Hospice Chaplain

The Hospice Chaplain is responsible for the provision of spiritual care services to patients and families/caregivers of DUNES HOSPICE LLC, either directly or through coordination of care with other spiritual counselors

Essential Job Functions/Responsibilities 

• Assures spiritual assessment of patients and families/caregivers in the hospice program and appropriate services are rendered in a timely manner. 
•  Facilitates the development of the individualized the plan of care by participating in the comprehensive assessment to meet identified spiritual needs. 
•  Provides direct spiritual care to patients and families/caregivers. 
•  Serves as liaison and support to community chaplains and spiritual counselors. 
•  Maintains records of spiritual care services utilization and related activities for quality assurance, program development, and policies and procedures review and revision. 
•  Documents direct services and ongoing communication with community chaplains and spiritual counselors. 
•  Attends patient care conference and interdisciplinary group meetings as a member of the interdisciplinary group. 
•  Provides consultation, education, and support to the interdisciplinary group on spiritual care. 
•  Recruits community chaplains, spiritual counselors, and spiritual care volunteers adequate to meet patient and family/caregiver needs by developing community contacts. 
•  Provides for funeral or memorial services for patients as requested. 
•  Plans periodic memorial services to meet the needs of personnel, volunteers, and community clergy/spiritual counselors working with the hospice team. 
•  Assists in supervision of spiritual care volunteers when assigned to patients/ families/caregivers. 
•  Participates in grief support program through completing patient phone calls and facilitating community based support groups. 
• Actively participates in quality assessment performance improvement teams and activities upon request. 
•  Accepts and performs other related duties and responsibilities as required. 

Position Qualifications 

• Graduate of accredited seminary or school of theology (BD, MDiv or equivalent theological degree).  Experience working with death and dying, individuals/family/caregiver. 
•  Must possess current CPR certification. 
•  Ability to work as member of interdisciplinary group. 
•  Comfort in an interfaith setting. 
•  Ability to accept different lifestyles, cultures, beliefs, and values. 
•  Ability to network with community clergy and congregations. 
•  Knowledge of and commitment to hospice philosophy of care. 
•  Experience in hospice care preferred but not required. 
•  Must be a licensed driver with an automobile that is insured in accordance with state and/or organization requirements and is in good working order.  Driving is required throughout hours worked. 
•  Demonstrates excellent observation, verbal and written communication skills, problem solving skills, and basic math skills. 
•  Prolonged or considerable walking or standing.  Able to lift, position and/or transfer patients.  Able to lift supplies and equipment.  Considerable reaching, stooping, bending, kneeling and/or crouching. 
•  Complies with accepted professional standards and practice. 
•  Must be able to work independently, make judgements based on assessments and data available, and act accordingly.  Must be flexible, innovative, and possess good interpersonal skills.  Must be able to cope with mental and emotional stress and demonstrate emotional stability. 
•  Be able to tolerate exposure to elements including, but not limited to: odors, blood, body fluids and excrement, adverse environmental conditions and hazardous materials.