Chaplain

Description

Position Title:                Chaplain

Department:                  Resident Services

Exempt Status:              Exempt

Supervisor:                    Executive Director

Position Summary

The Chaplain serves residents across independent living, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing, offering consistent, respectful, and grace-filled support regardless of religious background or denominational affiliation, while reflecting core Christian values in all interactions.  Their focus should be one of providing comfort,

The Chaplain should be a compassionate and spiritually grounded Christian who is able to provide spiritual support and comfort in a variety of forms for the benefit of the residents, their families and caregivers/staff.  This position plays a vital role in nurturing the spiritual well-being of our community through personal visits, worship services, counseling, and faith-based programming.  The Chaplain’s focus should be on an inclusive message and avoid divisive or exclusionary themes like politics or unique denominational views that are outside of the mainstream theology.  The Chaplain should also provide ongoing support and training for staff, providing them the tools and resources to better care for our residents and their families. 

Key Responsibilities

Spiritual & Pastoral Care

• Provide individual spiritual counseling and grief support to residents and families.
• Offer prayer and scripture reading as appropriate to residents’ needs.
• Coordinate and lead weekly worship services, bible studies, vespers, prayer meetings and special events and services.
• Engage with residents’ existing pastors when appropriate to support ongoing spiritual care.
• Maintain an active visitation schedule, especially for new residents and those in transition, on hospice or end-of-life stages. 
• Responds timely to requests for visitation from staff, residents and family members.
• Provides spiritual support for residents when in the hospital. 
• Honors resident requests for non-participation in services or programs.   

Program Leadership

• Develop and oversee the spiritual life calendar in collaboration with Life Enrichment staff.
• Organize and lead annual memorial services, individual memorial/funeral services as requested and coordinate programs like "Friends of the Journey” or similar programs.
• Write memorial and spiritually themed content for newsletters and internal communications.

Administrative

• Maintain documentation of chaplaincy activities, ensuring confidentiality and regulatory compliance.
• Manage the Chapel Fund and participate in committees that focus on resident needs, such as the Benevolent Fund Committee and others as requested.
• Arrange backup coverage for key responsibilities while absent.  This includes coverage of regular worship services and emergency Chaplain duties in times of crise. 

Community Engagement

• Participate in Dallas Ministerial Association and stay current with developments in senior Chaplaincy services and care.
• Represent the spiritual voice on interdepartmental teams and resident councils.
• Provide support to staff during times of loss or crisis.

HOSPITALITY FOCUS: 

Dallas Retirement Village fully embraces a culture of hospitality.  To that end, we include the following hospitality promises as a guide for our interpersonal interactions with residents, co-workers, and guests:

1. We greet residents, employees and guests warmly, by name and with a smile.
2. We treat everyone with courteous respect.
3. We strive to anticipate resident, employee and guest needs and act accordingly.
4. We listen and respond enthusiastically in a timely manner.
5. We hold ourselves and one another accountable.
6. We embrace and value our differences.
7. We make residents, employees and guests feel important.
8. We ask, “Is there anything else I can do for you?”
9. We maintain high levels of professionalism, both in conduct and appearance, at all times.
10. We pay attention to details.

WELLNESS FOCUS:

Dallas Retirement Village employees are expected to promote a healthy community culture for all residents and employees.  This is a whole-person approach to health and wellness which includes eight dimensions of wellness: Emotional, Environmental, Health Services, Intellectual, Physical, Social, Spiritual and Vocational.  Through these efforts we can ensure and exceed residents’ wellness needs relating to their mind, body and soul, which may also have a positive effect on the employees, as a result.

Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

1. Must be a currently licensed Chaplain or Pastor.
2. Ordination from a qualified organization or equivalent is preferred.
3. Minimum two years of formal theological studies from an accredited college or equivalent is required.
4. Must have two years of recent experience in pastoral or chaplain ministry or equivalent experience.
5. Must be able to work independently.
6. Must possess the ability to deal tactfully and pleasantly with residents, families, staff, community resources, visitors, and the public.
7. Must display an aptitude for positive teamwork relations that build trust with others.
8. Experience and comfort utilizing technology systems including audio and visual equipment for services.  Microsoft or equivalent software experience for communication in the form of presentations, social media, newsletters, and YouTube or similar production. 
9. Must be able to appropriately prioritize and organize multiple tasks/projects.
10. Must have excellent verbal and written communication skills.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS/WORKING CONDITIONS:

1. Sits, stands, bends, lifts and moves throughout facility during workday.
2. Must be able to maintain a flexible work schedule to accommodate the needs of residents, family members, and the organization.
3. May be exposed to high-pressure emotional circumstances.
4. Subject to exposure to infectious waste and disease (HBV and HIV).
5. Regular work schedule is 5 days a week including Sundays but can also include availability outside of the normal schedule due to crisis or other spiritual support needs.

DISCLAIMER CLAUSE:

I have read my Job Description.  I understand the information contained in the Job Description.  I further understand that this Job Description is not intended and should not be construed as an exhaustive list of all the responsibilities, skills, efforts or PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS/ WORKING CONDITIONS associated with my job.  I may be required to perform additional tasks necessary to meet standards of quality in care and service.

Salary : $60,000 - $70,000