Chaplain

SummaryCome join our team of Chaplains who provide a complete range of spiritual care ministries to Veterans and their families. Such ministry encompasses all aspects of pastoral care, assuring that the religious, spiritual, moral and ethical issues faced by Veterans are addressed as part of the holistic care provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Chaplains work in an interfaith environment as members of a pluralistic chaplaincy.ResponsibilitiesThe Chaplain has full responsibility for providing a complete religious ministry to Veteran patients and their families. The Chaplain assesses religious, spiritual, moral, and ethical problems and plans and provides appropriate ministration, including individual in-depth pastoral ministry to Veteran patients and their families. Interviewing Veterans to conduct spiritual assessments. Providing in-depth pastoral counseling to individual Veteran and family members and demonstrating sensitivity to the religious needs and requirements of each other and each individual Veteran. Arranging needed special services, including rites and sacraments and providing bereavement support when needed. Conducting weekly regularly scheduled services. Preparing and delivering sermons or formal worship services. Providing ward services for those individuals who are unable to attend regularly scheduled services. Conducting periodic needs assessments of assigned populations served by the facility. Developing programs of spiritual care that include spiritual assessment, direct pastoral care, and program evaluation components. Selecting religious materials that will be used therapeutically for assigned Veteran populations in collaboration of Chief Chaplain and Chaplain Department staff. Coordinating religious club meetings, religious awareness groups, and interfaith meetings as called for by population served. Evaluating the need for volunteer assistance in the religious program and to exercise appropriate supervision of volunteers utilized in the program. Serving as a mentor/preceptor for new chaplains, chaplain residents, and chaplain students. Providing counsel on medical ethical issues, such as Advance Directives, in the context of the Veteran's religious faith perspective. Communicating effectively with persons of diverse races, cultures, religions, nationalities, ages, and persons having varying types and degrees of disability to understand and address their specific needs. Providing support and encouragement to primary family members and friends to be present and supportive as they are able in response to regular and emergent needs of the Veteran. Participating actively on interdisciplinary teams, groups and committees to assure that the religious and spiritual dimensions of health and wellness are addressed in all aspects of the Medical Center's holistic Veteran care. Developing and conducting pastoral care classes concerning outpatient ministry and telehealth chaplaincy for the chaplain staff, residents and students. Advancing positive community relations through the development of relationships with local pastors, church groups and community organizations. Seeking other clinical staff chaplains or clergy person in the community for religious/pastoral care service that he or she cannot provide. Documenting care in electronic medical records and protecting sensitive information from loss, disclosure, or alteration. Work schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30 am to 4:00 pm or Tuesday - Saturday 9:30-am 6:00 pm. May provide emergency on-call night, holiday and weekend patient care coverage. Financial Disclosure Report: Not requiredRequirementsConditions of EmploymentQualificationsTo qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 07/09/2020. 1. Ecclesiastical Endorsement: An ecclesiastical endorsement, dated within 12 months to the closing date of the announcement, from the official national endorsing authority of your faith group. An ecclesiastical endorsement is the written official statement by the endorsing body certifying that you are in good standing with the faith group and that you, in the opinion of the endorsing body, are qualified to provide the full range of ministry required in the VA's pluralistic setting. Only endorsements specifically for VA Chaplaincy are accepted. Note: Endorsements for military chaplaincy, for other Federal Chaplaincies, for Chaplain Cognate Groups, and endorsements to whom it may concern are not acceptable. Ecclesiastical Endorsements must be signed by the endorsing official designated to VA by the religious organization/faith group. Please see the list on our website to assure that your endorsement is signed by the appropriate official. http://www.patientcare.va.gov/chaplain/index.asp Choose "employment information" then scroll down to the list. If your faith group is not on the list it must submit a Request to Designate an Ecclesiastical Endorsing Official to the National VA Chaplain Center on or before the closing date of this announcement. The request form, VHA Form 10-0389, is at the following web address: https://www.va.gov/vaforms/medical/pdf/vha-10-0379-fill.pdf Page 1 of the form gives instructions about documents that must accompany the request. The faith group must submit a document from the Internal Revenue Service showing that IRS has determined that the group/organization is tax-exempt as a religious organization under IRS Code 501(c)(3). The request form and supporting documents may be submitted by emai to EMAIL: Chapvaco@med.va.govDo not submit application documents to the above address.Do not submit the Request to Designate an Endorsing Official with your personal application documents. 2. Education: A Master of Divinity from an accredited institution or the equivalent. Equivalent education is a bachelor's degree (of at least 120 semester hours) from an accredited institution plus at least 70 graduate semester hours which included all of the following: at least 20 semester hours in pastoral ministry; 20 semester hours in any combination of theology, ethics, and philosophy of religion; 20 semester hours in the study of sacred writings, including the study of languages in which sacred writings are written; and 10 semester hours in religious history and/or world religions. Evidence of M.Div. or Letter of Equivalency for M.Div. from the National VA Chaplain Center must be uploaded in the application materials. To request Letter of Equivalency for M.Div., email transcripts to CHAPVACO@med.va.gov. Any applicants without a M.Div. or Letter of Equivalency will be disqualified. 3. Clinical Pastoral Education: In addition to the education requirement, applicants must have completed at least 2 units of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) [as defined by the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE)] or the National Association of Catholic Chaplains (NACC). 800 hours of supervised ministry in a formal training program which incorporated both ministry formation and pastoral care skills development will be considered for equivalency to the required CPE. Evidence of two units of CPE or Letter of Equivalency for CPE from the National VA Chaplain Center must be uploaded in the application materials. To request Letter of Equivalency for CPE, email CHAPVACO@med.va.gov. Any applicants without 2 units of CPE or Letter of Equivalency will be disqualified. 4. Experience: Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work can help build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. In addition to meeting the basic requirements, applicant must have a minimum of three years of ministry experience following completion of the basic education described under Education above which has demonstrated both practical pastoral knowledge and skill, and the ability to minister in a pluralistic setting. Experience during graduate education may count for up to 1 year of the 3 years of required experience. Substitution of Education for Experience: Successful completion of a doctoral degree which is directly related to pastoral ministry, at an accredited college or university, may be substituted for 1 of the 3 years of required experience (unless the doctoral degree is being used to satisfy the minimum educational requirement). One year of the experience must have demonstrated all of the following:(a) ability to serve as a consultant or expert to a multidisciplinary treatment team;(b) in-depth knowledge of related professional fields, particularly in the behavioral sciences;(c) understanding of, and ability to respond to, the particular concerns and issues pertaining to treatment of veterans;(d) knowledge of the structure, regulations, practices, and programs of healthcare delivery systems;(e) ability to interpret and apply a body of rules, regulations, policies, and procedures in professional practice;(f) ability to develop and maintain liaisons with a variety of outside organizations. 5. English Language Proficiency: All applicants must be proficient in written and spoken English. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.EducationTranscripts must be submitted with your application (student copies are acceptable.) Transcripts must indicate the degree(s) awarded and the date(s). A copy of the certificate or diploma must be submitted if no completion date is indicated on the transcript. Transcripts must show the name of the institution. PLEASE NOTE: Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications (particularly positions with a positive education requirement). Therefore, applicants must report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html. SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the above requirements. You must show proof that the education credentials have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and that such education has been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs; or an accredited U.S. state university reports the other institution as one whose transcript is given full value, or full value is given in subject areas applicable to the curricula at the state university. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying.All education claimed by applicants will be verified by the appointing agency accordingly. 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.Additional InformationPlacement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position. It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members. If you are unable to apply online view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.