JOB TITLE: CHAPLAIN

JOB CODE: 47989

DEFINITION: This is professional work providing spiritual and religious guidance to individuals within a Commonwealth facility.

An employee in this job develops, coordinates, and provides a wide variety of spiritual and religious services and activities for individuals within a Commonwealth facility. Work involves planning and conducting regular worship and special religious services; developing, coordinating, implementing, and evaluating spiritual and religious program activities; and working with various community groups to train volunteers and encourage participation in the religious activities of the facility. An important aspect of this work involves offering spiritual and emotional support, guidance, and counsel by providing prayer, comfort, and encouragement to individuals of all faiths or no faith. Work is performed under the direction of a Chaplaincy Program Director and is reviewed for adherence to established policies, procedures, standards, and objectives.

EXAMPLES OF WORK: (NOTE: The examples of work are representative of the work, but every position classified to this job may not perform all examples of work listed. Conversely, this is not an all-inclusive list of work examples.)

• Plans, coordinates, and conducts regular worship and special religious services and activities.

• Prepares, plans for, and administers various religious sacraments and rites for residents.

• Serves as part of a multi-disciplinary team to assess, plan, coordinate, implement, monitor, and evaluate available options and services to meet individuals’ spiritual needs.

• Provides support to individuals regarding religious, spiritual, and cultural practices.

• Coordinates and plans for facility residents and community volunteers to facilitate and/or assist with religious services.

• Promotes community understanding of facility religious programs by speaking to civic associations, professional groups, and local clergy and by providing inspirational literature and program resources.

• Plans and conducts religious classes for individuals to develop an awareness and understanding of the principles and practices of religion and its impact on daily life.

• Provides emotional, spiritual, and religious support in times of grief and crisis.

• Accompanies individuals, as appropriate, in end of life care and works through issues of forgiveness, reconciliation, guilt, and anxiety.

• Maintains records in accordance with established requirements and standards.

• Performs the full range of supervisory duties.

• An employee in this job may participate in the performance of subordinates’ work consistent with organizational or operational requirements.

• Performs related work as required.

ENTRY LEVEL KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of the principles, practices, values, and customs of the appropriate faith group.

• Knowledge of the principles and techniques of spiritual/pastoral care and counseling.

• Ability to direct and conduct religious services and classes.

• Ability to speak effectively on religious matters before large and diverse groups.

• Ability to communicate effectively orally.

• Ability to communicate effectively in writing.

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING: (NOTE: Based on the Entry Level Knowledges, Skills, and Abilities)

• Two years of professional pastoral experience and a bachelor’s degree;

or

• An equivalent combination of experience and training that includes one year of professional pastoral experience.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• All candidates are required, at the time of application, to provide documentation from an officially sanctioned faith group dated within one year of the application date stating they are officially sanctioned or authorized to conduct worship/sacred services, and specifying which sacraments, rites, ceremonies, or rituals they are authorized to perform as a religious leader.

• All employees in the Department of Corrections must complete the Correctional Chaplains Training Course within six months of hire.

• All employees in the Department of Corrections must maintain their credentials with an officially sanctioned faith group on an annual basis for the duration of employment.

• Certain positions require one unit of clinical pastoral education or an equivalent specialized training.