Associate Chaplain

TITLE: Associate Chaplain DEPARTMENT: Chaplaincy

 

RESPONSIBLE TO: Chaplain

 

JOB SUMMARY: The Associate Chaplain works with the Chaplain to evaluate, plan, and maintain the daily, weekly, and special religious and spiritual programming for SVWC residents and families.  The Associate Chaplain helps to organize, coordinate and/or conduct religious services.  In addition, the Associate Chaplain assists in providing bereavement, religious and spiritual support as needed by residents, families, and staff.  The Associate Chaplain will also be available to provide pastoral support to employees who may need direction to resources such as the Employee Assistance Program, Human Resources, the Employee Emergency Fund, and/or the employee’s personal clergy. 

 

REQUIRED EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, SKILLS, LICENSURE:

 

1. It is preferred that the Associate Chaplain be an ordained clergy person in a mainline protestant denomination. Other chaplains must be ordained by a mainline Christian denomination, experienced and in good standing with their denomination. 

2. Must have a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, and a Master of Divinity degree (or three year equivalent) from an accredited seminary.

3. Three to five years’ work-related experience is preferred.

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

1. Support the mission and purpose of SVWC. 

2. Present a professional, caring image, and respond in a patient, courteous, and cooperative manner to residents, staff and the public.

3. Pre-employment and annual Tuberculosis testing as required by Virginia State Licensure.

4. Must attend annual mandatory inservices required by the State Licensure and all other mandatory inservices and/or meetings required by other regulatory agencies and/or by SVWC.

5. Follow and support the policies and procedures established by SVWC.

6. Ensure the privacy and confidentiality of resident data and report any violations.

7. Must be willing to respond to emergencies when needed and available. 

8. Up to date COVID-19 Vaccines strongly encouraged.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Work with the Chaplain to assess the religious and spiritual needs of the residents, when moved or in the process of moving to another level of care or when there is a significant status change.  Record such visitation in the resident’s medical record.

2. Work with the Chaplain to plan and maintain a timely visitation program for hospice, comfort care and dying residents and those referred by Nursing or Social Services.  Record of such visits should be made in the residents’ medical record. 

3. Work with the Chaplain to provide bereavement counseling to residents, families, and staff.  Write letters or make phone calls to families who are bereaved when appropriate.  

4. Assist the Chaplain with funeral and memorial services, whenever possible, when requested by the resident’s family, or staff; attend funerals or memorial services of residents (within a reasonable radius of SVWC).

5. Act as a liaison between SVWC and the local faith community.  Support and encourage the continued relationship of local churches with SVWC residents who are their members. 

6. Assist the Chaplain with the preparation of bulletins for religious activities when appropriate.

7. Provide religious, spiritual, and pastoral care support for the residents, families, and staff as appropriate, and/or coordinate and assist residents and staff with contacting other area clergy as requested.

8. Offer prayers and blessings at meetings and meals when requested and available.

9. Serve on or lead the Ethics Committee, Interdisciplinary Team, and Employee Emergency Fund Committee.

10. Perform marriages as requested (within the parameters of a pastor’s right to refuse).

11. Keep Administration apprised of pertinent problems or concerns, within confidentiality parameters.

12. Work with the Chaplain annually to develop goals for the improvement of chaplaincy services at SVWC to be reviewed/supplemented/approved by the Chief Operating Officer.

13. Perform other duties as assigned.

UNIVERSAL PRECAUTION RISK CLASSIFICATION:

Category A:  The person holding this position understands Universal Precautions Risk

Classification categories apply to this position and the individual may be exposed to AIDS, HIV,

and Hepatitis B viruses.  Tasks involve exposure To Blood, Body Fluids, Or Tissues. All

procedures or other job-related tasks that involve an inherent potential for mucous membrane

or skin contact with blood, body fluids, or tissues, or a potential for spills or splashed of them,

are Category A tasks.

 

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform his/her essential functions.

VISION

• Must be able to visually identify and discern printed words on either typewritten pages or computer screen.

• Must be able to identify and differentiate colors.

• Must have depth perception within normal ranges.

• Must be able to respond to spoken words and other auditory sounds including the ringing of telephone or beepers and monitors.

• Must be able to respond and communicate orally by telephone.

 

• Must be able to push and maneuver a wheelchair occupied by a person.

 

• Must be able to use, operate and interpret information from equipment in work area.

 

• Must be able to verbally communicate in the English language directly and over the telephone and be understood.

 

• Must have mobility for all parts of the body, walking, bending, lifting, reaching above head and use of hands.

• Must be able to stand and/or mobilize by walking for 20% of an eight-hour shift.

• Some tasks may require sitting for 80% of the workday.

• Must have manual dexterity, fine motor skills (typing, computer, etc.)

 

• Must be able to work under stress

• Must be able to work extra hours (and some employees work rotation or on-call schedules.)

• Must be able to deal with verbally and physically combative residents.

• Must have mental capacity to fulfill the requirements of the job including problem solving, logic, communication, and numerical calculations.

• Must be able to read and understand written instructions in English.

• Must be able to write clearly (in English).

• Accurate recall and memory.

• Must be able to use judgment in making decisions and choices.

• Ability to analyze numbers and make basic mathematical calculations.

 

NOTE:  This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive.  An employee will also perform other reasonably-related job responsibilities as assigned by management as required.  Shenandoah Valley Westminster-Canterbury reserves the right to revise or change job duties as the need arises.  Moreover, management reserves the right to change job descriptions, job duties or working schedules based on their duty to accommodate individuals with disabilities.  This job description does not constitute a written contract of employment.