Hospice Chaplain

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

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Assures spiritual assessment of patients and families/caregivers in the hospice program and appropriate services are rendered in a timely manner.

• Facilitates the development of the individualized plan of care by participating in the comprehensive assessment to meet identified spiritual needs.

• Provides direct spiritual care to patients and families/caregivers.

• Serves as liaison and support to community chaplains and spiritual counselors.

• Maintains records of spiritual care services utilization and related activities for quality assurance, program development, and policies and procedures review and revision.

• Documents direct services and ongoing communication with community chaplains and spiritual counselors.

• Attends patient care conference and interdisciplinary group meetings as a member of the interdisciplinary group.

• Provides consultation, education, and support to the interdisciplinary group on spiritual care.

• 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.

• Actively participates in quality assessment performance improvement teams and activities.

• Provides for funeral or memorial services for patients as requested.

• Plans periodic memorial services to meet the needs of personnel, volunteers, and community clergy/spiritual counselors working with the hospice team.

• Assists in supervision of spiritual care volunteers when assigned to patients/ families/caregivers.

• Accepts and performs other related duties and responsibilities as required.

JOB REQUIREMENTS (Education, Experience, Knowledge, Skills & Abilities)

• Graduate of accredited seminary or school of theology Preferred (BD, MDiv or equivalent theological degree). 

• Experience working with death and dying, individuals/family/caregiver.

• Hospice/ experience preferred.

• Ability to work as member of interdisciplinary team/group.

• Comfort in an interfaith setting.

• Ability to accept different lifestyles, cultures, beliefs, and values.

• Ability to network with community clergy and congregations.

• Knowledge of and commitment to hospice philosophy of care.

• The ability to drive and/or have access to transportation for agency related travel (e.g. community partners, patients, etc.) is an essential function of the job.  Must have and maintain a valid driver’s license, maintain automobile insurance coverage and have access to an automobile.

The employer for this position is stated in the job posting.  The Pennant Group, Inc. is a holding company of independent operating subsidiaries that provide healthcare services through home health and hospice agencies and senior living communities located throughout the US.  Each of these businesses is operated by a separate, independent operating subsidiary that has its own management, employees and assets.  More information about The Pennant Group, Inc. is available at http://www.pennantgroup.com.