Located within the Department of Veterans Affairs, Chaplain Service (CS). The position provides services within various settings, including Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISNs), Inpatient Clinics, Outpatient Clinics, and domiciliaries throughout the United States. Most Chaplain services are usually provided in a medical facility structure. The CS provides pastoral counseling and treatment to Veteran patients, patient's families, and staff in various inpatient and outpatient settings.

Duties

Duties and Responsibilities include, but are not limited to: Provides comprehensive, religious ministry services to Veteran patients according to their specific needs and desires. Provides extended and intensive pastoral counseling as an integral part of the treatment program with patients facing complex, ethical, moral, and spiritual issues. Ensures program effectiveness and modification of service pattern, which includes research and leadership of clinical teams. Serves as a Chaplain representative and a fully recognized member of an interdisciplinary treatment team (IDT). Serves as a primary Chaplain resource, spiritual advisor, and liaison for the spiritual needs of patients, caregivers, and staff. Leads various complex and sensitive projects, task groups, and assignments to obtain pertinent high-level information needed for Chaplain Service management officials. Engages as a spiritual leader, a compassionate listener, and counselor, especially during times of crisis. Uses sound guidance and advice to lead prayer and religious services. Provides pastoral ministry to patients with respect to the patient's faith group. Serves as professional clinical Chaplain in specialty clinics. Engages in group consultative discussions or conferences with these professionals to provide Chaplain related input to collaborate on the evaluation and review of the patient's progress. Provides pastoral counseling on medical and ethical matters, including moral injury, problems of conscience, family or marital difficulties, justice or confinement matters, terminal diagnoses, or crises. Develops measurable, outcome-driven, and evidence-based pastoral care; and creates staff development and wellness programs. Provides appropriate education and training to other healthcare staff and trainees to screen for spiritual and religious needs and the importance of appropriate referrals to chaplains for complex spiritual distress. Provides guidance and religious instruction to individuals and groups. Interacts and maintains cooperative relationships with Medical Center personnel, family, local clergy, individuals, and groups in the community. Engages community resources to meet the religious needs of patients that cannot be met by chaplain staff. Uses significant religious expression groups such as veteran choirs and such aids as devotional literature, films, and bedside broadcasts. Provides routine personal visits, special visits, and new patient interviews based on requests and referrals/consults. Conducts spiritual assessments to identify patients' strengths and needs. Provides crisis intervention and stabilization as required. . Communicates effectively, both in writing and verbally, with persons of varied backgrounds. Performs a variety of complex intervention methods, including individual and group interventions to address the emotional and spiritual needs of patients and families. Assists Suicide Prevention Program in the management of patients enrolled at the facility that are identified as high risk for suicide, including conducting risk assessment, safety plans, initiating health and welfare checks, and reviewing high-risk status. Contacts Veterans who are flagged high risk and are non-compliant attendance to scheduled mental health and/or substance abuse appointments that may have spiritual needs. Follow up on all calls made to tie Suicide Prevention Crisis line from Veteran's who receive care though the Louisville VA Healthcare System Provides group and individual spiritual interventions to Veterans in support of suicide prevention efforts. As Suicide Prevention team member provides staff and patient education regarding suicide prevention, including but not limited to Operation SAVE, REACH VET, Suicide Prevention Awareness, outreach events, educational activities. Independently may conduct psychosocial assessments and develops treatment plans in collaboration with the Veteran/family member(s) and the interdisciplinary treatment team. Provides crisis intervention services, identifies the cause as well as the presenting complaint, coordinates family conferences and serves as liaison to family members. Facilitates moral injury groups or spirituality groups. Spearhead the postvention efforts and a member of the Postvention Team Respond to Veterans crisis calls that are experiencing Suicide Ideation or flagged High Risk for suicide that have spiritual needs. Member of the Critical Incident Response team. Provide services on the Inpatient Psychiatry Unit and Medical Floors flagged High Risk for Suicide. Spends minimally 70% of time in patient care. Work Schedule: Full Time Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm (Tour of duty subject to change based on agency needs). Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

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. English Language Proficiency: Chaplains must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 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. 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. 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 f) is acceptable. 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 ®. In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 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. 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: GS-12 Experience. At this level, the candidate must have one year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level GS-11 that is directly related to the position to be filled. 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. Preferred Experience: Suicide Prevention specialty certification preferred; however, Mental Health, PTSD, and Moral Injury will be considered. References: VA Handbook 5005/135 PART II APPENDIX G67The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. Physical Requirements: This position requires the Chaplain to meaningfully engage with Veteran patients and family members by walking and moving within the healthcare setting or with the incumbent using an 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.

Contacts

• Address Robley Rex VA Medical Center 800 Zorn Avenue Louisville, KY 40206 US
• Name: Keyona Browning
• Phone: 615-225- 6489
• Email: [email protected]