Chaplain

Full Job Description

VA Portland Health Care System is a Complexity Level 1a Facility and provides extensive primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary care in outpatient, inpatient, residential, and community settings.

VAPORHCS is a multi-site medical system that includes a major medical facility in Portland, Oregon, outpatient and residential facilities in Vancouver, Washington, and 10 Community Based Outpatient Clinics.

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: Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States (U.S.). Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens according to38 U.S.C. § 7407(a).

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.

(MUST PROVIDE TRANSCRIPT WITH CONFERRED DATE) 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. 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.

The National Chaplain Service maintains a list of approved endorsing organizations that can be found here: National VA Chaplain Service SharePoint.

(MUST PROVIDE COPY OF ECCLESIASTICAL ENDORSEMENT DATED WITHIN THE PAST 12 MONTHS) Board 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.

NOTE: Provisional or Associate or other status as a candidate for board certification does not meet the board certification requirement for the FPLGS-11 or above.

(MUST PROVIDE COPY OF BOARD CERTIFICATION FOR GS-11) Exception for Non-Board-Certified Chaplains.

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.

Non-Board-Certified Chaplains must provide proof of completion of 4units of CPE as required by an approved board certifying body.

Non-Board-Certified individuals may only provide care under the supervision of a certified Chaplain at or above the FPL.

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.

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).

Grade Determinations: Chaplain, GS-9. Experience. None beyond the basic requirements. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities.

In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of spiritual assessments to identify patient strengths and needs and documenting services provided.

(b) Ability to use the information of the spiritual assessment to create care plans in all dimensions of pastoral care. (c) Ability to provide crisis intervention and stabilization.

(d) Skill in health care team collaboration to create and update treatment plans to address spiritual issues. (e) Ability to ensure free exercise of religion for patients and staff.

(f) Knowledge of individual and group interventions to address spiritual and emotional needs of patients and families; providing referrals for continuity of spiritual care.

(g) Skill in the coordination of religious services respecting the faith tradition of individual patients. (h) Ability to communicate verbally and in writing with persons of varied backgrounds.

Chaplain, GS-11. Experience. One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities.

In addition to meeting to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:(a) Knowledge of advance care planning to educate, inform, and counsel patients and families.

(b) Skill in guiding patients in verbalizing and expressing values through life review, oral history, and end of life preparation and documentation.

(c) Ability to develop pastoral care programs that are measurable, outcome-driven and evidenced based within the department guidelines.

(d) 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.

(e) Ability to support the development of staff resiliency and develop programs for staff development and wellness by providing spiritual and emotional support.

(f) 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.

(g) 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.

Preferred Experience: Substance Abuse Treatment and/or Mental Health experience.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11.

The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-9 to GS-11. Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting (15-44 lbs.); Hearing (aid permitted).

Environmental factors include working alone and protracted or irregular hours of work. Major Duties:

The duties of this position include but are not limited to the following: The incumbent serves as a Chaplain professional for the VHA.

The incumbent provides 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 service.

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.

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 assignments are carried out in a pluralistic environment, which encompasses sensitivity to the religious needs of many separate religious denominations and faith groups.

Leads and offers prayers and religious services for Veteran patients, patient families, staff, and community.

Conduct rituals in front of groups of people, which requires effective leadership and public speaking skills. Uses leadership skills to lead prayer and religious services.

Addresses the religious, spiritual, moral, and ethical problems of patients and staff. Provides 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 of his/her faith group, including conscientious attention during emergencies and crises.

Ensures all patients are provided opportunities for the free exercise of religion and that Veterans are protected from proselytizing and coercing from any source.

Serves as a fully recognized member of an integrated multi-professional treatment team.

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.

Supervises, trains and coaches volunteer groups who offer their services as assistants as needed.

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.

Engages in group consultative discussions or conferences with these professionals to evaluate and review the patient's progress.

Collaborates with treatment team professionals to discuss the recommended course of action, and other informed advice to attain the necessary therapeutic goals for the patient.

Locates other Chaplains and/or persons from the community to provide patients' religious needs if necessary.

Uses knowledge of different faiths to perform various religious rituals, lead prayers, and answer spiritual questions.

Work Schedule: Flexible Schedule: Monday to Friday from 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM, with after-hours available Monday to Friday from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM, and Saturday from 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM.

Employees will have the opportunity to work 15 to 20 hours per week within the specified time frames or as needed. Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized