Spiritual Counselor

We are seeking a compassionate and dedicated Spiritual Counselor, part-time, to provide non-denominational spiritual care services to patients, families, and caregivers. This professional position involves offering spiritual counseling directly or through collaboration with other spiritual counselors, including community clergy.

1. Assessment and Documentation: Conduct comprehensive assessments of the spiritual needs of hospice patients, families, and caregivers within five calendar days of the patient’s election to the hospice benefit or as requested. Document assessments using the Spiritual Care Assessment form.

2. Consultation and Support: Offer consultation and support in a non-denominational manner to patients, families, caregivers, and team members, documenting interactions per agency policies.

3. Community Coordination: Engage with patients’ preferred spiritual advisors/clergy to ensure ongoing involvement and participation in interdisciplinary care planning.

4. Collaboration with Clergy: Collaborate with clergy or spiritual counselors to support the spiritual care of patients and families as requested.

5. Care Planning: Develop and document a spiritual care plan with the interdisciplinary team, participating in meetings to evaluate and adjust the plan as needed.

6. Counseling Services: Provide spiritual care counseling services, documenting these services according to agency clinical record guidelines.

7. Record Maintenance: Maintain records of spiritual care services for quality assurance, program development, and policy review.

8. Community Networking: Establish networks with faith communities to teach about hospice philosophy and enlist support for spiritual care. Attend area ministerium meetings as appropriate.

9. Funeral Services: Provide funeral planning, and conduct funeral or memorial services for patients as requested.

10. Agency Memorial Services: Conduct memorial services for the agency when requested by the Manager of Support Services.

11. Volunteer Training: Assist in the training and education of spiritual care volunteers as assigned by the Director of Hospice.

1. Travel Coordination: Manage travel time and caseloads to deliver cost-effective care in line with hospice reimbursement methodologies.

2. Record Maintenance: Ensure proper maintenance of records per agency guidelines.

3. On-Call Participation: Participate in evening/weekend on-call duties, delivering services in a clinically competent and responsive manner.

4. Attendance: Maintain regular attendance and function independently while seeking guidance from the interdisciplinary team as needed.

5. Compliance: Comply with local, state, and federal laws, Medicare Hospice Conditions of Participation, and agency policies.

6. Ethical Conduct: Conduct all business activities professionally and ethically.

• Ordained, consecrated, commissioned, and/or licensed by an appropriate religious body.
• Degree in divinity, theology, spiritual care, ministerial studies, psychology, sociology, or social work.
• Minimum of 1 unit (2 units preferred) of Clinical Pastoral Education (C.P.E.) credits from an accredited program.

• Experience in grief or loss counseling is required.
• A minimum of 2 years of experience in healthcare is preferred.

• Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certified.
• Must be a licensed driver with a vehicle in good working condition and have automobile insurance in accordance with Pennsylvania laws.
• Must be in good standing with the appropriate religious body.