Chaplain
Duties include, but are not limited to:
Serves as a Chaplain professional providing complete religious ministry services to Veteran patients according to their specific needs and desires. Serves as a primary resource, spiritual advisor and point of contact for the spiritual needs of patients, caregivers and staff. Conducts religious services and worship, pastoral ministry, and administration of Chaplain services under the direct supervision and guidance of a higher-grade chaplain. Provides emotional support and counseling using strong interpersonal skills to effectively connect with people of all ages with empathy. Addresses religious, spiritual, moral, and ethical problems of patients and staff under the direct supervision and guidance of a higher-grade chaplain for complex non-routine issues. Provides counseling services to patients and staff and conducts regular rounds of hospital wards containing the critically ill. 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. Maintains liaison with physicians, medical officers, psychologists, nurses, therapists, social workers, or others involved to exchange information relative to the background and current condition of patients. Uses knowledge of different faiths to perform various religious rituals, lead prayers, and answer spiritual questions. Maintains records and appropriately documents chaplaincy care services in the Electronic Health Record Management (EHRM) system/Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) through either service approved template or Subjective, Objective, Assessment, and Plan (SOAP) note format. Develops measurable, outcome-driven, and evidence-based pastoral care; and creates staff development and wellness programs. Administers ordinances, rites or sacraments; prepares and delivers sermons; arranges for the atmosphere and symbolism of worship; and conducts funeral services when needed. Work Schedule:
Hours and days of the week may vary depending on facility/Veteran needs; however, the typical schedule is Monday - Friday, administrative hours with rotating Sundays and call backs. More information will be provided during the interview process. Financial Disclosure Report:
Not required 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. 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. Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE):
Applicants must have completed four units of CPE from a CPE center that is accredited by an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. 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:
Applicants must be a Board Certified Chaplain certified by the Board of Chaplaincy Certification Inc. (BCCI) or nationally recognized certification body that utilizes the BCCI Common Qualifications and Competencies for Professional Chaplaincy or a certifying organization that has a reciprocity agreement with BCCI . Exception:
Non-certified applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements may be given a temporary appointment under the authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405(c)(2) for a period not to exceed two years. English Language Proficiency:
Chaplains must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f). 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). Preferred
Experience:
Board certification Grade Determinations:
GS-09
Experience:
None beyond the basic requirements AND Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to meeting the basic experience requirements, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
1. Knowledge of spiritual assessments to identify patient strengths and needs and documenting services provided. 2. Ability to use the information of the spiritual assessment to create care plans in all dimensions of pastoral care. 3. Ability to provide crisis intervention and stabilization. 4. Skill in healthcare team collaboration to create and update treatment plans to address spiritual issues. 5. Ability to ensure free exercise of religion for patients and staff. 6. Knowledge of individual and group interventions to address spiritual and emotional needs of patients and families; providing referrals for continuity of spiritual care. 7. Skill in the coordination of religious services respecting the faith tradition of individual patients. 8. Ability to communicate verbally and in writing with persons of varied backgrounds. GS-11
Experience:
The candidate must have one year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-9 level that is directly related to the position to be filled. AND Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to meeting the KSAs for the GS-9 grade level, the candidate must meet the experience above and demonstrate the following KSAs:
1. Knowledge of advance care planning to educate, inform, and counsel patients and families. 2. Skill in guiding patients in verbalizing and expressing values through life review, oral history, and end of life preparation and documentation. 3. Ability to develop pastoral care programs that are measurable, outcome-driven and evidenced based within the department guidelines. 4. 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. 5. Ability to support the development of staff resiliency and develop programs for staff development and wellness by providing spiritual and emotional support. 6. Ability to educate and equip healthcare staff and trainees screening for spiritual and religious needs of patients and the importance of appropriate referrals to chaplains for complex spiritual distress. 7. 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. References:
VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G67 Physical Requirements:
Light carrying, under 15 pounds, use of fingers, walking up to one hour, and hearing (aid permitted).
Estimated Salary: $20 to $28 per hour based on qualifications.
Serves as a Chaplain professional providing complete religious ministry services to Veteran patients according to their specific needs and desires. Serves as a primary resource, spiritual advisor and point of contact for the spiritual needs of patients, caregivers and staff. Conducts religious services and worship, pastoral ministry, and administration of Chaplain services under the direct supervision and guidance of a higher-grade chaplain. Provides emotional support and counseling using strong interpersonal skills to effectively connect with people of all ages with empathy. Addresses religious, spiritual, moral, and ethical problems of patients and staff under the direct supervision and guidance of a higher-grade chaplain for complex non-routine issues. Provides counseling services to patients and staff and conducts regular rounds of hospital wards containing the critically ill. 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. Maintains liaison with physicians, medical officers, psychologists, nurses, therapists, social workers, or others involved to exchange information relative to the background and current condition of patients. Uses knowledge of different faiths to perform various religious rituals, lead prayers, and answer spiritual questions. Maintains records and appropriately documents chaplaincy care services in the Electronic Health Record Management (EHRM) system/Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) through either service approved template or Subjective, Objective, Assessment, and Plan (SOAP) note format. Develops measurable, outcome-driven, and evidence-based pastoral care; and creates staff development and wellness programs. Administers ordinances, rites or sacraments; prepares and delivers sermons; arranges for the atmosphere and symbolism of worship; and conducts funeral services when needed. Work Schedule:
Hours and days of the week may vary depending on facility/Veteran needs; however, the typical schedule is Monday - Friday, administrative hours with rotating Sundays and call backs. More information will be provided during the interview process. Financial Disclosure Report:
Not required 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. 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. Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE):
Applicants must have completed four units of CPE from a CPE center that is accredited by an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. 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:
Applicants must be a Board Certified Chaplain certified by the Board of Chaplaincy Certification Inc. (BCCI) or nationally recognized certification body that utilizes the BCCI Common Qualifications and Competencies for Professional Chaplaincy or a certifying organization that has a reciprocity agreement with BCCI . Exception:
Non-certified applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements may be given a temporary appointment under the authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405(c)(2) for a period not to exceed two years. English Language Proficiency:
Chaplains must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f). 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). Preferred
Experience:
Board certification Grade Determinations:
GS-09
Experience:
None beyond the basic requirements AND Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to meeting the basic experience requirements, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
1. Knowledge of spiritual assessments to identify patient strengths and needs and documenting services provided. 2. Ability to use the information of the spiritual assessment to create care plans in all dimensions of pastoral care. 3. Ability to provide crisis intervention and stabilization. 4. Skill in healthcare team collaboration to create and update treatment plans to address spiritual issues. 5. Ability to ensure free exercise of religion for patients and staff. 6. Knowledge of individual and group interventions to address spiritual and emotional needs of patients and families; providing referrals for continuity of spiritual care. 7. Skill in the coordination of religious services respecting the faith tradition of individual patients. 8. Ability to communicate verbally and in writing with persons of varied backgrounds. GS-11
Experience:
The candidate must have one year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-9 level that is directly related to the position to be filled. AND Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to meeting the KSAs for the GS-9 grade level, the candidate must meet the experience above and demonstrate the following KSAs:
1. Knowledge of advance care planning to educate, inform, and counsel patients and families. 2. Skill in guiding patients in verbalizing and expressing values through life review, oral history, and end of life preparation and documentation. 3. Ability to develop pastoral care programs that are measurable, outcome-driven and evidenced based within the department guidelines. 4. 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. 5. Ability to support the development of staff resiliency and develop programs for staff development and wellness by providing spiritual and emotional support. 6. Ability to educate and equip healthcare staff and trainees screening for spiritual and religious needs of patients and the importance of appropriate referrals to chaplains for complex spiritual distress. 7. 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. References:
VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G67 Physical Requirements:
Light carrying, under 15 pounds, use of fingers, walking up to one hour, and hearing (aid permitted).
- Department:
0060 Chaplain - Salary Range:
$56,879 to $89,461 per year
Estimated Salary: $20 to $28 per hour based on qualifications.
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