Provides direct spiritual care services and counseling to hospice patients and their family members in collaboration with the inter-disciplinary group (IDG). Ensures that the spiritual care assists with the patients’ self-determined life closure/safe, comfortable, and meaningful dying experience and family’s effective grieving, in compliance with hospice standards. Works under clinical supervision.
Responsibilities
Assesses spiritual, religious, existential status and care needs of patients and/or their family members utilizing professional skills and knowledge.Provides spiritual counseling and services, including crisis intervention, to meet the psycho-spiritual, religious and existential needs of patient/family in collaboration with the IDG in accordance with VNSNY policies/procedures, code of conduct and standards of practice for professional chaplains. Develops and updates the spiritual care component of the patient/family plan of care based on mutually acceptable goals.Utilizes appropriate spiritual/religious community resources and serves as a liaison between VNSNY and the community clergy directly involved with the patient/family.Documents spiritual care assessment, interventions, and plans of care in EMR in collaboration with the IDG to ensure optimal quality care.Participates in the weekly team meetings; develops and updates treatment plans and goals as needed. Coordinates effective approaches to develop patient and/or family care in collaboration with other team members.Acts as a resource to VNSNY staff. Assists inter-disciplinary team members in understanding the significant psycho-spiritual, religious and existential factors related to the patient/family’s quality of life and in developing support for patient/family with regard to spiritual care. Participates in individual and group clinical supervision of Spiritual Care Counselors for consultation. Assumes responsibility for continued professional growth, including attendance of in-service programs.Provides on-call coverage as needed.Travels to patients’ homes and/or facilities with varying environments (e.g. walk-ups, care facilities, single/multiple family homes, presence of pets, etc.) using approved transportation options to deliver direct spiritual care service to the patient/family.Participates in special projects and performs other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
Licensure: Valid driver's license may be required, as determined by operational/regional needs.
Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Humanities or other related fields required. Master’s Degree in Divinity or Theology preferred. Four units of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) required. Board Certified Chaplain preferred.
Experience: Minimum of one year of experience as a chaplain, preferably in a hospice setting required. Effective oral and interpersonal communication skills required. Proficiency in personal computer operations including MS Office applications required. Bilingual skills may be required, as determined by operational needs.