Hospice Spiritual Counselor/Chaplain

General Position Description:

The hospice Spiritual Counselor/Chaplain provides spiritual care in the home to terminally ill patients and their families. Provides an assessment of the patient’s and family’s spiritual needs and provides counseling to meet those needs. Makes reasonable efforts to facilitate visits by local clergy, pastoral counselors or other individuals who can support the patient’s spiritual needs short term and long term. Participates as a core member of the Interdisciplinary Group/Team (IDG/IDT).

Role Expectations:

• Assess the Hospice patient and support system to identify spiritual needs as evidenced by the Plan of Care (POC), documentation in the clinical records, and IDG/IDT conference minutes. 
• Provide support for the spiritual needs of patient/family.
• Attend IDG/IDT meetings and participate in the patient care planning process. Participate in Quality Assessment Performance Improvement process as required.
• Use effective interpersonal relations and communication skills, facilitates the use of these skills by other team members to achieve desirable outcomes.
• Meets mandatory continuing education requirements of the Hospice.
• Demonstrate commitment, professional growth, and competency by maintaining a working knowledge of public and private eligibility standards and requirements.
• Promotes the Hospice’s philosophy and administrative policies to ensure quality of care.
• Demonstrates understanding of coordination and continuity of care by collaborating with the IDG/IDT.
• Accept clinical assignments that are consistent with education and competence to meet the needs of the patients/families.
• Adheres to accrediting bodies (CHAP/ACHC), state, and federal regulatory Hospice Policies and Procedures.
• References clinical manuals when not familiar with policies and procedures and provides sound direction to clinical team when needed.
• Clarifies with manager deviation from stated policies and procedures, informs manager of alterations or errors in carrying out policies and procedures 
• Contributes to a working environment that encourages collaboration and communication between all members of the interdisciplinary team 
• Demonstrates accountability for own decisions and actions. 
• Practices Core-Values in all areas of practice and oversight.
• Demonstrates an ongoing commitment to her/his own professional growth by identifying and describing own learning needs. 
• Provides education related to clinical practice standards and other topics as they relate to the provision of patient care, such as patient and customer satisfaction enhancement. 

Education and experience:

• Master of Divinity preferred. Licensure: Not Applicable.
• One year of experience as a Chaplain in a healthcare institution is preferred
• Proven ability to provide support to patients and caregivers in a hospice environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills are required. Good interpersonal skills
• Knowledge of state and federal regulations. 

Physical Requirements:

1. Environmental and Working Conditions: Works in patient homes in various conditions; possible exposure to blood, bodily fluids, and infectious diseases; ability to work a flexible schedule; ability to travel locally; some exposure to unpleasant weather; PRN emergency calls.
2. Physical and Mental Effort: Prolonged standing and walking required, with the ability to lift up to 50lbs and move patients. It requires working under some stressful conditions to meet deadlines and patient needs, make quick decisions and resource acquisition, and meet patient/family individualized psychosocial needs. Requires eye-hand coordination and manual dexterity.
3. Ability to communicate with patients, families, physicians, co-workers, and visitors to exchange accurate information regarding patient condition and health status. Ability to exchange and express information utilizing language and communicate information effectively.
4. Ability to hear the nature of sounds. Ability to give full attention to what other people are saying, take time to understand the points being made, ask questions as appropriate, and not interrupt at inappropriate times.
5. Ability to view tablet, Electronic Health Record, and review, assess, record or type data quickly and accurately.
6. Ability to make independent judgments and decisions is required.
7. Ability to determine resources needed to provide quality patient care.
8. Ability to travel to patient homes and office/support center locations as needed to deliver care or for education purposes.

This description is a general statement of required essential functions performed regularly and continuously. It does not exclude other duties as assigned.