Chaplain Part Time Days/Evenings

At Northwestern Medicine, every patient interaction makes a difference in cultivating a positive workplace. This patient-first approach is what sets us apart as a leader in the healthcare industry. As an integral part of our team, you'll have the opportunity to join our quest for better healthcare, no matter where you work within the Northwestern Medicine system. At Northwestern Medicine, we pride ourselves on providing competitive benefits: from tuition reimbursement and loan forgiveness to 401(k) matching and lifecycle benefits, we take care of our employees. Ready to join our quest for better?

16 Hours/Week - Not a benefited position.

The Chaplain reflects the mission, vision, and values of NM, adheres to the organization’s Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines and all other regulatory and accreditation standards.

Chaplains support spiritual well-being by assisting patients, families, associates and the wider community to cope and identify sources of meaning and hope in their experience of life, inclusive of suffering, loss and grief, by drawing upon their values, beliefs, and spiritual practices in the context of their life story.  Chaplains do this by providing individual and family spiritual assessment and associate support; spiritual guidance and direction; advocacy for patient well-being; prayer, worship services, rituals, and sacraments; through facilitating support groups and family meetings/care conferences; by serving as a liaison to community clergy and resources; facilitating clinical ethical decisions; and actively participating as an integral member of the clinical care team. 

Responsibilities:

Provides spiritual services to patients, families, and staff.

• Provide compassionate pastoral care consultation, advocacy and follow up for those in spiritual distress.
• Utilizes the process of spiritual assessment, planning, intervention, and evaluation with all patients.
• Facilitates with others their search for meaning in the experience of life transitions, inclusive of, but not limited to suffering, loss, and grief.
• Develops a patient care plan based on the assessment that will include interventions and measurable goals.
• Documents all spiritual assessments, interventions, desired outcomes and care plans
• Involves the patient, family, patient’s religious community and the interdisciplinary team in the assessment when appropriate and possible.
• Helps others apply values in decision-making.
• Participates in spiritual crisis intervention to patients, families, and staff. 
• Facilitates conflict resolution with patients/families/staff.
• Responds to patient’s needs in a holistic manner consistent with the person’s age and developmental level (with sensitivity to culture and ethnicity)

Provides Spiritual Leadership

• Participates in the development of care plans as an integral member of the interdisciplinary team.
• Participates in patient staffing, care conferences, outcome rounds, and family meetings when appropriate
• Utilizes pastoral perspective in a variety of leadership functions such as worship, education, and team building.
• Provides for the sacramental needs of patients, family members, and staff.
• Offers other religious services to facility staff, patients, and family members as appropriate and when requested.
• Creatively uses rituals with the facility staff, patients, and family members as appropriate and when requested.
• Participates as requested in the development and delivery of Spiritual Care programs to appropriate audiences within the System and the community.

• Works with parish ministers and pastors for the good of the patient and family members when indicated or as appropriate.

Establishes yearly goals for professional growth and is accountable through an annual performance review.

• Utilizes supervision, consultation, and peer review to evaluate professional growth and to improve professional performance.
• Recommends quality and/or performance improvement initiatives to more effectively perform the work of a chaplain.
• Receives feedback to improve professional performance and is receptive to new ways of meeting job expectations.
• Participates in ongoing educational opportunities, e.g., attending meetings, conferences, or courses.
• Contributes to meeting the fluctuating staffing needs of the Department as evidenced by flexibility in own assignments and work schedules.
• Meets expectations related to the patient experience as defined in communication with Director.
• Collaborates with leadership and peers in meeting organizational needs in times of transition and change.

Establishes and maintains professional and interdisciplinary relationships.

• Works collaboratively to implement the interdisciplinary care team’s plan, ensuring that patient wishes and wholeness are considered in all decisions.
• Triages and prioritizes caseload using assessment and intervention skills.
• Remains alert to referral opportunities
• Able to establish and maintain healthy, positive relationships with others on the Spiritual Care and Education team.
• Intervenes in chronic and acute situations with an ability to prioritize and problem solve.
• Communicates with patients, families, colleagues, and leadership.
• Educates staff regarding role of chaplain
• Empowers and trains clinical staff to recognize and provide a supportive presence in responding to spiritual and emotional needs.

Required:

• Master’s degree:  Theology, Pastoral Studies or Divinity
• 4 Units of CPE completed
• Experience in Healthcare Setting

Preferred:

• Bilingual
• BCC certification or BCC eligible

Northwestern Medicine is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation or any other protected status.

Benefits

We offer a wide range of benefits that provide employees with tools and resources to improve their physical, emotional, and financial well-being while providing protection for unexpected life events. Please visit our Benefits section to learn more.