Hospice Chaplain

*Part-time

Hospice Chaplain

General Purpose:

The Chaplain will offer spiritual care and fulfill pastoral needs for our Hospice patients and their families. This integral member of Hospice will provide emotional and spiritual support, counseling, prayer and other religious resources as required.

Essential Functions:

• Conducts assessments of hospice patients/families spiritual needs.
• Ensures that appropriate spiritual services are provided in a timely manner by either providing such to the patient/family or coordinating the provision of services with community clergy or spiritual counselors.
• Provides direct spiritual services to patients/families according to their belief system and practice.
• Participates in the development of the interdisciplinary group (IDG) plan of care to meet identified spiritual needs.
• Conducts religious services for patients/families as well as hospice and facility staff as requested.
• Serves as a liaison and support to community clergy and spiritual counselors.
• Documents services provided and/or ongoing communication with community clergy and spiritual counselors in a timely manner.
• Maintains records of spiritual services utilization and related activities as directed for quality assessment and performance improvement (QAPI), hospice program development, and policies and procedures review and revision.
• Actively participates in patient/family care conferences and IDG meetings.
• Provides consultation, education, and support regarding spiritual issues and care to the IDG members and facility staff.
• Recruits an adequate number of community clergy and/or spiritual counselors to meet patient/family needs.
• Acts as the hospice spiritual services community liaison by developing community contacts and offering hospice education to a variety of clergy, counselors and congregations.
• Provides funeral or memorial services for patients as requested.
• Plans periodic memorial services to meet the needs of IDG members, volunteers, facility staff and community clergy/spiritual counselors working with the IDG.
• Primarily responsible for conducting or arranging the memorial service associated with the hospice bereavement program as requested.
• Assists in supervision of spiritual care volunteers when assigned to patients/families.
• Completes other assignments as requested and assigned.
• May have access to personal health information (“PHI”) necessary to fulfill the above duties and responsibilities. Access to use and ability to disclose PHI is further defined by each organization/department.

PT Hours: Monday - Friday, 5-7 Visits per Week (Minimal)

Benefits Include: Per Diem Pay- Get paid per visit at a guaranteed rate; Paid Time Off; Sick Pay etc.

Education & Experience Requirements:

• Graduate of accredited seminary or school of theology (BD, MDiv or equivalent theological degree).
• Experience working with death and dying, terminal individuals and their families or caregivers.
• One year experience as a Chaplain (Preferred)
• Previous Hospice experience (Preferred)

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Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required: 

• Knowledge of the hospice philosophy of care.
• Good verbal and written communication, and organizational skills.
• Able to work as a member of the IDG.
• Able to effectively communicate with clinical and non-clinical employees, patients and family/caregivers.
• Able to perform and prioritize multiple functions or tasks.
• Able to effectively deal with change.
• Able to provide proof of valid driver’s license, if applicable to hospice policy.
• Able to provide proof of valid auto liability insurance if assignment includes driving own vehicle.
• Meets applicable federal and state health requirements to provide services to patients as appropriate.
• Meets the requirements of federal and state criminal and abuse background checks as applicable.

Working Conditions & Physical Requirements: 

• Work is normally performed in the patient’s home and/or inpatient setting such as a hospital or nursing home.
• Occasional exposure to communicable diseases, bloodborne pathogens and/or potentially infectious or hazardous materials and situations that require following extensive safety precautions which may include the use of protective equipment (e.g. face masks, goggles, latex and/or non-latex gloves).
• Able to constantly travel locally from assignment to assignment.
• Able to constantly stand, walk, bend, stoop, squat, kneel and reach freely.
• Sufficient endurance to perform the required physical and mental tasks over long periods of time.
• Able to constantly grasp with thumb in opposition to fingers of palm, i.e. manipulate pen, knobs, or objects.
• Visual acuity, dexterity and hearing to perform required skills.
• Able to work flexible schedule and/or evening/weekend hours as needed.
• Light physical activity that may require occasional lifting, carrying, pushing or pulling up to 20 lbs in order to carry out daily job functions and related activities that may be required.

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