Chaplain (PRN)

Job Title: Chaplain

Reports to: Clinical Manager

FLSA Status: Exempt or Non-Exempt

Employee Status: Full-time, Part-time, PRN

PRIMARY QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

Church based theological education/ minimum Bachelor of Divinity, MDiv or equivalent theological training or degree.

Certification:

Appropriate credentials as a member of the clergy/CPE experience preferred.

Work Experience:

• Experience in pastoral care that is health related. Previous experience with Hospice is preferred or thorough understanding of the Hospice concept of care or service.

Special Skills:

• Willingness to coordinate with multidisciplinary approach to the care of the dying patient/family.
• Expertise in interpersonal relationships.
• Sensitivity and openness to spiritual needs/ concerns of the patient and family use of existing spiritual support. Organization/administrative ability in facilitating patient and family use of existing spiritual support.

Other Requirements:

• Must have own transportation and provide proof of liability insurance which meets state requirements.
• Must be able to travel to and from all patient homes unassisted.
• Must have good communication skills and techniques with facilities, patients, families, office staff, and physicians.
• Installation of company communication application on cellular device.

JOB FUNCTIONS

ESSENTIAL

• Keep a positive attitude. Keep this organizations mission at the forefront of decisions.
• Maintain professionalism in all interactions with staff, patients, families and remember you are a representative of this organization.
• Meets regularly with the Hospice team and assists with developing and revising the patient/family care plan. Also, initiates the part of the care plan that pertains to pastoral care and receives feedback from other team members on effectiveness of interventions.
• Maintain The Perfect Visit Standards (ie: Quality Standards, Perfect Visits, No Service Failures, Documentation)
• Maintains records, reports and forms that are accurate, same day charting/documentation or by 10:00 am following day (completed and synced), and contain quality content per documentation policies.
• With patient’s or family’s permission, calls pastor or minister of patient’s/family’s church to acquaint him/her with Hospice care and role of Hospice chaplain. Encourages spiritual support from home church.
• Visits or plans for another pastoral counselor to visit with patient/ family if requested by them, when the patient/family has no church home or would like Hospice Chaplain service in addition to their own church support.
• Schedule visits weekly based on individual care plans with 22-26 visits per week. Increased frequency with imminence of death.

MARGINAL

• Facilitates patient and family use of existing community resources available to them and documents their involvement in patient/family spiritual care.
• Provides loss and grief counseling to families on a limited basis.
• Educates the community, Hospice volunteers, area clergy and individuals in Hospice philosophy and care, especially as it relates to spiritual care of the dying patient and family.
• Serves as a consultant on spiritual matters for other members of the Hospice team.
• Establishes and maintains ongoing relationships, including letters, calls and visits, with community clergy and churches.
• Maintains accurate, up-to-date records of assessment and follow-up visits and contacts made with patients and families.
• Manages a caseload of 40–50 patients and their families full time or as determined by management.
• For PRN chaplains, hours worked and patient caseloads are not guaranteed and may vary based on patient needs, census, staffing needs, and organizational requirements.
• PRN chaplains may be required to visit patients in the Inpatient Unit (IPU) as part of their chaplain responsibilities and patient/family spiritual care needs.
• Complies with all State and Federal regulations.
• Provides Hospice staff support, either individually or in support groups, as needed.
• Engages in the development, review and revision of policies and procedures as needed.
• Available as needed and appropriate to perform memorial or funeral services for patients and families.
• Performs occasional liturgical assignments such as the annual memorial service and monthly/weekly memorials with the staff.
• Takes call as needed.
• Attends IDT team weekly and Care Plan update meeting.
• Facilitates support groups for the Bereavement Department.