Spiritual Counselor

Description

At Adoray the Hospice Spiritual Counselor provides counseling and spiritual care to both hospice patients and staff. S/he also assists with Palliative Care patient visits to connect them with spiritual care as appropriate.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Completes spiritual assessment of the patient’s and family’s needs within 5 days of admission as permitted.
• Accurately assesses and schedules appropriate visit frequency.
• Assesses/acts as a resource when bereavement follow-up suggests abnormal grieving, as requested.
• Participates in developing the initial Hospice care plan in conjunction with IDT specific to the needs of each patient/family within 5 days of admission.
• Ensures there are spiritual resources available to patient/family to meet needs as appropriate.
• Attends and contributes to Patient/family conferences as requested.
• Ensures pertinent patient information is communicated to case manager and/or other members of IDT team as necessary.
• Provides spiritual counseling to meet spiritual needs in accordance with the patient’s and family’s acceptance of service.
• Provides spiritual counseling to patient/family (to include home visits) when requested in a manner consistent with patient and family beliefs and desires.
• Facilitates visits by local clergy, pastoral counselors, or other individuals who can support the patient’s spiritual needs to the best of his/her ability and advise the patient and family of this service.
• Establishes and implements the spiritual care plan within 5 days of admission and institutes appropriate revisions on an ongoing basis.
• Complies with universal precautions and standard infection control protocols and general safety policies and procedures.
• Assists the patient and/or family in procuring community resources as needed.
• Regularly reassesses the patient/family spiritual needs relative to the
• changing status of the patient’s terminal condition.
• Maintains accurate, complete documentation of activities on medical record.
• Ensures documentation is on the medical record within 48 hours following the provision of service (i.e., IDT updates, visits).
• Other duties as assigned.
• Presides at memorial services and funerals based on caseload availability.

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Theology or equivalent required.
• Believes in and has working knowledge of the hospice concept of care.
• A Spiritual Counselor recognized by the governing body to possess the capability to provide spiritual, religious and emotional support to the hospice patient and, as necessary, the patient’s family. (Required)
• Must have one unit of Clinical Pastoral Education, but 4 units are preferred.
• Extensive knowledge and experience in a variety of spiritual and religious belief systems required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in related field

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Demonstrates a working knowledge of and follows the established policies, procedures and guidelines of Adoray Home Health and Hospice.
• Helps the team to develop and grow: listens, motivates and participates in team efforts, actively works to generate respect and enthusiasm, cooperates with others through sharing duties, is perceived as a supporter and promoter of intra-team and inter-team relationships.
• Is perceived as available and responsive to team members, seeks ways to improve individual contributions, and increase the level of responsibility of self and others.
• Sets a positive example for desired work ethic and attitude, shares skills with other team members, and actively learns from other team members.
• Ability to work autonomously and make independent judgments.
• Ability to manage conflicting priorities and handle multiple tasks/projects concurrently
• Ability to work well as part of a team and independently
• Exhibit excellent written and verbal communication and organizational skills
• Exceptional customer service skills
• Display and promote high standards of ethical conduct and behaviors consistent with organizational standards