Supervisory Chaplain

Full Job Description

The incumbent serves as the Supervisory Chaplain professional performing supervisory and senior clinical assignments for the VHA.

Providing 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.

Addresses the spiritual component of health and wellness in every patient care setting to ensure that pastoral care is integrated into all aspects of chaplain services.

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. 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. 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. Board Certification. (1) 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 FPL GS-11 or above. (2) Grandfathering Provision.

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).

Employees in VHA in this occupation, under a permanent, appropriate, and legal placement on the effective date of the qualification standard, are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade and/or assignment held, including positive education and certification, where applicable.

For employees who do not meet all the basic or assignment-specific requirements in this standard, but met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed, the following provisions apply: (1) Employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the FPL, or be changed to a lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or be newly placed in supervisory or managerial positions.

(2) If an assignment above the FPL level requires an additional certification over and above the basic requirements, employees must meet the assignment-specific requirement before they can be reassigned or promoted.

(3) Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.(4) Employees retained in this occupation under this provision who subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation.

(5) Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional certification(s) that meets all the basic or assignment specific qualification requirements of this standard must maintain the required credential(s) as a condition of employment in the occupation.

Grade Determinations: Supervisory Chaplain, GS-13. Experience. One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs).

In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of administrative, personnel, and resource management and strategic planning for chaplaincy and chaplain pastoral education programs.

(b) Ability to provide the full range of supervisory duties, which include responsibility for assignment of work, performance evaluations, selection of staff and recommendation of awards, advancements and disciplinary actions.

(c) Skill in interpersonal relationships, including conflict resolution and ability to work collaboratively with managers from other departments.

(d) Ability to develop local policy, productivity and clinical practice standards.

(e) Ability to align chaplaincy services and programming with the strategic goals and objectives of the facility, VISN, and VHA.

(f) Ability to ensure compliance with chaplaincy practice, policy and accreditation standards across the continuum of health care.

(g) Skill in providing consultation to facility leadership, managers and other staff on all religious expression and spiritual care.

Preferred Experience: At least 2 years of supervisory experience Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements. Major Duties:

Duties include but are not limited to: Serves as the Supervisory Chaplain professional providing comprehensive, religious ministry services to Veteran patients according to their specific needs and desires.

Provides thorough guidance and advice to Chaplain Service management staff, other Chaplains, and other stakeholders.

Provides supervision for the chaplaincy program of a major faith ministry which is highly integrated into VHA's Chaplain program.

Manages and supervises the full spectrum of chaplaincy service operations. Supervises non-supervisory and supervisory professional staff at the GS-12 level or below.

Manages a moderately complex to very complex chaplain service program with identified specialty chaplains working in (Hospice and Palliative Care, Suicide Prevention, Mental Health Residential and Outpatient programs, Substance Use Disorder Clinics, Cancer Treatment Clinics, Women's Health Clinics, Spinal Cord Injury Clinics, etc.

Performs supervisory and non-supervisory assignments consisting of significant scope, complexity, difficulty, and variety.

Supervises the professional practice of all facility chaplains and provides chaplaincy services and programming.

Manages and oversees all religious and spiritual care and provides counsel to facility leadership concerning religious expression. Develops local policy, productivity, and clinical practice standards.

Oversees a chaplaincy program at this level is carefully integrated throughout the total care and treatment program to further the mission of the VHA facility.

Oversees pastoral ministry, including intensive pastoral counseling, close integral working relationships with other staff disciplines, and active community liaison.

Serves as the Supervisory Chaplain expert participant with other specialists as a fully recognized member of an interdisciplinary treatment team (IDT).

Serves as an active participant and a key administrative staff member of the organization with VHA's leadership.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm With On Call Duties Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized Telework: Ad-Hoc Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized