Chaplain (Substance Abuse and Mental Health)

SummaryThis Chaplain (Substance Abuse and Mental Health) position is located in the Chaplain Service at the VA Maine Health System (Togus campus). This position is full-time at 40 hours per week.QualificationsApplicants 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 RequirementsUnited States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA PolicyEducationApplicants 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 EducationNOTE: 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 acceptableEcclesiastical EndorsementIn accordance with 38 C.F.R17.655 - ecclesiastical endorsement is a condition of employment as a VA chaplainAn individual must possess and maintain a full and active ecclesiastical endorsement to be employed as a VA chaplainApplicants must have an ecclesiastical endorsement - dated within the past 12 monthsEcclesiastical endorsements must be from the official national endorsing authority of the applicant's/employee's faith group or denominationEcclesiastical 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 denominationand 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 settingLoss of endorsement will result in removal from the GS-0060 Chaplain series and may result in termination of employmentThe 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 Board CertificationApplicants 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 BCCILoss of Endorsement or CertificationChaplains must maintain ecclesiastical endorsement and board certificationLoss of endorsement or board certification will result in removal from the GS-0060 Chaplain occupation and may result in termination of employmentEnglish Language ProficiencyChaplains must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f)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 Chaplain Experience: The candidate must have one year of creditable experience equivalent to the journey level (GS-11) that is directly related to the position to be filledSpecialty Certification: Palliative Care & Hospice Specialty Certification from a Board Chaplain Certifying (BCC) body is requiredYOU MUST PROVIDE COPY OF SPECIALTY CERTIFICATION with your applicationSpecialty certification is demonstrated advanced practice and/or specialization in chaplaincy beyond the board certification and is required for the GS-12 grade levelSpecialty certification from a professional chaplain certifying body that is directly related to the assignment is qualifying for a senior chaplain assignmentAssignment: This assignment is a senior chaplainSenior chaplain assignments may include serving at a facility in clinical settings where there is limited access to onsite supervision such as small healthcare systems - Community Based Outpatient Clinics - other Federal agencies or satellite outpatient clinicsSenior chaplains typically practice in a specialized program area - that may include intensive and extended pastoral counseling as an integral part of the treatment program - with patients facing complex moral - ethical - or spiritual problemsThe senior chaplain may be assigned administrative responsibility to independently develop and implement programs and curriculumThey are accountable for clinical program effectiveness and modification of service patterns - which may include research and leadership of clinical teamsThe senior chaplain works with full understanding of its relationship to the objectives of the institution - and to successfully integrate it with the work of the institutional staff - collaborates with and advises the other senior members of the treatment team in the provision of comprehensive healthcare services to Veterans - ensures equity of access - service - and benefits to this population - ensures the care provided is of the highest qualityThe senior chaplain provides leadership - direction - orientation - coaching - in-service training - staff development - and continuing education programs for assigned chaplain staffThis assignment is to be relatively few in number based on the size of the facility/service and applying sound position managementThis assignment must represent substantial additional responsibility over and above that required at the full performance grade level and should not be used as the full performance level of this occupationDemonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and AbilitiesIn addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Ability to apply relevant theories and methodologies to their ministry specialtyAbility to integrate specialized psychological and sociological theory with an advanced approach to spiritual careSkill to seek out primary research and research literature that informs the ministry specialty and one's spiritual care practiceSkill 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 changesAbility to mediate conflict - hold various emotions and diffuse moral distress among staff and complex crisis situationsAbility to provide specialized consultation - teaching and mentoring to colleagues and students on advanced spiritual care interventions in the service delivery areaAbility to apply advanced clinical knowledge to write policies - procedures and/or practice guidelines pertaining to the service delivery areaReference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-12 to GS-12Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements.DutiesThe incumbent serves as a Chaplain professional performing clinical assignments for the VHAThe incumbent provides comprehensive religious - spiritual - and pastoral care to all persons that are commensurate with the needs - desires - and voluntary consent of the Veteran - caregiver - or staffThe 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 servicesDuties include - but are not limited to: Serves as a Chaplain professional providing comprehensive - religious ministry services to Veteran patients according to their specific needs and desiresCarries out a ministry which is highly integrated into VHA's Chaplain programProvides thorough guidance and advice to Chaplain Service management staff - other Chaplains - and other stakeholdersProvides extended and intensive pastoral counseling as an integral part of the treatment program with patients facing complex - ethical - moral - and spiritual issuesServes as a Chaplain representative and a fully recognized member of an interdisciplinary treatment team (IDT)Advises and collaborates with other members of the IDT to provide comprehensive healthcare services to VeteransServes as a primary Chaplain resource - spiritual advisor - and liaison for the spiritual needs of patients - caregivers - and staffConducts comprehensive religious services and worship - pastoral ministry - and administration of Chaplain servicesProvides thorough spiritual leadership - offers prayers - and provides overall religious services for Veteran patients - patient families - staff - and communityConducts rituals before groups of people - which requires effective leadership and public speaking skillsUses sound guidance and advice to lead prayer and religious servicesEnsures various complex assignments are carried out in a pluralistic environment - which encompasses sensitivity to the religious needs of many separate religious denominations and faith groupsProvides chaplain service expertise to exchange information relative to the background and current condition of patientsSupervises - trains - and coaches volunteer groups who offer their services as assistantsProvides expert guidance and advice to other VHA Chaplains as neededServes 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 - etcProvides guidance and support for patients to express values through processes such as life review - oral history - and end of life preparation and documentationMaintains records and appropriately documents chaplaincy care services in the Electronic Health Record Management (EHRM) system/Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) through either service approved template or Subjective - Objective - Assessment - and Plan (SOAP) note formatDevelops measurable - outcome-driven - and evidence-based pastoral careand creates staff development and wellness programsSupports the development of staff resiliency by providing emotional and spiritual support and compassionate presenceMaintains contacts with staff members of the other professional disciplines of the institution - usually for exchange of information relative to the background and current condition of the patientWork Schedule: Monday - Friday 07:30 a.m- 4:00 p.mTelework: Ad-hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual positionFunctional Statement #: F1858 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: AuthorizedPermanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.