Spiritual Care Counselor, Hospice Home Care, Queens

• Implements the Spiritual Care program in accordance with CMS Conditions of Participation.

• Assesses emotional spiritual, religious, existential status and care needs of patients and/or their family members utilizing professional skills and knowledge. 

• Provides spiritual counseling and services, including crisis intervention, to meet the psycho-spiritual, religious and existential needs of patient/family in collaboration with the IDG in accordance with VNS Health policies/procedures, code of conduct and standards of practice for professional chaplains.

• Develops and updates the spiritual care component of the patient/family plan of care based on mutually acceptable goals.

• Utilizes appropriate spiritual/religious community resources and serves as a liaison between VNS Health and the community clergy directly involved with the patient/family. 

• Documents spiritual care assessment, including signs of decline, interventions, and plans of care in EMR in collaboration with the IDG to ensure optimal quality care.

• Participates in the weekly IDG team meetings; develops and updates treatment plans and goals as needed. Coordinates effective approaches to develop patient and/or family care in collaboration with other team members.

• Acts as a resource to VNS Health staff for both clinical collaboration and/or interdisciplinary staff support.

• Assists interdisciplinary team members in understanding the significant psycho-spiritual, religious and existential factors related to the patient/family’s quality of life and in developing support for patient/family with regard to spiritual care.

• Assumes responsibility for continued professional growth, including attendance of in-service programs. 

• Provides on-call coverage as needed. 

• Travels to patients’ homes and/or facilities with varying environments (e.g. walk-ups, care facilities, single/multiple family homes, presence of pets, etc.) using approved transportation options to deliver direct spiritual care service to the patient/family.

• Participates in special projects and performs other duties as assigned.

Licenses and Certifications:
Valid driver's license required, as determined by operational/regional needs. 

Master's Degree in Divinity or Theology preferred

Four units of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) required

Board Certified Chaplain preferred

Effective oral and interpersonal communication skills required

Proficiency in personal computer operations including MS Office applications required