Hospice Chaplain
JOB DESCRIPTION SUMMARY
The Hospice Chaplain is responsible for providing spiritual care services to patients and families/caregivers, either directly or through coordination of care with other spiritual counselors.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS/RESPONSIBILITIES
Conduct spiritual assessments of patients and families/caregivers in the hospice program, ensuring timely provision of appropriate services.
Participate in comprehensive assessments to develop individualized plans of care that address identified spiritual needs.
Provide direct spiritual care to patients and families/caregivers.
Serve as a liaison and support to community chaplains and spiritual counselors.
Maintain records of spiritual care services utilization and related activities for quality assurance, program development, and policies and procedures review and revision.
Document direct services and ongoing communication with community chaplains and spiritual counselors.
Attend patient care conferences and interdisciplinary group meetings as a member of the interdisciplinary group.
Provide consultation, education, and support to the interdisciplinary group on spiritual care.
Recruit community chaplains, spiritual counselors, and spiritual care volunteers to meet patient and family/caregiver needs.
Arrange funeral or memorial services for patients as requested.
Plan periodic memorial services to meet the needs of personnel, volunteers, and community clergy/spiritual counselors working with the hospice team.
Assist in supervising spiritual care volunteers when assigned to patients/families/caregivers.
Communication
Complete, maintain, and submit accurate and relevant clinical notes regarding patient condition and care given, recording changes/outcomes as appropriate.
Communicate with the physician during IDG meetings regarding patient needs and report changes in patient condition.
Communicate with community spiritual counselors to coordinate care plans.
Serve as a liaison between patients and families/caregivers and community agencies.
Maintain collaborative relationships with organization personnel to support patient care.
Report failure to comply with requirements of chapters to the Dept. of Health as required within 14 calendar days, using Dept. of Health forms.
Report suspected abandonment, abuse, financial exploitation, or neglect of a person in violation of the department of social and health services and the proper law enforcement agency.
Work in concert with the interdisciplinary group.
Assist the patient and family/caregiver and other team members in providing continuity of care.
Work in cooperation with the family/caregiver and hospice interdisciplinary group to meet the spiritual needs of the patient and family/caregiver.
Attend interdisciplinary group meetings.
Additional Duties
Participate in on-call duties as defined by the on-call policy.
Assume responsibility for personal growth and development, maintaining and upgrading professional knowledge and practice skills through attendance and participation in continuing education and inservice classes and ongoing CPE.
Fulfill the obligation of requested and/or accepted case assignments.
Actively participate in quality assessment performance improvement teams and activities.
Other duties as delegated.
POSITION QUALIFICATIONS:
A bachelor's degree in religious studies or a related subject and a master's degree in theology, divinity, or pastoral studies is required, with completion of 72 semester hours and an internship or one unit of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE).
Certification is preferred, requiring ordination or commission to minister, a letter of endorsement for chaplaincy from a recognized faith group, and maintenance of certification through continuing education, peer evaluation, and updated letter of endorsement.
Ongoing commitment toward development through education and obtaining CPE.
Experience in hospice care preferred.
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.
Demonstrates good verbal and written communication, and organization skills.
Once an offer of employment is made, it is contingent upon satisfactory references, as requested, and criminal background checks by regulation.
Prolonged or considerable walking or standing. Visual acuity and hearing to perform required chaplain skills.
Must be a licensed driver with an automobile that is insured in accordance with state/or organization requirements and is in good working order.
Possesses and maintains CPR certification (may not be internet-based unless the demonstration of skills was hands-on and observed by a certified trainer).
