Spiritual Support Specialist

Position Summary

The Spiritual Support Assistant works closely with the Chaplain to provide spiritual companionship, emotional support, and administrative assistance for hospice patients and their loved ones. This position requires empathy, strong interpersonal skills, cultural sensitivity, and a commitment to honoring diverse spiritual beliefs and traditions.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Provides direct spiritual support to patients and families/caregivers as outlined in the plan of care developed by the Chaplain.
• Participates in the comprehensive assessment to meet identified spiritual needs.
• Serves as liaison and support to community chaplains and spiritual counselors.
• Maintains records of spiritual support 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.
• 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.
• Actively participates in quality assessment performance improvement teams and activities.
• Accepts and performs other related duties and responsibilities as required.
• Collaborates with Chaplain regarding spiritual support services.

Qualifications

• Ordained/commissioned or credentialed according to the practices of an organized religious group.
• Experience working with death and dying, individuals/family/caregiver.
• Ability to work as member of interdisciplinary 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.
• Hospice/ experience preferred.
• Must be a licensed driver with an automobile that is insured in accordance with state or organization requirements and is in good working order.