Chaplain

Job Summary:

As a member of the Interdisciplinary Team (IDT), the Homestead Hospice and Palliative Care Chaplain provides direct spiritual support or counseling to patients/families/caregivers and staff as needed acknowledging and respecting their beliefs, culture and values related to their hospice and palliative journey.

Qualifications:

• Appropriate training in healthcare chaplaincy or a graduate of accredited seminary or school of theology preferred.
• Ability to be open, flexible, and ecumenical.
• Experience in working with patients/families dealing with life-threatening illness and death.
• If this job services the state of Georgia, it requires 1 unit of CPE.

Responsibilities:

• Provide an assessment of the patient and families spiritual needs.
• Provide spiritual counseling to meet these needs in accordance with the patient’s and family’s acceptance of this service, and in a manner consistent with patient and family beliefs and desires.
• Facilitate visits by local clergy, pastoral counselors, or other individuals who can support the patient’s spiritual needs to the best of their ability.
• Advise patient and family of chaplain services. There should be evidence in the clinical record that the hospice has offered and/or provided spiritual counseling in accordance with the patient/family’s desires.
• Provide direct spiritual and emotional support to patients, families, caregivers and Homestead Hospice staff.
• Work with patients, families, caregivers and IDT to provide spiritual education reflective of patient’s culture, beliefs and desires.
• Participate in IDT meetings to explore and assess the potential spiritual and emotional needs of patients/families and to report on services provided as indicated.
• Maintain proper documentation within EMR of all contacts with patients, families, and caregivers.
• Provide spiritual evaluation of each Homestead Hospice and Palliative Care patient and review patient’s plan of care for revisions and updates.
• Educates and completes initial bereavement assessment for patients, families, and caregivers; reassess as needed.
• Contact clergy or appropriate representatives of particular faith tradition of patients/families as requested.
• Conduct or assist with arrangements for funeral or memorial services as requested.
• Develop and maintain a resource group of clergy to whom specific aspects of spiritual care may be delegated when necessary.
• Perform other tasks as assigned.