CLINICAL PASTORAL EDUCATION RESIDENT

Clinical Pastoral Education Resident

As an integral member of the interdisciplinary team, the Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) Resident provides spiritual and emotional support to patients, families, and staff, respectful of their cultural and religious beliefs.

The CPE Resident demonstrates excellent customer service performance in that his/her attitude and actions are always consistent with the standards contained in the Vision, Mission and Values of Covenant HealthCare and the commitment to Extraordinary Care for Every Generation.

Responsibilities

Participates in the complete CPE program at Covenant HealthCare.

• Be in a serious process of personal and professional growth, by utilizing the clinical method of learning with small group and individual supervision.
• Provide professional pastoral care in specific areas or units of Covenant HealthCare, as assigned by the CPE Certified Educator (CE) & Director of Pastoral Care & Education Department.
• Familiarization and adherence to the policies and procedures for the CPE Program, as well as those outlined by Covenant Healthcare and The Association of Clinical Pastoral Education, Inc. (ACPE).
• Contribute to an atmosphere of open inquiry in the CPE residency where all beliefs, ideas, behaviors and biases are open to exploration in the various components of the program.
• Intentional pursuit of the goals and objectives set by the ACPE Standards, as well as the student's own learning goals.
• Completion and submission of all required written assignments to the ACPE CE (and peers if required) in a timely manner and in keeping with the general standards for graduate-level work.
• A willingness and openness to bring emotions, insights, questions and other material that may be evoked in the course of the CPE experience and ministry formation process to the peer group and the CPE CE for reflection and feedback.
• Adherence to the Ethical Guidelines as established by the ACPE and adhered to by the Covenant Healthcare CPE program, as well as the requirements of the student's religious institutions/endorser, seminary, or community of faith, while engaging in pastoral care & education at Covenant HealthCare.
• Function and engage in group and educational relationships with integrity and respect.
• Completion of a Learning Covenant at the beginning of each unit of CPE training, in consultation with the CPE CE, and be responsible for engaging in the learning process as well as the evaluation process.
• Strive to resolve any differences that may arise, especially in relationship to peers, educator, staff, or any other persons within the CPE Program at Covenant Healthcare.
• If resolution of differences is not reached, to accept the terms of the policy for discipline and withdrawal and/or follow the procedures required in the complaint procedure.

Participates in the complete program of pastoral care to patients, their loved ones and staff of all faith traditions or no faith tradition.

• Assesses the spiritual and emotional needs of patients and families including psychosocial issues, adjustment to illness or disability, status of religious/spiritual coping; supports others in their process of identifying and applying their own values in decision making.
• Practices ministry of intentional presence requiring active listening skills and empathy and providing nonjudgmental support within the context of the patient's culture, values, and belief systems.
• Demonstrates the knowledge and skills necessary to provide appropriate spiritual/emotional support to persons of all age groups.
• Helps patients and families deal with spiritual and emotional issues, among them: forgiveness, hope, courage, perseverance, guilt, loss of control and relationships.
• Assists patients and families with ethical decision-making (e.g., end-of-life decisions, information and execution of advance directives).
• Provides prayer when appropriate, support and comfort especially to the dying patient and her/his family.
• Provides bereavement support.
• Documents spiritual assessments and interventions in the electronic record and intradepartmental records accurately, clearly, in a timely manner following all established policies.
• Shares in the responsibility of providing 24-hour pastoral care coverage, including evenings and weekends.
• Provides appropriate worship services, liturgical and sacramental ministries for patients, families, and staff.
• Supports an interdisciplinary approach to pastoral care.
• Participates as an active member of the interdisciplinary team with special skills in crisis intervention and conflict resolution.
• Provides appropriate input regarding spiritual/emotional issues to physicians and other caregivers.
• Coordinates and/or participates in ethics consultations.
• Serves on institutional committees as appointed.
• Supports efforts to foster spirituality in the workplace.

Participates in maintenance of administrative procedures for the department in accordance with institutional policy.

• Maintains procedures to record pastoral care activity, to communicate with the other members of the department, and report to the department/institution.
• Participates in programs and administrative activities of the department.
• Participates in the implementation of goals and objectives of the department.
• Participates in the department's plan for continuous quality improvement.

Demonstrates excellent customer service.

• Demonstrates support of the vision, mission, and values by individual actions.
• Recognizes that our existence is to serve.
• Contributes to organization's success targets for patient satisfaction and net operating margin.

Qualifications

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE

Undergraduate degree (from a college, university, or theological school accredited by a member of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation).

Graduate-level degree from a college, university, or theological school accredited by a member of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation in divinity, theology, pastoral ministry, or pastoral counseling.

One year of ministry experience in a congregational or agency setting (recommended), and/or endorsement by congregational or denominational authority for ministry training.

KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/ABILITIES

• A general understanding of theology, pluralistic ministry, and a high regard for justice, equity, diversity, inclusion, and cultural sensitivity.
• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Basic computer skills in data entry and word processing.
• Ability to remain resilient and provide pastoral care in crisis situations such as traumas, codes, and deaths.
• Comfortable and able to identify and facilitate a wide range of emotional/spiritual experiences for others, notably grief and anger.
• Ability to remain mentally focused with tasks.
• Ability to function within a self-directed team model and have a reasonable tolerance/flexibility for change.
• Ability to relate to others with a high degree of interpersonal effectiveness.

WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Ability to maintain punctual attendance consistent with the ADA, FMLA, and other federal, state, and local standards.
• Constant hearing, visual accommodation and color vision.
• Frequent lifting up to 10 lbs.
• Frequent standing, walking, sitting, reaching, handling, talking, near vision, midrange vision, far vision, depth perception and field of vision.
• Occasional lifting up to 25 lbs.
• Occasional lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, squatting, twisting, feeling, tasting and smelling.