Clinical Pastoral Educator (Chaplain)

Quick Facts

• Provides senior-level clinical pastoral education and chaplaincy care to Veterans, families, caregivers, and staff across inpatient, outpatient, and residential settings.
• Delivers direct patient care (at least 35%) and supervises CPE students during patient care.
• Manages the day-to-day operations of a CPE center, including curriculum, policies, accreditation records, and student outcomes.

Description

Serve as a Clinical Pastoral Educator and Chaplain integrating spiritual care into health and wellness services. Provide comprehensive, individualized religious and pastoral support, including counseling on complex ethical, moral, emotional, and spiritual concerns. Lead and administer the CPE program with educators, students, preceptors, and accreditation-aligned education practices.

Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive religious and spiritual care based on individual needs.
• Provide at least 35% direct patient care; supervise CPE students during patient care.
• Offer pastoral counseling for complex ethical, moral, emotional, or spiritual concerns.
• Support life review, oral history, advance care planning, end-of-life preparation, and values expression.
• Conduct or arrange worship services, prayers, rituals, Bible studies, religious education, and related activities.
• Respect and address needs across diverse faiths, denominations, and belief systems.
• Coordinate with community clergy and faith leaders when services are outside scope.
• Document chaplaincy services in the electronic health record using an approved template or SOAP notes.
• Serve as a senior spiritual-care advisor and liaison to Veterans, students, caregivers, staff, and healthcare professionals.
• Consult, educate, mentor, and train on spiritual care referrals for complex spiritual needs.
• Support staff wellness and resiliency through emotional and spiritual care.
• Participate in interdisciplinary treatment teams and contribute to conferences and program reviews.
• Train and support volunteers.

CPE Program Duties

• Manage daily operations of the CPE center.
• Develop, implement, and update CPE policies, procedures, curricula, and practice guidelines.
• Educate and supervise CPE students; recruit, interview, and select students.
• Assess student needs, develop educational plans, supervise clinical work, and evaluate performance.
• Provide supervised clinical spiritual care experience for hospitalized patients.
• Develop measurable, outcome-based, evidence-informed curricula aligned with board-certification competencies.
• Develop internship programs and supervise interns; coordinate clinical preceptors and Advisory Group.
• Obtain approvals for allied-health trainee positions through the Office of Academic Affiliations.
• Maintain accreditation records, evaluations, student files, center portfolios, contracts, and required reports.
• Monitor program effectiveness using evaluations, research, and best practices.
• Participate in accredited CPE professional organizations and communities of practice.
• Liaise to seminaries and CPE partners; provide guidance to Chaplain Service leadership and stakeholders.
• Lead orientations, coaching, in-service training, staff development, and continuing-education activities.
• Complete complex educational projects, reports, and assignments as needed.

Program Administration

• Plan schedules with other chaplains for service coverage.
• Maintain program supplies, religious equipment, educational materials, and operating records.
• Track and manage the program budget.
• Develop and implement chaplain service programs and curricula.
• Prepare professional policies, procedures, guidelines, reports, and accreditation materials.
• Maintain current knowledge of pastoral education, CPE standards, ethics, research, behavioral sciences, healthcare practices, and diverse religious traditions.
• Apply clinical terminology and knowledge of human behavior to spiritual care and education.

Benefits

Access to a comprehensive federal benefits package for employees and their families (eligibility depends on position type).