Fire Battalion Chaplain

Orange County Fire Authority•Irvine, CA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) is recruiting to fill a current vacancy for Fire Battalion Chaplain and to establish an eligibility list for future vacancies for Fire Battalion Chaplain, and Associate Chaplain. The purpose of the OCFA Chaplain Program is to provide spiritual guidance, counseling, and assistance, by designated clergy, to OCFA employees, their immediate families, and the community during and following emergency and crisis situations. The OCFA's Chaplain Program is designed to meet these needs in keeping with the general philosophy of service to OCFA employees and the citizens of Orange County. The Chaplain Program is staffed by one chaplain per battalion to accomplish the goals and purposes of the program.

Requirements

Be an active spiritual leader--either a licensed or ordained member of the clergy with an organized community of faith.
Completion of a course of instruction in Critical Incident Stress Management, with an emphasis on crisis intervention.
Possess a valid California driver's license.
Successfully complete an OCFA interview and background investigation process.
Show spiritual sensitivity and compassion for all persons with whom they come in contact, regardless of race, gender, social status, or faith.
Submit, during the application filing period, an online application and attach a copy of the license or certificate of ordination.

Nice To Haves

Associate Chaplain: Be available, when requested, to assist Battalion Chaplains in an incident or follow-up with an OCFA employee.
Associate Chaplain: Respond to major disasters, including mass casualty events, death or serious injury to OCFA personnel or at the request of other agencies or hospitals.
Associate Chaplain: Assist citizens during or after emergency situations as appropriate.
Associate Chaplain: Offer confidential spiritual counseling, upon request, to OCFA employees and their families.
Associate Chaplain: Refrain from proselytizing or evangelizing during contact with OCFA employees while on duty.
Associate Chaplain: If directly queried, a chaplain may respond in a clergy capacity, with the faith-based theology according to their beliefs.
Associate Chaplain: Participate in training classes to enhance his/her effectiveness.

Responsibilities

Make themselves available to their assigned battalion to familiarize themselves with the personnel and the procedures on a day-to-day basis.
Provide coverage for one another for illness and vacation.
Serve on-call 24 hours as notified by ECC and/or requested by OCFA personnel.
Conduct follow-up work as a clergy person rather than as a representative of the OCFA, which may involve counseling or service in the areas of bereavement, wedding officiating, marriage and parenting counseling, and referral to local faith communities.
Participate in regional chaplain responses, as need dictates.
Visit fire stations, as well as participate in "ride-along" when invited, to develop relationships with fire personnel.
Seek permission to visit fire stations before meeting with fire personnel.
Pay for their share of a common meal if they receive an invitation to stay for a meal.
Respond to major disasters, including mass casualty events, death or serious injury to OCFA personnel or at the request of other agencies or hospitals.
Assist citizens during or after emergency situations as appropriate.
Offer confidential spiritual counseling, upon request, to OCFA employees and their families.
Lead critical incident debriefing in accordance with OCFA policy and training.
Offer invocations at OCFA graduations, promotional activities, award ceremonies, and other public relations related activities.
Represent OCFA before official bodies and at public functions upon request.
Serve as liaison with other spiritual leaders in the community, and upon request, notify the victim's personal clergy person.
Assist in making notification to families of OCFA employees who are seriously ill, injured, or deceased.
Provide wedding and funeral services for OCFA employees upon request.
Make referrals in cases where specialized attention is needed or in those cases beyond the chaplain's abilities or responsibilities.
Refrain from proselytizing or evangelizing during contact with OCFA employees while on duty.
Respond in a clergy capacity if directly queried, with the faith-based theology according to their beliefs.
Participate in training classes to enhance effectiveness.
Submit activity reports to theHIVE in a timely manner.
Arrange coverage by another OCFA chaplain and convey this information by phone to the ECC if unable to cover assigned battalion due to ministry responsibilities, vacation, or medical issues.
Be available, when requested, to assist Battalion Chaplains in an incident or follow-up with an OCFA employee (Associate Chaplain only).
Donate a minimum of eight (8) hours per month to the program (Battalion Chaplain only).