Pastoral Counselor Assistant

This position provides Pastoral Care for employees, patients and families and others.  Acts as a liaison between medical and nursing staff with pastors of the community and their staffs.  Provides spiritual counseling and guidance to patients, families, employees and others as appropriate.  Trains Hospital staff to recognize and assess spiritual needs of patients and their families to help them cope with the spiritual challenges of illness. Provides counseling as appropriate and crisis management as necessary for difficult situations.  Provides spiritual services to enable the Hospital to treat the “total” patient needs and assists with the Hospital’s wellness initiatives as requested and other duties as assigned.

• Bachelor’s degree in divinity.
• Two (2) years’ experience with providing spiritual care to individuals and families, direct personal counseling and crisis management services.

• Minimum of one (1) year experience providing spiritual counseling to patients and families in a health care setting.
• Training in palliative care.

• Excellent communication skills to effectively and tactfully communicate with patients and their families and guests, co-workers, managers, providers and other hospital personnel on a one-to-one basis using appropriate grammar, vocabulary and word usage. 
• Interpersonal skills necessary in order to carry out duties in a professional manner, as well as the ability to work well under stress. 
• Ability to negotiate effective working relationships and positive resolutions to conflict. 
• Highly developed crisis management skills to work with people in various levels of crisis, frequent judgement and modifications needed due to changing nature of work situations and the problems involved.
• Basic computer, email and telephone skills to include proficiency with Microsoft Office and the ability to learn and proficiently perform computer applications related to department operations and job function.
• Excellent customer service skills. 
• Strong organizational skills in order to manage multiple issues simultaneously combined with ability to effectively prioritize. 
• Ability to be discreet and protect the integrity of any confidential matter or information encountered during the performance of job duties.

• Sometimes works in typical office environment.
• Exposed to clinical environment while visiting patients and family members in the emergency room and other patient care areas with risk of exposure to blood, body fluid or other potentially infectious materials. May be at risk for electrical hazards or hazardous materials. 
• Works with protected health information. 
• Ability to work extended hours or weekends based on the needs of the department.

• Use of computers and other standard office equipment.
• Lifting, pushing, pulling, walking sitting, reaching, bending, kneeling or stooping to perform duties in a safe manner.