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Commonwealth of Pennsylvania |
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POSITION DESCRIPTION FOR JOB POSTING |
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Position Number: 00239249 |
Description Activated On: 6/27/2025 9:52:08 AM |
Position Purpose: Describe the primary purpose of this position and how it contributes to the organization’s objectives. Example: Provides clerical and office support within the Division to ensure its operations are conducted efficiently and effectively. Is responsible for directing and coordinating a comprehensive chaplaincy program at SCI-Laurel Highlands. Work includes the conduct of worship services, special and ecumenical services, visitation and consultation with inmates, the conduct of religiously oriented classes and religious or pastoral counseling. An important aspect of the work involves the integration of chaplaincy services, both contractual as well as others, with multidisciplinary treatment team services and consistent with the needs of the inmates and the facility. Is responsible for evaluating need for and the adequacy of chaplaincy services provided, and the integration of the chaplaincy program into the total system of care, treatment and rehabilitation. Supervision is exercised over facility clergy and direction is provided to assure that chaplaincy service providers perform services in accordance with contract provisions. Work is performed independently under the general supervision of the CCPM within established policies and guidelines. |
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Description of Duties: Describe in detail the duties and responsibilities assigned to this position. Descriptions should include the major end result of the task. Example: Types correspondence, reports, and other various documents from handwritten drafts for review and signature of the supervisor. Plans, arranges and conducts regular and special formal religious services for inmates, such as mass, communion and Juma. Plans, arranges and administers other sacraments and rites for inmates. Prepares and delivers sermon or homily at religious services for inmates. Provides for qualitative review of chaplaincy services provided through contract. Evaluates and recommends the deployment of re-deployment of chaplains and/or service providers based upon changes in inmate population and religious preferences. Coordinates and advises facility staff on matters relating to the participation of inmates in religious services, such as attendance and decorum. Coordinates and advises facility staff on matters relating to the participation of inmates in religious services, such as attendance and decorum. Coordinates volunteer, intern and family services with and by volunteers from the community. Assists in planning, participates in and conducts part of interfaith religious services. Visits inmates to offer religious support, guidance and counsel; to develop and maintain a favorable working relationship and to familiarize them with the religious program and resources. Supervises subordinate chaplaincy personnel and serves as liaison with providers of chaplaincy services by monitoring contracts, evaluating overall effectiveness of chaplaincy services and making recommendations on personnel matters. Plans and conducts group and individual counseling sessions and related activities for individual or groups as part of the formal treatment plan. Conducts in service programs to train staff in how to deal with religious problems of inmates. Plans and conducts new employee orientation presentations to explain the role, availability and specific duties of the chaplain and the place of religion in the treatment program. Maintains records and reports. Performs related work as required. Serve as an interfaith chaplain, respecting the various faith and religious traditions present in the institution, direct the religious Services Department and coordinates a comprehensive and interfaith religious services program Be responsive to the pluralistic spiritual needs of those in institution Supervise and evaluate Facility Chaplains in accordance with Department policy. Ensure that the coordination, scheduling and supervision of primary religious gatherings, holyday observances and other religious activities take place in an equitable fashion to ensure that faith groups represented in the facility are accommodated fairly and in concert with security and the needs of the facility. Ensure the coordination, scheduling and supervision of all outside vendor religious meals Ensure that inmates of all faiths have access to faith-specific sacraments, rites and ceremonies (e.g. sacrament of the sick, baptism, communion, smudging, etc.) As time permits, conduct faith-specific primary religious gatherings and administer faith-appropriate sacraments, rites and ceremonies (e.g. sacrament of the sick, baptism, communion, smudging etc.) for inmates who share his/her broad faith tradition. Oversee the process by which inmates can designate/change their religious preference. Arrange for special and interfaith events. Process and approve qualified community religious leaders as Religious/Spiritual Advisors. Ensure that special housing units are visited by diverse Faith Group Leaders representing the Religious Services Department with a frequency as specified in this policy. Ensure that the chaplaincy department offers structured spiritual discussion groups for inmates who are deemed seriously mentally ill. Ensure that a representative of the Religious Services Department visits seriously ill inmates admitted to community hospitals. Ensure that all housing units are visited by a representative of the Religious Services Department at least on a monthly basis. Ensure that inmates of all and no faiths have opportunities to receive spiritual and grief counseling. Advise facility staff on matters relating to religious beliefs and practices which can be accommodated in the Department, research and evaluate religious accommodation requests and recommend that inmates be accommodated in the least restrictive means possible. Advocate for and involve inmates in religious activities only as permitted by policy. Recruit, train, and supervise volunteers, public visitors and interns utilized to complement and strengthen Religious Services Department activities in coordination with the Volunteer Coordinator and in accordance with Department policy 1.1.6 “Volunteers in the Department” Coordinate efforts to ensure that religious literature is screened to meet policy stipulations, is equitably displayed and available for distribution to inmates. Process Outside Purchase Order requests for approved religious items. Evaluate the adequacy of current religious programming and the need for additional religious activities, including recommending the deployment or re-deployment of Faith Group Leaders based upon changes in the religiously diverse inmate population, inmate religious preferences and inmate requests Integrate the Religious Services Department into the total system of care, treatment and rehabilitation, in concert with security. Ensure that correctional employees are oriented to basic rights of inmates to practice their faith while incarcerated and how the Religious Services Department seeks to address the spiritual needs of inmates in the Department’s custody. Conduct training programs for community religious leaders and citizens to develop an understanding of the role of the Religious Services Department at the facility Maintain records and submit requested information and reports as required by the institution and BTS in a timely fashion. Ensure that each Contracted Chaplin, Religious Vendor and Volunteer utilized in the Religious Services Department submits a clearance renewals in a timely fashion. Serve on facility committees and task forces, as assigned by the FM/designee; and Perform any other tasks as assigned by the FM/designee Essential Job Functions 1. Exercise therapeutic care, custody and control over inmates 2. Direct chaplaincy programs and operations through subordinate staff 3. Supervise and evaluate the work of subordinate staff 4. Maintain official sanction by the appropriate faith group to practice as a religious leader 5. Effectively communicate verbally and in writing 6. Review and interpret information 7. Operate basic office equipment 8. Maintain regular and reliable attendance 9. Establish and maintain effective working relationships 10. Present informational briefings to individuals and groups 11. Attend and participate in all mandatory training and/or testing 12. Work overtime as required 13. Travel as required 14. Be mobile over all types of physical surfaces and levels 15. Visually observe inmates’ activities 16. Hear and identify sounds (voices, whistle, buzzer, lock release, scuffling, sudden quiet) |
Decision Making: Describe the types of decisions made by the incumbent of this position and the types of decisions referred to others. Identify the problems or issues that can be resolved at the level of this position, versus those that must be referred to the supervisor. Example: In response to a customer inquiry, this work involves researching the status of an activity and preparing a formal response for the supervisor’s signature. Routine day to day decisions are made by the FCPD according to established policies and procedures. Written communications are reviewed by the CCPM prior to dispersing. Non-routine decisions are researched by the FCPD and approved by the CCPM and or the Deputy Superintendent for Centralized Services. If the issue is a major change to existing procedures or activities, it is reviewed by the Superintendent prior to implementation |
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Requirements Profile: Identify any specific experience or requirements, such as a licensure, registration, or certification, which may be necessary to perform the functions of the position. Position-specific requirements should be consistent with a Special Requirement or other criteria identified in the classification specification covering this position. Example: Experience using Java; Professional Engineer License Experience: All candidates require, at time of interview, documentation of official sanction by a faith group to practice as a religious leader. • All employees in the Department of Corrections must complete, within six months of hire, the Correctional Chaplains Training Course. • Certain positions in the Department of Corrections require one unit of clinical pastoral education or an equivalent specialized training. Licenses, registrations, or certifications: 1. OTHER 2. N/A 3. N/A 4. N/A 5. N/A 6. N/A |
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Essential Functions: Provide a list of essential functions for this position. Example: Transports boxes weighing up to 60 pounds.
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