Hospice Chaplain

Hospice Chaplain

At St. Elizabeth Healthcare, every role supports our mission to provide comprehensive and compassionate care to the communities we serve. For more than 160 years, St. Elizabeth Healthcare has been a trusted provider of quality care across Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio. We're guided by our mission to improve the health of the communities we serve and by our values of excellence, integrity, compassion, and teamwork. Our associates are the heart of everything we do.

We invest in you — personally and professionally.

Enjoy:

• Competitive pay and comprehensive health coverage within the first 30 days.
• Generous paid time off and flexible work schedules
• Retirement savings with employer match
• Tuition reimbursement and professional development opportunities
• Wellness, mental health, and recognition programs
• Career advancement through mentorship and internal mobility

Job Summary:

The Hospice Chaplain is a professional spiritual care provider and a full member of the healthcare interdisciplinary team who provides for the hospice, pastoral and spiritual needs of patients, their families, and associates. Specifically, the hospice chaplain, through professional training, pastoral presence, organizational leadership, spiritual assessment, interventions, and outcomes, facilitates meaning-making in ways that are important to patients, families, and associates as they relate to their spiritual and emotional well-being. The position will collaborate directly with the Director of Pastoral and Spiritual Care, the Director of Hospice & Palliative Care, and the Manager of Hospice Support Services and other interdisciplinary members of the care team to coordinate chaplaincy hospice care. Demonstrates respect, dignity, kindness, and empathy in each encounter with all patients, families, visitors, and associates regardless of spiritual or cultural background.

Job Description:

Spiritual Assessment

• Contacts patient/family and attempts to complete the spiritual assessment within 5 working days of admission.
• Provides spiritual support to the hospice patient (and family) as a part of the development of the spiritual plan of care.
• Plan of care shared with the Case Manager and other members of the care team as appropriate.
• Serve as a liaison to the care team regarding patient needs.

Spiritual Follow-up

• Develops a follow-up plan based on the initial assessment and makes visits/call as indicated.
• Maintains a collaborative relationship with the patient/family to support the patient's needs.
• Provides patient/family with information regarding spiritual resources in the community.

Documentation

• Documents initial assessment visit in patient chart same day of initial visit.
• Documents follow-up plan, interventions and inpatient visits.
• All documentation must be completed timely and accurately reflecting the services provided and adhering to the documentation requirements for Hospice including patient/caregiver needs, billing requirements, etc.
• Documentation must adhere to all policies/procedures and laws and regulations (State/Federal) relevant to job responsibilities.

Communication

• Actively participates in Interdisciplinary Group (IDG) meetings and communicates with the group regarding the plan of care and the spiritual issues/needs of the patient/family.
• Refers to Bereavement Coordinator if anticipatory grief is an issue
• Communicates and networks with patient's clergy as requested by patient

Associate Care and Education of staff

• Provides spiritual education to volunteers at time of training and to Hospice staff and community when requested
• Provides excellence in spiritual care that contributes to the well-being of our associates, including 1:1 visits, group interventions, and team meetings as requested and/or appropriate.

Facilitating Support Groups

• Can assist in facilitating support groups if needed.

Supports Mission Services' Strategic Initiatives

• Performs other duties as assigned in support of our mission, strategic plan, and initiatives. May include formation, education, and supervision work, including supporting the work of our spiritual care volunteers, Eucharistic Ministers, and CPE student interns.

Education, Credentials, Licenses:

• Bachelors degree
• One unit of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) or equivalent
• Agreement to adhering to the Code of Ethics for Spiritual Care Professionals.

Specialized Knowledge:

• Thorough understanding of the goals and objectives of St. Elizabeth's Healthcare. Knowledge and respect of spiritual/religious beliefs and practices of various worldview traditions.
• Strong interpersonal communication and listening skills and ability to handle difficult patient, family, and associate encounters.
• Ability to lead and coordinate prayer and group experiences.
• Ability to work with minimal supervision.
• Basic computer/technology skills and ability to communicate using one's own smartphone.
• Must have a valid driver's license and a personal vehicle in good working order.

Kind and Length of Experience:

• One year of pastoral ministry or chaplaincy experience. Ability and desire to work with people from diverse backgrounds, including staff, volunteers, and clergy.
• Experience in working as a collaborative part of a team.

Right Career. Right Here. If you're looking for the right careers in healthcare, the right place to be is at St. Elizabeth. Join us, and you'll take pride in the level of care we offer our community.