Chaplain | Preceptor Home Health & Hospice

JOB SUMMARY

Provides spiritual and emotional care to terminally ill patients and their families as well as grief support to the family after the death of the patient.Ability to work with people of various religious faiths and cultures.Responsible for developing bereavement programs and overseeing current programs, including social activities and workshops.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Performs spiritual assessment on all Hospice patients. Acts as liaison between Hospice and the spiritual community. Responds to the mental, spiritual, social and emotional needs of terminally ill patients and their families. Provides nondenominational spiritual counseling per patient and/or family request. Functions well as part of the interdisciplinary group. Provides emotional support through discussion of spiritual and/or existential issues. Assists family in understanding the grief process. Gives referrals to family for community grief support groups. Allows patient and family to voice their concerns, fears and feelings. Responsive to patient’s desires and condition. Addresses and supports cultural practices, as long as such practices do not harm others. 75% of all charting to be done in the patient’s home. Supports a culture of safety and quality. May perform specific religious duties related to the faith in which they are ordained, i.e., administration of last rites. Understands Hospice philosophy and issues of death and dying. Performs on weekend/holiday rotation as required by agency.

PROFESSIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• The ability to work effectively in stressful situations while maintaining a calm demeanor.

• Adheres to dress code, appearance is neat and clean.

• Completes annual educational requirements.

• Maintains regulatory requirements.

• Always maintains and ensures patient confidentiality.

• Reports to work on time and as scheduled, completes work within designated time.

• Attends all staff meetings as required.

• Complies with all organizational policies regarding ethical business practices.

• Actively participates in performance improvement and continuous quality improvement (CQI) activities.

• Represents the organization in a positive and professional manner in the community.

• Communicates the mission, ethics, and goals of the organization.

JOB REQUIREMENTS (Education, Experience, Knowledge, Skills & Abilities)

• Hospice experience preferred.

• Board certified chaplain preferred or ordination or endorsement from a religious authority.

• Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in theology, divinity, religious, or pastoral studies.

• At least 1 unit of Clinical Pastoral Education preferred.

• Ability to work with various spiritual and/or religious practices.

• Must be a licensed driver with an automobile that is insured in accordance with state or organization requirements and is in good working order.

• Self-directed and able to work with minimal supervision.

• Demonstrates excellent observation, problem solving, verbal and written communication skills.

• Shows ability to organize and prioritize workload independently.

• Communication Skills: Ability to communicate effectively with people of all socioeconomic backgrounds. Able to recognize and respond to non-verbal cues and communication.

• Must possess the capacity by training and experience in grief or loss counseling to provide for spiritual support of families, including the ability to organize a program of directed care services provided to family members. Will need to possess the exceptional talent required to create and deliver distinguished programs to meet the needs of people who experience loss of any kind