Clarification from the agency

This vacancy is also being announced to all Federal employees. This vacancy is also being announced to all U.S. Citizens under Announcement CBTF-11035929-21-MB-Group E from 2/11/2021 to 2/26/2021.

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Serves as a certified Chaplain (CPE) providing comprehensive, religious ministry services and training to Veteran patients and students according to their specific needs. Will style and implement the original CPE Program for the Martinsburg VA Chaplain Service.

Carries out an education ministry with the CPE Center, which is highly integrated into VHA's Chaplain program. Provides thorough guidance and advice to Chaplain Service management staff, students, other Chaplains, and stakeholders. Manages the daily operations of the CPE Center and develops and implements program policies and procedures.

Serves as a certified educator of record for all CPE students for an assigned designated area. Offers students an opportunity to develop and expand professional caring skills in a clinical setting to address a person's spiritual, emotional, and physical needs; and offers students experience with hands-on spiritual care for hospitalized patients. Maintains records for all educator evaluations, student records, center portfolio, and CPE accreditation requirements, which may include off-site CPE satellite and placement contracts. Seeks approval for allied health trainee positions through the Office of Academic Affiliations (OAA).

Conducts recruitment and interviews and selects students for the CPE program. Ensures all documentation is completed for compliance. Develops educational curricula that are measurable, outcome-oriented, and evidence-based and designed to meet board certification competencies. Develops relationships with key staff related to the CPE program, e.g., clinical preceptors, Advisory Group members, and OAA staff. Provides extended and intensive pastoral counseling as an integral part of the treatment program with patients facing complex, ethical, moral, and/or spiritual issues.

Monitors the CPE Center's program effectiveness and modification of service pattern, which includes research and leadership of clinical teams. Develops and implements methods to measure the effectiveness of the Chaplain educational program. Provides leadership, direction, orientation, coaching, in-service training, staff development, and continuing education programs.

Serves as a primary senior Chaplain education resource, spiritual advisor, and liaison for the spiritual needs of Veterans patients, students, caregivers, and staff. Conducts comprehensive religious services and worship, pastoral ministry, and administration of Chaplain services. Completes various complex educational projects, task groups, and assignments to obtain pertinent high-level information needed for Chaplain Service senior management officials.

Engages in group consultative discussions or conferences with treatment professionals to provide senior-level Chaplain related input. Uses thorough knowledge of different faiths to perform various religious rituals, lead prayers, and answer spiritual questions.

Develops and uses measurable, outcome-driven, and evidence-based pastoral care; and creates staff development and wellness programs. Supports the development of staff resiliency by providing emotional and spiritual support and compassionate presence.

Provides specialized consultation, teaching, and mentoring to healthcare staff and trainees on advanced spiritual care interventions in the service delivery area. Conducts and arranges for religious worship services in chapels and at other locations.

Coordinates with community organizations to provide spiritual care and educational outreach.
Maintains contacts with staff members of other professional disciplines of the VHA facility for exchange of information relative to the background and current condition of the patient.

Completes various complex Chaplain related administrative assignments, projects, and reports; and independently develops and implements programs and curricula. Coordinates work schedule with other VHA Chaplains as necessary to ensure overall coverage during the incumbent's absence.
Provides guidance and support for patients to express values through processes such as life review, oral history, and end of life preparation and documentation. Maintains 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 format.

Serves as a liaison to local seminaries, ordained persons, and others concerning CPE. Participates in the broader life of Accredited CPE through the National and Community of Practice events. Develops curriculum for an internship program, supervises students clinical work, and evaluates student's performance.

Educates all levels of CPE students independently. Plans, organizes, and implements all levels of the CPE program.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.; Weekend and on-call coverage as needed.
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Designated and/or random drug testing may be required
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Subject to a background/security investigation
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
• Copy of Official Chaplain Board Certification AND Copy of Official Chaplain Certified Educator Certification
• Copy of Ecclesiastical Endorsement dated within the last year
• Verification of 4 units of Pastoral Education

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:
Citizenship. Citizen of the United States (U.S.). Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a).
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 (see Board Certification below) is acceptable.
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 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
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. For the journey level and above, the candidate must have board certification.
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 GS-0060 Chaplain occupation and may result in termination of employment.
Grandfathering Provision. All chaplains employed in VHA, in this occupational series, performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of this qualification standard, are considered to have met all the qualification requirements for the grade held, including positive education and certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements of this standard, but met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to the position, the following provisions apply:
Chaplains who do not meet the basic requirements for education and certification may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance level, or demoted within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the full performance level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions.
Chaplains appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended, or be reappointed on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.
Chaplains initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain education and/or certification that meets all the basic requirements of this qualification standard, must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation.
Chaplains who were retained in this occupation, under this provision, and subsequently leave the occupation, lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation.
Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service.
English Language Proficiency. Chaplains must be proficient in English Language 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).

Preferred Experience: Chaplain GS-11

Grade Determinations:
Experience. At this level, the candidate must have one year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level of GS-11 that is directly related to the position to be filled.
And
Certification. To provide educational supervision for CPE Level 1 and Level 2 students, the Chaplain CPE Educator must be a Certified Educator. To provide educational supervision for students seeking to become Certified Educators, the Chaplain CPE Educator must be a CPE national faculty from an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
Ability to independently educate all levels of CPE students and plan, organize, and implement all levels of the CPE program.
Skill in adhering to all accreditation standards, processes and practices including, but not limited to, timely and professional submission of all required program reports, center portfolio, fees and dues.
Skill in written and verbal communication that are articulate, professional and cohesive.
Ability to recruit, interview and select students for the CPE program.
Knowledge of professional ethics for certified educators and history of CPE.
Ability to apply theoretical understanding for and competence in administering and conducting all levels of CPE programs.
Knowledge of emerging trends and research in the area of pastoral education.
Knowledge of diverse conceptual frameworks for developing educational curriculum.

References: September 24, 2020 VA Handbook 5005/135 PART II APPENDIX G67

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12.

Physical Requirements: light lifting and carrying under 15 pounds, walking (4 hours) standing (3 hours), hearing (aid permitted), near vision correctable, far vision correctable, working alone, working with others.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, résumé, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.