Hospice Chaplain

Job Summary:

The Hospice Chaplain is responsible for the provision of spiritual care services to patients and families/caregivers of Advanced Hospice, either directly or through coordination of care with other spiritual counselors.

Job Responsibilities:

1. Assures spiritual assessment of patients and families/caregivers in the hospice program and appropriate services are rendered in a timely manner.
2. Facilitates the development of the individualized plan of care by participating in the comprehensive assessment to meet identified spiritual needs.
3. Provides direct spiritual care to patients and families/caregivers.
4. Serves as liaison and support to community chaplains and spiritual counselors.
5. Maintains records of spiritual care services utilization and related activities for quality assurance, program development, and policies and procedures review and revision.
6. Documents direct services and ongoing communication with community chaplains and spiritual counselors.
7. Attends patient care conference and interdisciplinary group meetings as a member of the interdisciplinary group.
8. Provides consultation, education, and support to the interdisciplinary group on spiritual care.
9. Recruits community chaplains, spiritual counselors, and spiritual care volunteers adequate to meet patient and family/caregiver needs by developing community contacts and offering education through congregations about hospice care.
10. Provides for funeral or memorial services for patients as requested.
11. Plans periodic memorial services to meet the needs of personnel, volunteers, and community clergy/spiritual counselors working with the hospice team.
12. Assists in supervision of spiritual care volunteers when assigned to patients/families/caregivers.
13. Actively participates in quality assessment performance improvement teams and activities.
14. Accepts and performs other related duties and responsibilities as required.

Position Qualifications:

1. Graduate of accredited seminary or school of Theology (BD,MDiv or equivalent theological degree). Experience working with death and dying, individuals/family/caregiver.
2. Comfort in an interfaith setting.
3. Knowledge of and commitment to hospice philosophy of care.
4. Must be a licensed driver with an automobile that is insured in accordance with state and/or organization requirements and is in good working order.
5. Requires driving on a regular basis by freeway and/or highway if necessary to fulfill the requirements of scheduled patient care.
6. Hospice experience preferred.

Skills Required:

1. Ability to work as a member of interdisciplinary group.
2. Ability to accept different lifestyles, cultures, beliefs, and values
3. Ability to network with community clergy and congregations.