Music Therapist, Contractor, As needed

Join our team at Stillwater Hospice!

At Stillwater Hospice, we foster and support growth, teamwork, and good work-life balance among all staff.

We offer competitive wages and benefits in our team-forward, positive care environment. We look forward to talking to you today about joining our team!

Compensation is based on total years of experience in previous roles.

In this role, you'll care for patients in the Stillwater Hospice Service area, including Grant, Wabash, Whitley, Huntington, Kosciusko, Noble, and Allen Counties

You will workin a Non-Clinical, Home-Based, as-needed (PRN) basis.

We pride ourselves on promoting an Excellent Work/Life Balance and providing Excellent Employee Benefits.

• 403b Retirement Plan for all employees with no cost access to a Financial Advisor and a strong Company Match for full-time employees.
• Shift Incentive Pay, Performance Incentives, & Mileage Reimbursement.
• Company-provided Uniform allowance.
• A Robust Employee Assistance Program (EAP) program for Employees & Family household members.
• New hire referral Finder's Bonus.
• Free employee access to the services and programs at the Peggy F. Murphy Community Grief Center.
• A newly remodeled, modern Inpatient Unit.
• Newly built Staff Respite Room in the Hospice Home IPU.
• Multiple employee engagement events per year: Wellness/Health Events, Quarterly Employee Benefit Fairs, Organization picnics, and Organization holiday events.
• A strong commitment to promoting and advancing employees from within the organization.
• The campus is connected to the Fort Wayne Trails system.
• Discounts at the YMCA (multiple included, not just Allen County).

P OSITION TITLE: MUSIC THERAPIST

FLSA STATUS: HOURLY / NON-EXEMPT

REPORTS TO: Music Therapy Coordinator or Coordinator of Therapeutic Programs

POSITION OBJECTIVE:

• Uses Music Therapy to assist the patient and/or family to ease discomfort, anxiety, and other symptoms.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Undergraduate Degree in Music therapy or equivalency.
• Board-certified music therapist.
• Soothing and pleasant speaking and singing voice.
• Proficient in one or more accompaniment instruments; strong piano, keyboard, or guitar skills are desirable.
• Extensive knowledge of different styles of music and music from diverse genres. Includes a working familiarity with music from different religions, cultures, and ethnic groups.
• Proficient in using music therapy techniques to assist the patient and family with:
  • Pain, discomfort
  • Anxiety, restlessness, depression
  • Difficulty sleeping, insomnia
  • Reminiscence
  • Expression of feelings
  • Spiritual support
  • Isolation, lack of a support system
  • Grief
  • Dementia and confusion
  • Other conditions associated with terminal illnesses
• Prefer two (2) years of paid professional music therapy experience.
• Experience with patients with terminal illness preferred.
• Ability to create a safe, comfortable environment and a mode of expression through music.
• Effective interpersonal and counseling skills.
• Must have or obtain within one year of hire Crisis Prevention & Intervention Training (CPI)
• Must have or obtain Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification within the orientation period, and a preference for including Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) certification.
• Must have an Indiana motor vehicle operator's license and have access to an automobile with current automobile insurance coverage.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Provide direct service to hospice patients and their families in homes, nursing facilities, and inpatient unit.
• Consult with IDT staff about patient referrals to assess needs and to prioritize intervention.
• Conduct assessments and provide interventions that meet individual needs.
• Assess the music therapy equipment, including inventory, maintenance, and use of equipment. Includes appropriate infection control procedures. Includes maintaining and caring for the music-listening library and making such resources available to patients and their families.
• Participate in IDT conference weekly, as needed.
• Implements Agency policies in all work-related situations.
• Assists in Stillwater Hospice memorial services and patient memorials, as requested.
• Participates as a representative of Stillwater Hospice as a speaker for community awareness and educational activities in the designated service area, including new employee in-services.
• Participates in continuing education, constantly improving skills and knowledge to maintain Board Certification with the Certification Board for Music Therapists, Inc. (CBMT).
• Assures that the necessary paperwork and/or computer documentation are completed promptly in accordance with regulatory guidelines.
• Seeks advice and assistance from supervisors.
• Develop appropriate music therapy protocols and policies as required to maintain an effective level of clinical practice.
• Serve as the contact person and music therapy role model for music therapy students from Purdue University of Fort Wayne, allowing students to observe and complete advanced practicums when indicated.
• Adheres to all Stillwater Hospice policies.
• Adheres to Stillwater Hospice privacy practices as described in the Notice of Privacy Practices.
• Participates in quality improvement activities and/or other agency committees or task forces when requested.
• Provide services for bereaved clients upon referral from a bereavement counselor.
• Assist in Music Therapy grief workshops and other special grief events when requested by the Stillwater Hospice grief team.
• Serve as liaison between Threshold Choir and Stillwater Hospice, assisting in the program as needed and vetting referrals.

ESSENTIAL PHYSICAL/MENTAL FUNCTIONS:

• Lifting: Equipment used for therapy; frequent to constant use.
• To assist patients into a position where they can participate in therapy, frequently or constantly.
• Carrying: Equipment used in providing therapy - frequent to constant.
• Pushing/pulling: While providing therapy, occasional to frequent.
• Standing: While providing therapy, occasional to frequent.
• Sitting: While driving - occasional.
• While providing therapy, frequently.
• While documenting therapy - occasional.
• Climbing: Up and downstairs in patients' homes - occasional.
• Balancing: Needed for normal ambulation, climbing stairs, and reaching -frequent to constant.
• Stooping/kneeling/crouching: To perform therapy - frequent.
• Fingering: Pen, visit reports - occasional to frequent. Also includes the ability to "finger" and play various instruments for accompaniment.
• Opening: To provide a non-intrusive introduction to music in hospice and palliative care to patients and their families. Able to explain the therapeutic value of music in hospice, palliative care, and home health care.
• Talking: To communicate with patient, family, co-workers, and supervisor - frequent to constant.
• Hearing: To communicate with patient and family, supervisor, and co-workers - Frequent to constant.
• Seeing: Constant. Includes the ability to read and write music.
• Must have visual and hearing ability to comprehend written and verbal communication.
• Must be able to engage in clear, concise verbal/non-verbal communication.
• Must have the ability to remain calm in occasional emergencies.
• Recognized emergencies and knows emergency procedures according to Agency policy.

ESSENTIAL HAZARDOUS PHYSICAL EXPOSURES:

• Must be willing to travel in inclement weather.
• Potential threat of physical violence to self.
• Potential exposure to dangerous animals, such as dogs, rodents, etc., while visiting patients in their homes.
• Potential exposure to environmental pollutants.
• Potential exposure to infectious diseases, needle sticks, blood and body fluids, and hazardous waste.
• Potential exposure to variable temperatures in the working environment.

CHEMICAL OR HAZARDOUS PHYSICAL EXPOSURES:

• Potential exposure to substances within the hospice environment, including copy machine toner, VDT emissions, cleaning solvents, and medical supply chemicals.
• Potential exposure to chemical/cleaning substances in a hospice environment.

ESSENTIAL PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT REQUIRED:

• Standard precautions will be consistently used for all patients.
• The employer provides protective clothing and equipment at no cost to the employee.
• According to state law, seat belts must be worn when traveling during working hours.

OTHER SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS:

• Must be willing to accept assignments without regard to location, socioeconomic environment, disease, or ethnic origin.

The published compensation range for this position reflects a good-faith estimate of starting base pay for full-time (40 hours per week) employment at the time of posting. The base pay may be higher or lower based on demonstrated job-related experience.

Stillwater Hospice has been caring for the seriously ill of Northeast Indiana since 1888, and our goal is to foster the optimal quality of life through medical, spiritual, and emotional support for patients and their loved ones. We provide high-quality, patient-focused, and compassionate care that helps terminally ill patients and their families live as fully as possible. Providing hospice care allows patients and their families to have meaningful moments together.