• Job Description

  Req#: 729283400
  Current, permanent VA employees or Federal employees from another agency, you should apply under CBST-11988204-23-TH
  
  These positions are located in the Chaplain Service at Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center in Houston, TX. VHA Chaplains provide religious, spiritual, and pastoral care to all persons that are commensurate with the needs, desires, and voluntary consent and they address the spiritual component of health and wellness in every patient care setting.
  
  
  Duties
  
  
  The duties of the Chaplain in Chaplain Service include but are not limited to:
  
  
  Requirements
  
  
  
  
  Qualifications
  
  
  asic 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: Candidates 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.
    • 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 a 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.
  • Clinical Pastoral Education: Applicant 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: Must possess and maintain a full and active ecclesiastical endorsement, dated within the past 12 months. Must be from the official national endorsing authority of the applicant's faith group or denomination.
  • Board Certification: 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.
    • Exception. Non-certified applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements may be given a temporary appointment under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2) for a period not to exceed two years. This exception only applies at the entry level. For the journey level and above, the candidate must have board certification. Failure to become certified within two years from date of appointment will result in removal from the GS-0060 Chaplain series and may result in termination of employment.
  Preferred Experience:
  Experience as a professional clinical chaplain. Experience in providing ministry in Hospice and Palliative Care, Grief, and Bereavement. Experience in Women's Health Clinics, Cancer Treatment Centers, Spinal Cord, and Solid Organ Transplant Teams. Experience providing pastoral care to older and disabled veterans who are homebound, medically, and psychologically fragile, and unable to receive primary medical care at Community-Based Outpatient Clinics. Experience in leading Catholic Mass and providing faith-specific care to Catholic Veterans. Experience providing Sacraments and Holy Communion.
  
  Grade Determinations:
  Chaplain, GS-09
  Experience. None beyond basic requirements.
  Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to meeting the basic experience requirements, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
  i. Knowledge of spiritual assessments to identify patient strengths and needs and documenting services provided.
  ii. Ability to use the information of the spiritual assessment to create care plans in all dimensions of pastoral care.
  iii. Ability to provide crisis intervention and stabilization.
  iv. Skill in healthcare team collaboration to create and update treatment plans to address spiritual issues.
  v. Ability to ensure free exercise of religion for patients and staff.
  vi. Knowledge of individual and group interventions to address spiritual and emotional needs of patients and families; providing referrals for continuity of spiritual care.
  vii. Skill in the coordination of religious services respecting the faith tradition of individual patients.
  viii. Ability to communicate verbally and in writing with persons of varied backgrounds.
  
  Chaplain, GS-11
  Experience. The candidate must have one year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-9 level that is directly related to the position to be filled.
  Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
  i. Knowledge of advance care planning to educate, inform, and counsel patients and families.
  ii. Skill in guiding patients in verbalizing and expressing values through life review, oral history, and end of life preparation and documentation.
  iii. Ability to develop pastoral care programs that are measurable, outcome-driven and evidenced based within the department guidelines.
  iv. 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.
  v. Ability to support the development of staff resiliency and develop programs for staff development and wellness by providing spiritual and emotional support.
  vi. Ability to educate and equip healthcare staff and trainees screening for spiritual and religious needs of patients and the importance of appropriate referrals to chaplains for complex spiritual distress.
  vii. 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.
  
  References: VA Handbook 5005/135, Part II Appendix G67, Chaplain Qualification Standard.
  
  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-09 to GS-11.
  
  Physical Requirements: The work requires light lifting and carrying (under 15 pounds), use of fingers, walking (~2 hours), standing (~3 hours), and hear (aid permitted). (See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services).
  
  This position requires a current, valid driver's license to drive a government vehicle on a regular and recurring basis to perform the duties of this position. Please provide your driver's license number, issuing state and expiration date. Reminder - Do not include a copy of your license; if referred for interview it may be requested at that time.
  
  

• About the company

  The United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is a Cabinet-level executive branch department of the federal government charged with integrating life-long healthcare services to eligible military veterans at the 1700 VA medical centers and outpatient clinics located throughout the country.

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