Job Summary: In collaboration with the interdisciplinary team (IDT), provides and facilitates the spiritual care and counsel of patients and families/caregivers.

Essential Functions:

• Performs advocacy and oversight of hospice services based on patient self-determination to assure patient and family/caregiver satisfaction; ensures the needs and the goals of the patient and family/caregiver are central to the planning and provision of spiritual care.
• Completes spiritual assessment as indicated and appropriate as soon as possible after admission.
• Develops, implements, and updates an individualized plan of care for patients/families and/or caregivers by making regular spiritual care visits. Communicates plan of care with IDT members, community religious leaders, facility staff.
• Works with established multi-cultural staff and pastoral/religious leaders in the community to enhance service to patient/family/caregiver as needed
• Assists in planning and conducting memorial services for NorthStar Care Community families and the community.
• Supports patients and caregivers with awareness of and respect for culture, ritual and traditions, in collaboration with grief support services. Works collaboratively with grief support and other members of the IDT to transition caregivers to grief support services.
• Collaborates with the IDT to provide coordinate, monitor, and document ongoing patient/caregiver spiritual care.
• Using current processes and technology, communicates complete and accurate information to all team disciplines in a timely manner.
• Acts as a resource for team members; assists in understanding significant spiritual factors related to the care of terminally ill patients and their families.
• Documents patient/family/caregiver care following established organizational standards of documentation practice and regulatory and licensure requirements, and submits documentation in accordance with policy.
• Participates in internal/external education and training, orientation, quality assurance initiatives, and in-service training programs and meets with new staff to orient on spiritual care as a discipline.
• Utilizes allocated supplies and resources appropriately to ensure business outcomes are met.
• Adjusts to changes in workload and schedules based on changing team priorities.
• Represents and communicates regularly to local religious leaders, hospital chaplains, nursing home chaplains, facilities and nursing homes regarding NorthStar Care Community spiritual care services and plan of care.
• Adheres to organizational policies, procedures, code of conduct and all regulatory and legal requirements.
• Adheres to the C.A.R.E. Model of Service: courtesy, acknowledgement, response and empathy.

Qualifications:

• Master’s Degree in Divinity, Theology, Spirituality or related field required. Counseling and a minimum of one CPE (Clinical Pastoral Education) experience and hospice experience strongly preferred.
• Demonstrates knowledge and experience in the area of coping with terminal illness, grief and/or bereavement care in the pastoral/spiritual realm.
• Must be able to cope with caregiver emotional stress, cultural diversity and be non-judgmental of individual life-styles.
• Demonstrates and possess ability to maintain accountability, have sound judgment, critical thinking skills, ability to organize, prioritize and manage multiple, competing priorities all while working independently and functioning as part of a cooperative and coordinated team.
• Ability to use technology (hardware and software) required of clinicians in their practice.
• Must possess and demonstrate tact, diplomacy and discretion in dealing with confidential information and accept, affirm and respect diverse belief systems and spiritual practices and preferences.
• Must be able to read, write and speak English fluently and be able to effectively communicate orally and in writing in internal and external relationships for all essential job
• Proof of current tuberculin testing required. Patient contact will not be allowed until tuberculin clearance is documented.
• The physical and sensory demands of the position include: vision, effective speech and hearing for extensive telephone contact; repetitive motion; traveling; driving or riding in motor vehicle; standing, sitting, walking, bending, reaching, and stretching; lifting up to forty five (45) pounds unassisted and the ability to assist in lifting patients using appropriate lifting techniques and/or devices.
• Must have reliable transportation.
• Must be eligible to work in the United States.