Chaplain

About the role

Delivers chaplaincy care to patients, family caregivers and team members, as appropriate. Ensures that religious and spiritual needs of patients, family caregivers and team members are met in assigned areas.

Responsibilities

• Applies patient care standards and chaplaincy/spiritual care departmental goals in all patient care activities; offers religious and spiritual guidance to patients, family caregivers and team members.
• Provides plan of care recommendations, as needed and appropriate, in a patient's interdisciplinary plan of care; demonstrates proficiency in identified counseling skills required in direct patient care.
• Manages time appropriately to meet patient/family caregiver/team members’ needs.
• Promotes a professional atmosphere through courteous communication with patients, family caregivers, providers and team members; attends/participates in departmental and site-based meetings and performance improvement activities.
• Maintains and develops professional competence through required in-service and educational programs; complies with hospital dress code and maintains a professional image.
• Maintains satisfactory attendance record; reports for duty punctually; introduces self to patient and/or family caregivers; offers assistance to anyone who needs assistance, escalates as appropriate.
• Demonstrates active listening, emotional support, and empathy to patient/family caregiver concerns; services the needs of families of deceased patients, as required by staff.
• Regularly visits with patients while giving priority to those in greatest need (as determined by goals and objectives); establishes positive working relationship with all members of the health team as well as with the volunteers.
• Documents and maintains records, as required; facilitates the celebration of the sacraments and holidays, as appropriate; is available for memorial services/funerals.
• Partners with community‑based clergy, religious and/or spiritual care leaders, if/when requested.
• Operates under general guidance and work assignments are varied and require interpretation and independent decisions on course of action.
• Performs related duties as required.
• All responsibilities noted here are considered essential functions of the job under the Americans with Disabilities Act; duties not mentioned here, but considered related, are not essential functions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree required, or equivalent combination of education and related experience.
• Current board certification required from one of the following: Association of Professional Chaplains, National Association of Catholic Chaplains, Neshama (Association of Jewish Chaplains), Spiritual Care Association, or College of Pastoral Supervision and Psychotherapy, plus specialized certifications as needed.
• Certifications within the Council on Ministry in Specialized Settings (COMISS) may qualify for this position along with related healthcare field work experience.
• Completion of four (4) Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) units (1,600 hours) or equivalent within a healthcare setting, from an accredited CPE center/program, required.
• Endorsement or recommendation by a spiritual or religious organization.
• 1–3 years of relevant healthcare chaplaincy experience, required.