Chaplain/Bereavement Coordinator

The Chaplain/Bereavement Coordinator is responsible for traveling to a patient/client's place of residence to provide social work services. The Chaplain/Bereavement Coordinator is a member of the Hospice Inter-Disciplinary Group (IDG) responsible for providing spiritual care services to assigned patient/clients and procuring spiritual care when appropriate for patient/clients, families and caregivers. The Chaplain/Bereavement Coordinator provides support and education to staff and team and coordinates and supervises the delivery of comprehensive bereavement care services to Hospice and community bereaved. The Chaplain/Bereavement Coordinator networks and collaborates with community groups/agencies providing bereavement services to maximize utilization of resources.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Chaplain:

• Actively participate in spiritual component of hospice and palliative care.
• Provide consultation to Hospice IDG regarding spiritual care assessment and plan of care and bereavement tools.
• Develop and maintain relationship with professional clergy or other appropriately qualified spiritual care providers to allow access to spiritual resources.
• Educate professional clergy about hospice and palliative care and learn about various faith belief systems regarding hospice and palliative care.
• Provide direct spiritual care and support to Hospice patient/clients, families and caregivers in accordance with individual needs and preferences, including bereavement services.
• Follow up with families/caregivers during bereavement.
• Facilitate communication with faith community when unable to access spiritual provider identified by patient/client or family.
• Participate in meeting with Hospice Manager and psychosocial team to assist with program evaluation and improvement.
• Serve as a resource to staff for spiritual care; provide spiritual support to staff; provide support for staff addressing their own personal and professional grief and loss issues.
• Provide education opportunities to staff to enhance their sensitivity to the spiritual concerns of patient/clients, families and caregivers experiencing terminal illness and loss.
• Participate in volunteer training and provide support to volunteers when appropriate.
• Collaborate with patient/client, family, caregiver and Hospice team to ensure the delivery of safe and efficient quality hospice services.
• Report patient/client status to Hospice Manager.
• Document all patient/client, family and caregiver contacts in the medical record.
• Demonstrate concern and support of the mission and philosophy of hospice in daily work performance and in interactions with staff members.
• Assist with community awareness and marketing activities for Hospice.

Bereavement Coordinator:

• Coordinate the delivery of comprehensive bereavement services tailored to the needs of the bereaved person through collaboration with the Hospice patient/client caregiver, social worker and other Hospice interdisciplinary group members for up to 13 months following patient/client death.
• Collaborate with Hospice team members as appropriate to ensure condolence call is made and documented.
• Contact the bereaved to introduce components of bereavement program.
• Complete bereavement assessment and initiate bereavement plan of care.
• Assist with carrying out the plan of care according to the time frame identified in the plan of care.
• Provide or refer to appropriate staff or mental health professional for intermittent or on-going individual/family counseling for identified issues affecting adjustment to loss as needed by Hospice and community bereaved.
• Ensure linkage of bereaved with appropriate community resources for concrete needs.
• Assign and monitor bereavement activities carried out by other staff members and volunteers.
• Plan, coordinate and carry out any other bereavement support activities, e.g.; memorial/funeral services, holiday gatherings, etc. and bereavement education of the community.
• Maintain and upgrade skill and knowledge by participating in clinical case consultation with colleagues and continuing education; remain current with literature and integrate knowledge into bereavement counseling.
• Facilitate bereavement support group(s) or connect bereaved to appropriate groups in the community.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Graduate of theological education or its equivalency with a minimum of two years experience in related field.
• Certified Professional Chaplain and Master of Divinity and denominational endorsement with current license in field.
• Completion of at least 2 units of clinical pastoral education or experience as a hospital chaplain/hospice chaplain or experience in clergy leadership.

EXPERIENCE

• Basic level knowledge of EMR (electronical medical records) and email functions.
• Endorsement or connection to recognized religious community.
• Comfort in interfaith setting; ability to provide spiritual care across wide spectrum of individual, family and staff needs.
• Experience in providing grief counseling or group facilitation.
• Knowledge of bereavement theories.
• Training specific to the provision of pastoral/spiritual care.
• Training and experience with death/dying, end of life and medical issues.

BENEFITS

• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Life insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flex spending account
• 401k
• 401k matching