Spiritual Caregiver

Qualification Requirements

• Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree preferred.
• One year of healthcare chaplaincy experience required.
• Possesses the ability to be open, flexible, and ecumenical in ministry and effective working with a diverse population and a variety of world views.
• Subscribes to the chaplain code of ethics as articulated by the Association of Professional Chaplains.
• Demonstrates knowledge of the emotional and spiritual effects of death, grief, and loss with at least one year of experience in parish or related ministry.
• Has working experience charting in an EMR system, Netsmart system preferred.
• Has the ability to work independently and within an interdisciplinary team.
• Must be a licensed driver with an automobile in good working condition and is insured in accordance with state and agency requirements (homecare).
• Demonstrates a commitment to the philosophy, goals and objectives of Hospice; possesses a willingness to expand knowledge and capabilities in the field of Hospice.

Essential Job Responsibilities

• Provides direct spiritual care counseling and support to patients and families in accordance to the plan of care in all inpatient units.
• Participates in weekly interdisciplinary team conferences to discuss and assess spiritual needs of homecare and inpatient patients and family members.
• Maintains and documents visits and contacts in the medical record according to agency standards.
• Contacts and/or arranges contact with clergy with whom the patient and family are involved, upon request from the patient or family members.
• Contacts, organizes and maintains a resource group of clergy of various denominations to whom care may be delegated as indicated.
• Discusses funeral arrangements or other means of closure with patients and family members, including the resources of available clergy kept by most funeral home directors, and offers self as a resource when appropriate.
• Is a resource to churches/clergy and other groups in the community to develop sensitivity to the spiritual concerns of persons experiencing terminal illness and loss.
• Provides consultation, education, and support to the Interdisciplinary team in matters of spiritual care.
• Assists in training and supervision of hospice spiritual care volunteers.
• Participates in new employee orientation and education of students as needed.
• Plans and helps conduct annual and other memorial services.
• Participates in agency wide quality improvement programs.
• Conducts end-of-life community education, relevant to spiritual aspects of patient care, to organizations, agencies and groups as needed.
• Provides bereavement care for families following the patient's death as appropriate and as requested.
• Attends scheduled staff meetings.
• Attends and completes mandatory training.
• Holds in strictest confidence all patient information and discloses information and data only to persons authorized by Hospice.