Chaplain

To cultivate spiritual and emotional support to patients, families/caregivers to ensure each have a voice to explore spiritual concerns; ask crucial questions; comprehend the importance of their lives; and discover peace as they approach death.


Requirements

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:


• Assess the spiritual needs of patient/family with patient/family consent


• Provide spiritual care and support for patient/family/caregivers as needed or requested


• Develop a plan of care with the interdisciplinary team meeting the spiritual/emotional needs of the patient/family caregivers and update the plan of care every 14 days


• Utilize spiritual resources to meet needs of patient and family


• Consult and provide education to interdisciplinary team about spirituality and spiritual care


• Provide ethical consultation for staff regarding end-of-life issues and how faith impacts choices


• Contact patient/family's minister and other religious caregivers, as appropriate and as requested by patient/family


• Serve palliative care patients as assigned


• Be available to attend receivings or funerals for patients on weekdays


• Facilitate or assist with funerals/memorial services, as requested


• Plan and lead occasional worship services for patients/family members, staff, and facilities in collaboration with Director of Faith Outreach


• Coordinate memorial services with long-term care staff, as directed by facility


• Provide spiritual care and support for bereaved family members upon request


• Maintain Hospice bereavement family caseload as requested


• Complete initial bereavement assignment for patient families served as requested


• Develop appropriate bereavement plan of care and update quarterly as requested


• Participate in the planning and facilitating of grief support groups/presentation, as needed, in the community in collaboration with Grief Support Specialist


• Assist with the annual memorial service with Grief Services Director


• Facilitate (if trained) Walking the Mourner's Path program and Limit of Our Sight


• Rotate chaplain on call responsibilities, minimum 2x a year or as requested/needed


• Collaborate with on-call weekend social worker and nurse regarding patient family needs


• Attend funeral/receiving scheduled on weekends when on-call


• Serve as a resource to community clergy and religious caregivers about Hospice, death, dying, and grief issues


• Provide education and consultation to community clergy and groups to enhance their sensitivity to the spiritual concerns of patient and caregivers experiencing illness and loss


• Support community clergy/congregations through the process of caring for the hospice patient/family


• Participate in volunteer/staff orientation/training, as requested


• Assist with training volunteer chaplains, as needed


• Complete all Relias trainings and attend additional mandatory trainings


• Other duties as assigned


KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:


• Ability to identify and respect the spiritual needs of the patient/families/caregivers as they differ according to social status, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, race, age, and their emotional, physical, and intellectual capabilities


MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:


Education:


• Master of Divinity degree or equivalent graduate degree that includes theological studies from an accredited seminary or divinity school


• Minimum of two units of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) completed or equivalent clinical training and experience


• Endorsed by and in good standing with the denomination of ordination


Experience:


• Minimum two years of experience working with individuals, groups and families in crisis, preferably dealing with issues involved in death, dying, and grief


Licensures & Certifications: (if applicable):


• Certified or progressing toward certification by a cognate group recognized by the Coalition on Ministry in Specialized Setting (COMISS)