Spiritual Counselor

Job Description Summary

The hospice Spiritual Counselor is responsible for the provision of spiritual care services to patients and families/caregivers of Heartlinks, either directly or through coordination of care with other spiritual counselors.

Essential Job Functions/Responsibilities

• Assures spiritual assessment of patients and families/caregivers in the hospice program and appropriate services are rendered in a timely manner.
• Facilitates the development of the individualized plan of care by participating in the comprehensive assessment to meet identified spiritual needs.
• Provides direct spiritual care to patients and families/caregivers.
• Serves as liaison and support to community chaplains and spiritual counselors.
• Maintains records of spiritual care services utilization and related activities for quality assurance, program development, and policies and procedures review and revision.
• Documents direct services and ongoing communication with community chaplains and spiritual counselors.
• Attends patient care conferences and interdisciplinary group meetings as a member of the interdisciplinary group.
• Provides consultation, education, and support to the interdisciplinary group on spiritual care.
• Recruits community chaplains, spiritual counselors, and spiritual care volunteers to meet patient and family/caregiver needs by developing community contacts and offering education through congregations about hospice care.
• Actively participates in quality assessment performance improvement teams and activities.
• Provides for funeral or memorial services for patients as requested.
• Plans periodic memorial services to meet the needs of personnel, volunteers, and community clergy/spiritual counselors working with the hospice team.
• Assists in the supervision of spiritual care volunteers when assigned to patients/ families/caregivers.
• Accepts and performs other related duties and responsibilities as required.

Position Qualifications

• Graduate of an accredited seminary or school of theology (BD, MDiv or equivalent theological degree). Experience working with death and dying, individuals/family/caregiver.
• Ability to work as a member of an interdisciplinary team/group.
• Comfort in an interfaith setting.
• Ability to accept different lifestyles, cultures, beliefs, and values.
• Ability to network with community clergy and congregations.
• Knowledge of and commitment to hospice philosophy of care.
• Must be a licensed driver with an automobile that is insured in accordance with state or organization requirements and is in good working order.
• Hospice/ experience preferred.

Benefits:

• Part-time employees accrue up to 80 hours of PTO annually, in addition to sick time accrued at the rate of 1 hour for every 40 hours worked. Bereavement and jury duty leave are also available.
• Option to enroll in medical, dental, vision, and life insurance. Heartlinks pays for 50% of the employee's medical premiums and a portion of the employee's dental and vision premiums. Health benefits begin the first of the month after the start date.
• Miles driven for work are reimbursed at 62.5 cents per mile.
• Holiday pay for 6 observed holidays.
• Ability to enroll in 401(k) and begin contributing at the time of hire. Heartlinks will match dollar for dollar up to 5% of earnings after one year of employment and 1080 hours worked.
• Tuition reimbursement/professional development assistance.
• Premium pay for hospice-related certifications.
• Wage dependent on hospice experience.