Chaplin/Spiritual Counselor

Job Summary

The Chaplain/Spiritual Counselor will assist the hospice patient, their family and/or the primary caregiver to maintain their spirituality and religious practices either directly or through coordination with the patient/family’s designated religious professional.  The Chaplain/Spiritual Counselor will provide this service without proselytizing their own personal religious beliefs to the hospice patient, their family and/or the primary caregiver.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Specific to Position:

1. Follows an individualized Plan of Care established by the Interdisciplinary Team for each assigned patient under the direction of the Chief Medical Officer or Hospice Physician.
2. Assures spiritual assessment of patients, families and caregivers in the hospice program and ensures that appropriate services are rendered in a timely manner and are reflective of the patient’s needs and wishes.
3. Delivers services according to a generally accepted standard of practice in a manner that is meaningful to the patient/family, consistent with the patient/family beliefs and their desire for service.
4. Provide spiritual care either directly or through coordination with the patient/family/s designated religious professional or place of worship.
5. Facilitates affirmation of faith or spiritual beliefs that the patient or their representatives indicate.
6. Monitors inter-departmental compliance standards for pre-Bereavement and Spiritual Support.
7. Provides spiritual care interventions to address such issues as:
1. Abandonment
2. Anger
3. Betrayal
4. Despair
5. Failure
6. Fear/dread
7. Guilt
8. Hope
9. Loss of faith
10. Meaninglessness
11. Profound sadness
12. Sense of promise
13. Religious practices that are comforting to the patient
14. Assisting the patient and their family with funeral planning
8. Supportive listening and presence.
9. Participation in sacred or spiritual rituals or practices.
10. Demonstrates a commitment to providing pastoral care interventions which address the physical, emotional and spiritual dimensions of death and dying.
11. Functions as a member of the interdisciplinary team and coordinates care with other disciplines.
12. Provides consultation, education, and support to the interdisciplinary team on spiritual care.
13. Maintains records of spiritual care services utilization and related activities for quality assurance, program development, and policy and procedure review and revision.
14. Assists with the planning, organizing and hosting of the Annual Memorial Service.
15. Serves as a liaison and support to community-based chaplains and spiritual counselors.
16. Recruits community-based chaplains and spiritual care volunteers adequate to meet patient, family, and caregiver needs by developing community contacts and offering education through congregations about hospice and end-of-life care.
17. Assists in the supervision, alongside the designated Volunteer Coordinator, of spiritual care volunteers when assigned to patients.
18. Immediately reports any changes In the patient to the RN Case Manager and the interdisciplinary team.
19. Complies with all BeLoved Hospice documentation time frames.
20. Other duties as assigned.

Physical/Safety Requirements:

1. Participates in emergency procedures, including disaster drills.
2. Operation of equipment in a safe manner and shares responsibility for communicating safety violations or unsafe practices to management.
3. Equipment Used: General office equipment (telephone, copy machine, computer, fax machine) and motor vehicles.
4. Category 2 for potential exposure to blood/bodily fluids.
5. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
6. Utilizes appropriate PPE, as needed.
7. Follow the designated plan of action in the event of a fire or other emergency/disaster/
8. Must be able to move intermittently throughout the workday.
9. Must have the strength and endurance required for sitting for lengthy periods of time.
10. Must possess sight/hearing/speech senses or use prosthetics that will enable these senses to function adequately so that the requirements of this position are fully met.
11. Use appropriate body mechanics as needed for personal use.
12. Utilize appropriate basic office equipment.

Requirements

Qualifications and Experience

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required to perform this job.

1. Preferred evidence of formal training in theology, life-coaching, counseling or related field.
2. Tolerance and sensitivity to the faith and belief of others.
3. Ability to communicate well and uplift others without being judgmental.
4. Must have reliable transportation and maintain auto insurance.
5. Successful completion of background check pursuant to ORS 181A.195.
6. Read, write and understand the English language.
7. Must be able to handle frequent interruptions, problem solve, and have exceptional follow through skills. 
8. Must be able to cope with emotionally charged situations encompassing patients, families, caregivers, and team members.

Benefits

• Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental & Vision)
• Retirement Plan (401k, Roth)
• Employer Paid Life Insurance
• Paid Time Off (Vacations & Paid Holidays)
• Supplemental Benefits (Accident, Hospital, Term Life Insurance, etc.)
• Training & Development
• Wellness Resources
• Free Gym Membership
• Mileage Reimbursement
• and more!