Chaplain

Description

To cultivate spiritual and emotional support to patients,  families/caregivers to ensure each have a voice to explore spiritual  concerns; ask crucial questions; comprehend the importance of their  lives; and discover peace as they approach death. 

Requirements

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES: 

· Assess the spiritual needs of patient/family with patient/family consent 

· Provide spiritual care and support for patient/family/caregivers as needed or requested 

·  Develop a plan of care with the interdisciplinary team meeting the  spiritual/emotional needs of the  patient/family caregivers and update  the plan of care every 14 days 

· Utilize spiritual resources to meet needs of patient and family 

· Consult and provide education to interdisciplinary team about spirituality and spiritual care 

· Provide ethical consultation for staff regarding end-of-life issues and how faith impacts choices 

· Contact patient/family’s minister and other religious caregivers, as appropriate and as requested by  patient/family 

· Serve palliative care patients as assigned 

· Be available to attend receivings or funerals for patients on weekdays 

· Facilitate or assist with funerals/memorial services, as requested 

·  Plan and lead occasional worship services for patients/family members,  staff, and facilities in collaboration  with Director of Faith Outreach 

· Coordinate memorial services with long-term care staff, as directed by facility 

· Provide spiritual care and support for bereaved family members upon request 

· Maintain Hospice bereavement family caseload as requested 

· Complete initial bereavement assignment for patient families served as requested 

· Develop appropriate bereavement plan of care and update quarterly as requested 

·  Participate in the planning and facilitating of grief support  groups/presentation, as needed, in the community  in collaboration with  Grief Support Specialist 

· Assist with the annual memorial service with Grief Services Director 

· Facilitate (if trained) Walking the Mourner’s Path program and Limit of Our Sight  

· Rotate chaplain on call responsibilities, minimum 2x a year or as requested/needed 

· Collaborate with on-call weekend social worker and nurse regarding patient family needs 

· Attend funeral/receiving scheduled on weekends when on-call 

· Serve as a resource to community clergy and religious caregivers about Hospice, death, dying, and grief  issues 

·  Provide education and consultation to community clergy and groups to  enhance their sensitivity to the  spiritual concerns of patient and  caregivers experiencing illness and loss 

· Support community clergy/congregations through the process of caring for the hospice patient/family 

· Participate in volunteer/staff orientation/training, as requested 

· Assist with training volunteer chaplains, as needed 

· Complete all Relias trainings and attend additional mandatory trainings 

· Other duties as assigned 

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:  

·  Ability to identify and respect the spiritual needs of the  patient/families/caregivers as they differ according to  social status,  religious beliefs, sexual orientation, race, age, and their emotional,  physical, and intellectual  capabilities 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:  

Education:  

·  Master of Divinity degree or equivalent graduate degree that includes  theological studies from an accredited seminary or divinity school 

· Minimum of two units of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) completed or equivalent clinical training and experience 

· Endorsed by and in good standing with the denomination of ordination 

Experience:  

· Minimum two years of experience working with individuals, groups and  families in crisis, preferably dealing with issues involved in death,  dying, and grief 

Licensures & Certifications: (if applicable):  

· Certified or progressing toward certification by a cognate group  recognized by the Coalition on Ministry in Specialized Setting (COMISS)