Chaplain

GENERAL SUMMARY:

Responsible for assessing and attending to the spiritual needs of patients, their families, employees and volunteers particularly in times of spiritual distress brought on by life threatening or life altering medical diagnoses, procedures and events.   The Chaplain’s ministry reflects appropriate age specific and cognitive understanding of the developmental level of the person, serving the patient and family by employing short-term counseling methods similar to those of “crisis counseling.”  Serves the patient and family by assisting in resolution of bioethical concerns, and may be asked to provide a religious perspective on initiating or withdrawing life support systems or organ donation     

PRINCIPAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

*Commits to the mission, vision, beliefs and consistently demonstrates our core values. 

*Makes routine rounds on assigned patient care areas assessing the spiritual needs of patients and families who may be experiencing spiritual distress or crisis or who have identified high-risk spiritual care indicators; offers spiritual advice and counsel consistent with the spiritual and religious backgrounds of the patient and family.

*Responds to Code Blue and Code Trauma pages per facility procedures.

*Conducts assigned patient/family therapeutic/educational groups.

*Facilitates communication and acts as a liaison between hospital staff and family or friends of patients during periods of crisis, such as death, critical illness or lengthy surgery; provides emotional and spiritual support to staff, patients and their families.

*Provides counseling in matters associated with spirituality including meaning and purpose in life, healing, forgiveness and reconciliation; performs or makes arrangements for traditional pastoral services, such as prayer, sacramental ministry or other special services; provides ecumenical services as needed to promote spiritual wellbeing

*Serves as a Notary, assisting patients in completing Advance Healthcare Directives and other paperwork related to the patient’s medical care.

*Maintains documentation of pastoral care functions in patient medical records.

*Participates in the Chaplain's on-call schedule as needed.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

Board Certification with a Pastoral Care Cognate Group recognized by the Coalition on Ministry in Specialized Settings (COMISS) or actively working toward certification is required. A minimum of 2 units of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) is required with 4 units of CPE preferred. Master’s Degree required: a Master’s degree in Theology or Spiritual Counseling from a Seminary is preferred. Ecclesiastical endorsement and ordination is preferred.

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