Hospice Chaplain Spiritual Counselor Full Time

Purpose:

The Chaplain/Spiritual Counselor is responsible for the provision of spiritual support services and counseling in accordance with Medicare and state regulations and agency policies.

Full Time Hours Needed

Essential Job Functions:

• Ensures the delivery of spiritual care services to patients/families and caregivers through personal contact and/or accessing patient/family spiritual counselor.
• Contacts hospice patient/family within five calendar days of patient/family/caregiver request for chaplain services and completes spiritual assessment on all such requests.
• Provides spiritual and/or counseling support as stated in the plan of care.
• Collaborates with the interdisciplinary team in the development, review and revision of the spiritual/counseling component of patient/family plan of care, including exchange of information, review of problems, assessing effectiveness of interventions and documenting outcomes; updates the spiritual component of the Plan of Care.
• Contributes to continuity of care and effective communication between hospice team members.
• Participates in staff orientation of the spiritual aspect of hospice care and issues related to death and dying.
• Serves as on-call Chaplain/Spiritual Counselor.
• Makes visits to patients/families as indicated by the plan of care.
• Participates in and supports community education efforts.
• Works with staff, clergy, and community groups to enhance their sensitivity to the spiritual concerns of patients/families experiencing terminal illness and loss.
• Provides bereavement follow up services as defined by Willowbrook procedures.
• Maintains proper documentation of visits to patients/families.  
• Performs occasional liturgical assignments such as the annual memorial service and conducts funeral services as requested.
• Maintains sound privacy and security practices and prevents privacy or security breaches.  If breach occurs, takes corrective action.

Requirements:

• Able to tolerate being physically active the entire working day.
• Able to provide appropriate level of assistance in emergency situations. 
• Able to bend, stoop, squat and lift numerous times daily.
• Able to carry out fine motor and manual dexterity skills required to perform treatments/care for the assigned caseload.

• Demonstrates mental acuity and judgment skills to adequately and safely perform job requirements and assure patient safety.
• Able to see and hear adequately in order to respond to auditory and visual needs and clinical indications of the assigned caseload.

Preferred:

• Previous experience in spiritual counseling.
• Previous experience in an official ministerial capacity.
• Understanding of the terminal illness process.
• An understanding of the dynamics related to death and dying and the grieving process.
• An understanding of Medicare regulations, and Joint Commission standards governing the delivery of the spiritual support of hospice services.
• Well organized, with excellent time management and problem- solving skills.
• Ability to execute a supportive, sensitive approach to staff, patients and families with diverse lifestyles, cultures, beliefs and values.
• Current, valid Drivers License.
• Proof of automobile insurance coverage.