Chaplain

Major Responsibilities:

• Delivers wholistic ministry of spiritual care for patients, families, team members and physicians. Provides spiritual care, consultation and short-term counseling to patients, families, physicians, and team members as assigned and in accordance with site and system policies, facilitates sacramental ministries.
• Responds to codes, emergencies and/or crises . Assists families with their needs in relation to the patient’s illness so they can provide supportive care to the patient: assists family members in understanding procedures surrounding a death and in contacting families or other significant persons. Promotes patient safety by reporting of issues through established channels and participating in safety initiatives.
• Participates in the life and work of the department and patient service area to assure integrated efficient services; participates in providing overall site coverage, including weekends and holidays, conducts services as scheduled; serves on department, site, or system committees as assigned.
• Participates in patient care planning, interdisciplinary team activities and development, staff and patient directed support groups, orients new team members; participate in grand rounds, case conferences, team meetings, identifying resolving ethical dilemmas in assigned areas. Provides consultation to team members to assess the role of a patient’s faith in recovery. Represents the values of the religious communities to health care professionals and hospital associates.
• Collaborates with the clinical pastoral education program by mentoring and/or orienting students as assigned and providing feedback to CPE Supervisor regarding student performance and educational needs.
• Supports and interprets the mission and values of Advocate Aurora Health in clinical and departmental responsibilities and team member engagement. Supports the hospital ministry of parish clergy through referrals, consultation and education. Participates in educational initiatives and support groups for patients and families, team members, community and faith groups; provides spiritual health education, crisis support and debriefings. Maintains good standing and ecclesiastical endorsement through active participation in the life and work of one’s faith group.
• Provides virtual spiritual care services through approved telehealth and video platforms to patients, families, physicians, and teammates. Facilitates scheduled video visits, establishes therapeutic presence in a virtual environment, assesses spiritual, emotional, and existential needs remotely, and documents encounters in accordance with organizational policies and professional standards.
• Coordinates and manages virtual visit workflows, including preparation for scheduled appointments, monitoring virtual visit schedules, troubleshooting basic connectivity issues, ensuring appropriate patient and teammate engagement within virtual platforms, and collaborating with operational and clinical partners to support a seamless virtual care experience.
• Maintains a professional virtual environment that supports privacy, confidentiality, and meaningful spiritual care encounters. Demonstrates the ability to adapt pastoral assessment, counseling, crisis intervention, bereavement support, and spiritual care interventions to a virtual setting while maintaining the same standards of compassionate care expected in face-to-face interactions.
• Serves as a resource to patients, families, teammates, and physicians regarding access to virtual spiritual care services and promotes utilization of digital platforms that support spiritual care delivery.
• Participates in the development, evaluation, and continuous improvement of virtual spiritual care practices, workflows, patient experience initiatives, and quality outcomes related to tele-chaplaincy services.

Licensure, Registration, and/or Certification Required:

• 4 units of CPE, at least three accredited by ACPE .
• Eligible for board certification as a chaplain: APC/BCCI, NACC, NAJC; completed within 18 months of hire .
• Endorsed by faith group

Education Required:

• Completed graduate degree (MA, MDiv) in religious studies, theology, divinity or related field .

Experience Required:

• Prior clinical experience as a chaplain: 3 years

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required:

• Must be able to participate in overnight and weekend on-call rotation per the department schedule, including moving between sites of care as needed.
• Excellent oral and written communication and human relation skills.
• Demonstrated group process skills and leadership.
• Demonstrated problem solving skills and ability to address and resolve conflicts.
• Demonstrated ability to work with multi-disciplinary teams.
• Competence in cross-cultural communication, cultural humility and religious diversity .
• Ability to trust, adapt to change, and to work with diverse personalities, cultures and faith traditions

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:

• May be exposed to blood and body fluids; therefore, personal protective equipment must be worn as necessary.
• Availability and transportation to serve on-call rotation as needed.
• Must be able to sit, stand, walk, and bend throughout the workday.
• Operates all equipment necessary to perform the job.

This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent. Incumbent may be required to perform other related duties.