Summary

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WCOA Chaplains provide religious, spiritual, and pastoral care to both American citizens in the workplace and to Veterans, as caregivers and staff. The incumbent addresses the spiritual component of health and wellness in a workplace environment and patient care settings, i.e., hospitals, hospice, senior care facilities, prisons, and the like to ensure that pastoral care is fully integrated into all aspects of service.

Qualified applicants will be considered and referred as vacancies become available.

About this Position.  The Chaplaincy position is a career path open to those seeking a professional career in marketplace ministry.

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Duties

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Upon acceptance and employment, WCOA Chaplains provide services within various settings, including  albeit for Veterans Integrated Service Networks, i.e., home settings, Inpatient Clinics, where applicable, Outpatient Clinics and domiciliary throughout the United States, and the American Workplace, more specially where WCOA Chaplain services are usually provided.

Duties and responsibilities:

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• WCOA Chaplains will serve Chaplain professionals providing complete religious ministry services to Veteran and civilians alike, i.e., patients according to their specific needs and desires.

• Serves as a primary resource, spiritual advisor and point of contact for the spiritual needs of patients, caregivers, and staff; Conducts religious services and worship, pastoral ministry, and administration of Chaplain services.

• Engages as a spiritual leader, a compassionate listener and counselor especially during times of crisis.

• Further they will provide emotional support and counseling using strong interpersonal skills to effectively connect with people of all ages with empathy; and will offer prayers and religious services for Veteran's patients, staff, and community.

• Notwithstanding, where applicable, WCOA chaplains will conduct rituals in front of groups of people including leading prayers, requiring effective leadership and public speaking skills.

• WCOA chaplains will address religious, spiritual, moral, and ethical problems of patients and staff under the direct supervision and guidance of a higher-grade chaplain for complex non-routine issues; and provide counseling services to corporate employees, patients and staff.  As well as conduct regular rounds of hospital wards containing the critically ill.

• They will minister to newly admitted, pre- and post-operative patients, the critically ill, and the families of concerned veteran patients.

• WCOA chaplains will provide advance care planning education, information, and counsel for patients and their families; and pastoral ministry to patients of his/her faith group, including conscientious attention during emergencies and crises.

• Will ensure all workplace employees and patients are provided opportunities for the free exercise of religion and will ensure that Veterans are protected from proselytizing and coercion from any source.  Where applicable, will serve as a fully recognized member of an integrated multi-professional treatment team.

• Maintains liaison with physicians, medical officers, psychologists, nurses, therapists, social workers, or others involved to exchange information relative to background and current condition of patients.

• Will train and coach volunteer groups who offer their services as assistants for our program.

• Will engage in group consultative discussions or conferences with these professionals to evaluate and review the patient's progress.

• In a hospital setting, WCOA chaplains will collaborate with treatment team professionals to discuss the recommended course of action and other informed advice to attain the necessary therapeutic goals for the patient.

• Locates other Chaplains and/or persons from the community to provide for patients' religious needs. And will use knowledge of different faiths to perform various religious rituals, lead prayers, and answer spiritual questions.

• Provides guidance and/or support for patients to express values through oral history, and end of life preparation and documentation;

• Maintains records and documents chaplaincy care services;

• 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 crisis;

• Addresses fears that patients have when facing surgery and answers questions regarding the meaning of life, when confronted with the reality of pain, illness permanent disfigurement, crippling, or death under the direct supervision and guidance of a higher-grade chaplain;

• Counsels' patients with long-term health illness to aid in developing and maintaining patience, determination, and perseverance;

• Provides advice to mental health patients with deeply troubling concerns of anxiety, depression, obsessions, and fears.

• Provides referrals for continuity of spiritual care;

• Develops measurable, outcome-driven, and evidence-based pastoral care; and creates staff development and wellness programs;

• Conducts religious services and educational classes independently;

• Maintains records, supplies, and religious equipment for the assigned program; and tracks and maintain the program's budget;

• Collaborates with healthcare teams to create and update treatment plans to address spiritual distress, grief, and loss as existential concerns to enhance holistic care;

• Maintains records and appropriately documents chaplaincy care services in the Electronic Health Record Management (EHRM) system.

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Work Schedule:

Monday to Friday, 7:30 am - 4:00 pm
Telework: Available
Virtual:  Both virtual and Market place positions.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: None
Financial Disclosure Report: None

Salary Range by Location: 

Will vary from state to state between $45K – 120K
 

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.

• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.

• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.

• You may be required to serve a probationary period.

• Subject to background/security investigation.

• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.

• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is not a requirement, only in case of corporate demand, and in the case of Veterans Health Care Personnel.

• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

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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. To qualify for appointment as a chaplain, all applicants must possess the following:

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. Refer to Board Certification below.

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

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 WCOA ecclesiastical endorsement for those wishing to attend our CPE Program;, and not limited to having a full ecclesiastical endorsement to be employed as a WCOA chaplain.

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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 WCOA 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: http://www.patientcare.va.gov/chaplain/Employment_Information_and_Resources.asp

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 ®.

• Exception. Non-certified applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements may be given a temporary appointment under the authority under WCOA Corporate chaplain placement regulation bylaws  for a period not to exceed 24 months (2 yrs). This exception only applies at the entry level. For the journey level and above, the candidate must have board certification.

• Temporary graduate chaplain appointments may not be extended beyond two years and may not be converted to a new temporary appointment in this occupation.

 

Loss of Endorsement or Certification.

 

Chaplains must maintain ecclesiastical endorsement and board certification. Loss of endorsement or board certification will result in removal from the WCOA 0700 Chaplain occupation and may result in termination of employment.
 

Physical Requirements. Position does not require a full physical. The employee occupational health office will require TB and an immunization assessment.

English Language Proficiency. Chaplains must be proficient in spoken and written English.

Grade Determinations. In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.

Chaplain, Corporate Level-7
Experience. None beyond the basic requirements.
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to meeting the basic experience requirements, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

1. Knowledge of spiritual assessments to identify patient strengths and needs and documenting services provided.

2. Ability to use the information of the spiritual assessment to create care plans in all dimensions of pastoral care.

3. Ability to provide crisis intervention and stabilization.

4. Skill in healthcare team collaboration to create and update treatment plans to address spiritual issues.

5. Ability to ensure free exercise of religion for patients and staff.

6. Knowledge of individual and group interventions to address spiritual and emotional needs of patients and families; providing referrals for continuity of spiritual care.

7. Skill in the coordination of religious services respecting the faith tradition of individual patients.

8. Ability to communicate verbally and in writing with persons of varied backgrounds.

Assignment. At the Corporate Chaplain  entry level 1 position, chaplains serve in a career development position practicing under close supervision of a supervisor or qualified individual who reviews and ensures the employee meets competency requirements.

Chaplain, Corporate Management Level 5
Experience. At this level, the candidate must have one year of creditable experience equivalent to the Corporate Level -7 level that is directly related to the position to be filled.