Chaplain Associate - Spiritual Care

About the role

Provides direct spiritual care for patients, family members, and, as needed, PeaceHealth caregivers. Demonstrates a spiritual presence that is compassionate, accepting, respectful, and sensitive. Works as a member of the healthcare team and with other healthcare professionals to augment the work of the Spiritual Care Department. Demonstrates the mission, values, and vision of PeaceHealth.

Responsibilities

• Assists people to move through immediate and emerging crises/trauma.
• Assists others as they seek to make meaning during crises and as they try to integrate their personal, spiritual, and health care journeys.
• Facilitates theological reflection as appropriate.
• Provides and documents interventions and interactions; requests follow up by other chaplains/disciplines as appropriate.
• Offers holistic spiritual care and counsel to address the spiritual, emotional, and social needs of the patients, families and health care team.
• Assists others in ethical decision making, which may include Advance Care Planning, consistent with their values and belief system and in accordance with the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Healthcare Services (ERDs).
• Provides notification, consultation, and support for patients and families wishing their faith community leaders to be notified and involved in their care.
• Responds to traumas, codes, emergency requests or other needs in a timely manner consistent with local response time policy.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Education

• Required: Bachelor’s Degree in Divinity, Theology, Religion, or a related field
• Preferred: Master’s Degree in Divinity, Theology, Religion, or a related field
• Required: One unit of ACPE Certified CPE (Clinical Pastoral Education); provide documentation of approval/endorsement from an endorsing body representing the caregiver’s theological/spiritual/philosophical identity upon hire.

Experience

• Minimum of 1 year
• Preferred: healthcare chaplaincy (or equivalent setting) experience
• Preferred: Acute care experience

Credentials

• Required upon hire: Basic Life Support
• Required: Ability to recognize patients needing assistance with medical decision making and refer them to staff chaplain, ethicist, or physician as appropriate and consistent with the patient’s values and beliefs.
• Required: Familiarity with the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services.
• Required: Ability to appropriately articulate his/her own spiritual perspective and integration while remaining respectful of the perspective of others.
• Required: Able to integrate experience and reflection into pastoral ministry.
• Required: Ability to interact with faith community leaders of diverse denominations and faith traditions.
• Required: Ability to work effectively with a wide range of patients who have varying physical, emotional, cultural, and religious/spiritual needs.
• Required: Preference for those with crisis counseling skills and/or experience required for addressing and processing trauma situations.
• Required: Demonstrates ongoing personal, professional, and spiritual growth through conversation or consultation with other chaplains or members of an ecclesiastical body; understands the value of debriefing and support for the sacred work of chaplaincy.
• Preferred: Computer literate and proficient in MS Office; Electronic Medical Record experience.
• Required: Commitment to continuing education.

Working Conditions

• Lifting: Patient handling no greater than 35 lbs. without the use of assistive equipment and/or devices (NIOSH).
• Ability to move around area with occasional sitting.
• Fine motor skills to grasp and control medical equipment (e.g., stretchers, wheelchairs).
• Frequent reaching/grasping.
• Occasional bending/stooping.
• Push/Pull: Frequently up to 25 lbs. force; occasional up to 50 lbs. force.

Environmental Conditions

• Exposure to biohazard, body fluids and airborne particles.
• Exposure to toxic or caustic chemicals.
• Time spent on site in medical/hospital setting.
• Vision and hearing required within normal limits (glasses, contacts, hearing aids permitted).
• Ability to communicate and exchange accurate information.

Benefits

• 403b retirement plan for caregiver contributions
• Wellness benefits
• Discount program
• Expanded EAP and mental health program