The incumbent serves as a Chaplain performing clinical assignments for the VHA. The Chaplain provides a complete range of spiritual care to Veterans, their families, and 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 chaplain services.

Duties

This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be 08/31/2023 and applicants will be referred as needed after that. NOTE: Announcement will remain open until no longer needed but no later than December 31, 2023. Serves as a Chaplain professional providing comprehensive, religious ministry services to Veteran patients. Provides extended and intensive pastoral counseling. Ensures program effectiveness and modification of service pattern. Advises and collaborates with other members of the interdisciplinary treatment team (IDT). Maintains effective rapport with physicians, medical officers, psychologists, nurses, therapists, social workers, or others involved in IDT. Leads various complex and sensitive projects, task groups, and assignments to obtain pertinent high-level information needed for Chaplain Service management officials. Provides emotional support and counseling using empathy and strong interpersonal skills to effectively connect with people of all ages. Ensures various complex assignments are carried out in a pluralistic environment, which encompasses sensitivity to the religious needs of many separate religious denominations and faith groups. Conducts rituals before groups of people, which requires effective leadership and public speaking skills. Conducts regular rounds of hospital wads where patients are critically ill. Provides advanced care planning education, information, and counsel for patients and their families. Provides pastoral ministry to patients with respect to their patient's faith group, including conscientious attention during emergencies and crises. Engages in group consultative discussions or conferences to provide Chaplain related input to collaborate on the evaluation and review of patient's progress. Uses thorough knowledge of different faiths to perform various religious rituals, lead prayers, and answer spiritual questions. Provides pastoral counseling on medical and ethical matters. Counsels patient with long term health illness to aid in developing and maintaining patience, determination, and perseverance. Interacts and maintains cooperative relationships with Medical Center personnel, family, local clergy, individuals, and groups in the community. 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: Monday Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Monday Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, 8:00 to 4:30 PM Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

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. 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 is acceptable (such as 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 .)NOTE on foreign education: To be creditable, theological or related education completed outside the U.S. must be submitted to a current affiliate agency of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) listed at https://www.naces.org/members. Copy verification must be provided. *Must include supporting documentation verifying the educational requirement in application packet*. 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. *Must include supporting documentation verifying the CPE requirement in application packet.* 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: https://www.patientcare.va.gov/chaplain/Employment_Information_and_Resources.asp *Must include supporting documentation verifying the ecclesiastical endorsement requirement in application packet.* 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 . *Must include supporting documentation verifying the board certification requirement in application packet.* English Language Proficiency. Chaplains must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f). Grade Determinations: For the GS-12 grade level, you must have one year of creditable experience equivalent to the journey level (GS-11) that is directly related to the position to be filled. To be creditable, the experience must have required the use of knowledge, skills, abilities (KSAs), and other characteristics, also referred to as core competencies; be associated with the scope of chaplain practice equivalent to at least the next lower grade level; be directly related to the position being filled; and may be paid or non-paid employment. Examples of experience may include independently serves as a primary resource and point of contact for the spiritual needs of patients, caregivers and staff; providing advance care planning education, information, and counsel for patients and their families; providing guidance and/or support for patients to express values through processes such as life review, oral history, and end of life preparation and documentation; developing pastoral care programs that are measurable, outcome-driven, and evidence-based in coordination with the department guidelines; providing pastoral counseling on medical and ethical matters, including but not limited to, moral injury, problems of conscience, family or marital difficulties, justice or confinement matters, terminal diagnoses, or crisis; and, supporting the development of staff resiliency by providing emotional and spiritual support and compassionate presence and develops programs for staff development and wellness. AND You must hold a specialty certification. Specialty certification is demonstrated advanced practice and/or specialization in chaplaincy beyond the board certification and is required for the GS-12 grade level. Specialty certification from a professional chaplain certifying body that is directly related to the assignment is qualifying for a senior chaplain assignment. See Education section more more information regarding specialty certification *Must provide copy of specialty certification in application packet* In addition, you must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: Ability to apply relevant theories and methodologies to their ministry specialty. Ability to integrate specialized psychological and sociological theory with an advanced approach to spiritual care. Skill to seek out primary research and research literature that informs the ministry specialty and one's spiritual care practice. Skill in developing and implementing methods for measuring effectiveness of chaplain practice and services in the specialty area, utilizing outcome evaluations to improve treatment services and to design system changes. Ability to mediate conflict, hold various emotions and diffuse moral distress among staff and complex crisis situations. Ability to provide specialized consultation, teaching and mentoring to colleagues and students on advanced spiritual care interventions in the service delivery area. Ability to apply advanced clinical knowledge to write policies, procedures and/or practice guidelines pertaining to the service delivery area. References: VA Handbook 5005/135, Part II, Appendix G67The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is at the GS-12 grade level. Physical Requirements: This position requires the Chaplain to meaningfully engage with Veteran patients and family members by walking and moving within the healthcare setting of with the incumbent using as assistive device. The Chaplain is required to speak, hear (hearing aid permitted) and work closely with others.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. 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. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Accepted Specialty Certifications from one of the BCC Bodies Required for GS-12 Chaplain

• Association of Certified Christian Chaplains (ACCC):
  1. Grief Recovery Method Specialist: ACCC Grief Support Specialization - Association of Certified Christian Chaplains (certifiedchaplains.org)
• Association of Professional Chaplains (APC):
  1. Palliative Care & Hospice: https://bcci.professionalchaplains.org/content.asp?admin=Y&pl=42&sl=42&contentid=

• National Association of Catholic Chaplains (NACC):
  1. Palliative Care & Hospice: Palliative Care and Hospice Advanced Certification (PCHAC) - The National Association of Catholic Chaplains (nacc.org)

• National Association of Veterans Affairs Chaplains (NAVAC): https://www.navac.net/competencies
  1. Hospice & Palliative Care
  2. Drug & Alcohol Addiction
  3. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
  4. Mental Health
  5. Moral Injury
  6. Suicide Prevention
• Spiritual Care Association (SCA):
  1. Hospice & Palliative Care: Hospice and Palliative Care Specialty Certification (APBCC-HPC) (spiritualcareassociation.org)

Contacts

• Address Richard L Roudebush VA Medical Center 1481 West Tenth Street Indianapolis, IN 46202 US
• Name: Tandala Cook
• Phone: 317-709-5729
• Email: [email protected]