
• Provides thorough spiritual leadership - offers prayers - and provides overall religious services for Veteran patients - patient families - staff - and community
• Conducts rituals before groups of people - which requires effective leadership and public speaking skills
• Uses sound guidance and advice to lead prayer and religious services
• Addresses the religious - spiritual - moral - and ethical problems of patients and staff
• Provides effective counseling services to patients and staff
• Conducts regular rounds of hospital wards where patients are critically ill
• Ministers to newly admitted - pre- and post-operative patients - the critically ill - and the families of concerned Veteran patients
• Provides advance care planning education - information - and counsel for patients and their families
• Provides pastoral ministry to patients with respect to the patient's faith group - including conscientious attention during emergencies and crises
• Builds strong interpersonal relationships with patients and ensures all patients are provided opportunities for the free exercise of religion
• Ascertains Veterans are protected from proselytizing and coercing from any source
• Serves as professional clinical Chaplain in specialty clinics such as Inpatient/Outpatient Mental Health - Inpatient/Outpatient Substance Use Disorder Clinics - Hospice - and Palliative Care - Grief and Bereavement Clinics - Women's Health Clinics - Cancer Treatment Centers - Spinal Cord/Polytrauma units - Pain clinics - Infectious Disease Clinics - Whole Health Clinics/Programs - etc
• Work Schedule: 8:00 AM-4:30 PM Monday-Friday Functional Statement #: 61563O