Chaplain

Summary This position is located within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Veterans Affairs Medical Centers (VAMC), 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. Responsibilities The 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 staff. Serves as a Chaplain professional providing 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. Follow up on all calls made to tie Suicide Prevention Crisis line from Veteran's who receive care though the West Palm Beach VA 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: Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. Functional Statement #: 41784F Financial Disclosure Report: Not required 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. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Complete all application requirements detailed in the

Created: 2025-11-17