Chaplain

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Martinsburg (WV); On-site; USD 75,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) seeks a Chaplain within the Veterans Health Administration to provide spiritual care across VISNs, inpatient and outpatient clinics nationwide.

Candidates must hold an M.Div. or equivalent, maintain ecclesiastical endorsement, and pursue board certification; non-board-certified chaplains may be temporarily appointed with supervision. This role supports holistic care in a pluralistic VA environment.

Qualifications

• Master of Divinity degree or equivalent (CHEA/ATS-accredited)
• Ecclesiastical endorsement current within past 12 months
• Board Certification by BCCI or reciprocity with BCCI (4 units of CPE is qualifying)
• Temporary appointment possible for non-board-certified chaplains up to 2 years with supervision
• Foreign education must be evaluated by NACES member agencies

Responsibilities

• Conduct spiritual assessments to identify patient needs and create care plans
• Provide crisis intervention and stabilization as required
• Collaborate with health care teams to update treatment plans
• Communicate effectively in writing and verbally with patients and staff
• Develop pastoral care programs that are measurable and outcomes-driven
• Counsel on medical/ethical issues, terminal diagnoses or crises
• Support staff resiliency and wellness through spiritual care
• Educate staff on spiritual needs and appropriate referrals to chaplains

Skills

Spiritual assessment

Crisis intervention

Team collaboration

Effective communication

Education

Master of Divinity

Educational equivalency review accepted

Job description

This position is located within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Veterans Affairs Medical Centers (VAMC), Chaplain Service (CS). The position provides services within various settings, including Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISNs), Inpatient Clinics, Outpatient Clinics and domiciliaries throughout the United States.

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.
• English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f).
• Education. Applicants must possess a Master of Divinity degree or equivalent educational qualifications as evidenced by a graduate-level theological degree from a college, university or theological school accredited by a member of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or Association of Theological Schools (ATS) and recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
  • NOTE: For applicants who do not possess a Master of Divinity degree or equivalent educational degree, an approved educational equivalency review from a nationally recognized board certification body for chaplains (see paragraph d) is acceptable.
• Ecclesiastical Endorsement. In accordance with 38 C.F.R. § 17.655, ecclesiastical endorsement is a condition of employment as a VA chaplain. An individual must possess and maintain a full and active ecclesiastical endorsement to be employed as a VA chaplain. Applicants must have an ecclesiastical endorsement, dated within the past 12 months. Ecclesiastical endorsements must be from the official national endorsing authority of the applicant's/employee's faith group or denomination. 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 faith 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. Loss of endorsement will result in removal from the GS-0060 Chaplain series and may result in termination of employment.
• Board Certification.
  • Certification. Applicants must be a Board-Certified Chaplain certified by BCCI ® or a U.S. certifying body that has a reciprocity agreement with BCCI ®. Board Certification that requires 4 units of CPE is qualifying. The National Chaplain Service maintains a list of approved certifications found on the National VA Chaplain Service SharePoint.
  • Exception for Non-Board-Certified Chaplains.
    • (a) Non-Board-Certified applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements, may be given a temporary appointment as a Chaplain under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2) not to exceed 2 years.
    • (b) Non-Board-Certified Chaplains must provide proof of completion of 4 units of CPE as required by an approved board certifying body.
    • (c) Non-Board-Certified individuals may only provide care under the supervision of a certified Chaplain at or above the FPL.
    • (d) Non-Board-Certified individuals may only be appointed at the entry level and may not be promoted/converted until certification is obtained. Temporary appointments of non-board-certified Chaplains may not be extended beyond 2 years or be converted to a new temporary appointment.
• Foreign Education. To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S.must be submitted to a current affiliate agency of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) at https://www.naces.org/members and be deemed at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. program.

Grade Determinations

In addition to the basic requirements for employment, candidates must meet the following grade determining criteria for placement.

GS-11

• Experience. One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-9). Experience includes:
  • Conducts spiritual assessments to identify patient strengths and needs and creates plans for care in response to the moral injuries and spiritual distress of patients, Provides crisis intervention and stabilization as required, Collaborates with health care teams to create and update treatment plans to address spiritual distress, grief, and loss as existential concerns to enhance holistic care, Uses a variety of intervention methods, including individual and group intervention, to address the emotional and spiritual needs of patients and families, Communicates effectively both in writing and verbally with all individuals
• Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs).
  • Knowledge of advance care planning to educate, inform, and counsel patients and families.
  • Skill in guiding patients in verbalizing and expressing values through life review, oral history, and end of life preparation and documentation.
  • Ability to develop pastoral care programs that are measurable, outcome-driven and evidenced based within the department guidelines.
  • Skill in counseling on medical and ethical issues, terminal diagnoses or crises, moral injury, problems of conscience, family or marital difficulties, and justice or confinement matters.
  • Ability to support the development of staff resiliency and develop programs for staff development and wellness by providing spiritual and emotional support.
  • Ability to educate and equip health care staff and trainees screening for spiritual and religious needs of patients and the importance of appropriate referrals to chaplains for complex spiritual distress.
  • Knowledge of community needs to coordinate with community organizations to provide comprehensive spiritual care, utilizing outside community resources to meet the religious needs of patients that cannot be met by chaplain staff.

Reference

https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11.

Physical Requirements

This position requires the Chaplain to meaningfully engage with Veteran patients and family members by walking and moving within the healthcare setting or with the incumbent using an assistive device. The Chaplain is required to speak, hear (hearing aid permitted) and work closely with others.