Job Description

The Chaplain counsels and visits with patients, family members hospital employees. Develops and provides services designed to meet the religious and/or spiritual needs of patients and their families and hospital employees. Relies on extensive experience and judgment to plan and accomplish goals. Performs a variety of tasks. Leads and directs the work of others.

Education: 

High School Diploma or equivalent requiredBachelor’s degree and a Master of Divinity Degree from accredited institutions or equivalency as certified by the Association of Professional Chaplains or cognate body with similar standards preferred.

Experience: 

One-year experience as a professional chaplain in an acute care healthcare setting post CPE training preferred.

Licensure: 

Ordained, Licensed, or Commissioned by Religious Faith Group.Endorsed for Specialized Ministry by Ecclesial Authority preferred.Eligible for Board Certification through the Association of Professional Chaplains, the National Association of Jewish Chaplains, the National Association of Catholic Chaplains or a cognate body with similar certification standards preferred.Ordained Clergy and Board-Certified Chaplain preferred.

General Responsibilities: 

Being responsive in a timely and professional manner to all spiritual care requests providing excellence in spiritual care, providing documentation and developing a plan of care.

 

Spiritual care: Provides spiritual and pastoral care interventions consistent with department and organization policies and procedures and aligned with professional and ethical standards for chaplaincy. Professional activities include, but are not limited to, assessing needs, setting goals for plan of care, implementing interventions, documenting in the medical record, communicating with the interdisciplinary medical team, and referring  to other chaplains and community religious leaders as needed for quality patient and supportive community care.  Cultivates cultural awareness and fosters a climate of cultural humility that honors the dignity of persons of various backgrounds.Religious care: Provides worship and sacramental opportunities for patients, support community, and La Porte Hospital and Starke Hospital team members as needed. Assesses the needs of persons of all faiths to receive care and rituals within their own faith traditions and ensures these needs are appropriately addressed.  Provides opportunities for worship and for community rituals as needed.  Builds relationships with interfaith resources so that referrals might be provided in a timely manner.The preceding essential function statements are not intended to be an exhaustive list of tasks and functions for this position. Job descriptions provide a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by incumbents.  Other tasks and functions may be assigned as needed to fulfill the mission of the department and the organization.Administrate and provide departmental leadership for the Spiritual Care department by: providing feedback, mentoring and encouragement to Spiritual Care team members and volunteers and modeling the necessity for continuous spiritual growth, maturity, and learning. Providing education and support for the organization, patients, loved ones, team members and the community.  Promoting the departmental mission and organizations mission to the community in a variety of ways.Providing spiritual care delivery that is: Consistently seeking quality improvement. Of the highest level of professional conduct.  Aware of the need for cultural/religious humility and is respectful of differences.  In accordance with the common standards of professional chaplaincy as adopted by the APC, NACC, NAJC, ACPE.Build and maintain collaborative relationships with the wider faith community of La Porte Hospital’s service area.Active in the life of the institution through a variety of events. Provide worship, corporate prayer, and create spiritual care opportunities for the hospital and wider communities.  Attend events celebrating the life and achievements of the institution and individual team members to show support for our team members. Responsible for coordinating of chaplain schedule to provide 24/7 coverage. Responsible for chaplain contracts and recruitment of chaplains.Attitude - Provides highest quality service and meeting customers' needs with utmost kindness, care, compassion, courtesy, empathy, respect and friendliness. Always acknowledges and serves customers with a friendly, open smile and direct eye contact.Appearance - Takes pride in personal appearance, the facility and its surroundings.Commitment to Coworkers -  Recognizes we are linked to one another by a common purpose; serving our patients and our community, that we are team members with our physicians and co-workers, and that we each deserve respect and support.Communication - Listens attentively to our customers to fully understand needs. Pays close attention to both verbal and non-verbal communication. Is committed to exceeding customers' expectations and providing more than what is expected.Customer Waiting - Provides prompt service, keeps customers informed regarding the time in which the service will be performed and makes customers comfortable while they are waiting.  Privacy – Maintains customer privacy and confidentialityResponsiveness - Acknowledges every approaching patient or family member. Responds in a way that demonstrates the care, courtesy and respect our customers deserve.Safety Awareness - Ensures an accident-free environment. Establishes, promotes and monitors a proactive innovative approach to enhance hospital and patient safety. Adheres to and ensures compliance with Joint commission Patient Safety Goals and hospital safety policies.Sense of Ownership - Demonstrates a sense of ownership in their job, takes pride in what they do, and how they do it. Accepts responsibility for and is in control of the job that needs to be doneTeam Member is accountable for areas of responsibility meeting regulatory requirements including but not limited to maintaining annual TB testing, completing annual mandatories (ALC and competency), and maintaining current registration/certification/licensures as appropriate to position requirements.