Chaplain

he Chaplain is responsible for providing emotional and spiritual support to patients, family members, and staff; assisting with critical situations by offering basic counseling and making appropriate referrals; and working on the expressive and holistic aspect of healthcare by encouraging persons to share concerns and feelings.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

These duties and responsibilities described below represent the general tasks performed on a daily basis; other tasks may be assigned.

• Clinical and Spiritual: work independently and participate as a team member within the Pastoral Care department to give care to patients, family members, and staff
  • Assess patient and family’s spiritual needs and assist them in using their faith in dealing with illness, trauma, and stress
  • Provide emotional and spiritual support and basic crisis counseling in a timely fashion
  • Offer prayer, scripture reading, and provide sacraments as requested
  • Demonstrate knowledge and skills necessary to provide a safe environment
  • Communicate effectively with all age groups of patients and family members
  • Respond to codes for emergencies throughout the hospital to support family members and staff
  • Document patient and family services provided in the medical record and on the Pastoral Care Log
• Bereavement: serve as a bereavement counselor for the hospital and assist the Chair of the Bereavement committee
  • Support families as their loved ones die
  • Serve as a resource for staff on the grief and loss process
  • Assist with hospital memorial services
• Clinical Support: provide emotional and spiritual support to patients, families, and staff members as needed
  • Provide grief and crisis counseling and guidance
  • Make referrals to EAP and other counseling services as needed
  • Serve as a channel for patients and others to express concerns
• Program development and Leadership: identify program needs and coordinate with the Lead Chaplain to create or refine new and existing policies and procedures
  • Make decisions systematically under pressure while considering the impact of decisions on others
  • Maintain high standards of care as outlined by COMISS, and adhere to the Code of Ethics of the Association of Professional Chaplains
  • Clarify issues for patients and others when confusion occurs, and direct them to the appropriate resources
• Assist with non-medical tasks that provide superior patient and family care, i.e. notifying families, calling the clergy, directing/escorting families to desires places, etc
• Attend required hospital-wide orientations, meetings, and in-services
• Demonstrate a commitment to flexible work scheduling when necessary to ensure patient care

Education and Experience

Minimum Required Education: Bachelors Degree in Divinity

Preferred Education: Masters Degree in Divinity

Experience: One (1) or more years in a public service organization, preferably healthcare;

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

Applicant must be a member of a professional chaplaincy organization and a member of COMISS; additionally, it is required that applicants are ordained in their faith group, receive an Ecclesiastical endorsement from their faith group, and have course work in Critical Incident Stress Management. Willing to complete CPE within 2 years of employment.