POSITION SUMMARY:
To be fully engaged in providing Quality/No Harm, Customer Experience, and Stewardship by nurturing a positive palliative environment where the health and well-being of each individual is supported through the delivery of excellent spiritual and emotional support. Recipients of pastoral/spiritual support include the entire spectrum of the hospice community: patients, patient families, loved ones, associates, physicians, volunteers, and area Communities of Faith. Hospice of Health First Pastoral Care Services are an extension of Health First Pastoral Care Services and report to both the Hospice of Health First Manager of Business Development and the Director of Health First Pastoral & Spiritual Care Services.PRIMARY ACCOUNTABILITIES:
Quality/No Harm:
Overall: As a member of the hospice interdisciplinary team, the chaplain is responsible for the spiritual needs of patients, patient families, caregivers, staff, and volunteers. The chaplain provides pastoral and spiritual care interventions, including pastoral counseling, which is determined by spiritual assessment, the specific setting, and sensitivity to a variety of values, beliefs, and religious orientations. The chaplain provides excellent pastoral and spiritual care, which requires an authentic demeanor, compassion and skill in dealing with the spiritual dynamics of illness, loss and death. The chaplain participates in facilitating admission/access to hospice services, by coordinating the interdisciplinary team (Attending Physician, Nurse, Social Work, Volunteer, Pharmacy, Bereavement Counselors and Home Health Aide) and ensuring appropriate documentation is placed in the medical record.
Spiritual/Emotional Counseling: The hospice chaplain oversees responses to requests for spiritual /emotional needs in coordination with the Volunteer Department. The hospice chaplain collaborates with the interdisciplinary team, providing both spiritual input into the plan of care as well as interpretation of spiritual and emotional issues. The hospice chaplain coordinates visits to patients/families as determined by spiritual assessment and the interdisciplinary plan of care. All services are documented in accordance with Policy 93.
Associate Support Services: The hospice chaplain receives and responds to requests from associates and/or volunteers for spiritual/emotional needs. As available, the hospice chaplain provides empathetic listening, pastoral care or referral, including bereavement counseling as needed.
Self-Care: As the hospice chaplain cares for him/herself, the services of pastoral and spiritual care will flourish. Both Health First administration and individual Health First entities understand that spiritual care to patients, families and associates necessitates retreat, self-reflection and Volunteer Services Care July 2013 rejuvenation on an ongoing basis. Job boundaries, appropriate concrete support and other means will be in place and understood.
Advocacy: Provides consultation with hospice and healthcare teams, including physician groups, if appropriate, regarding the holistic needs of patients, families and associates, including their spiritual needs. Advocates and educates members of healthcare teams regarding appropriate use of spiritual care services. Community Clergy Networking: The hospice chaplain interacts with local community of faith leaders, facilitating their provision of spiritual support for their family of faith. The hospice chaplain proactively develops relationships with individual and gatherings of professional spiritual leaders. The hospice chaplain offers their clinical chaplaincy expertise to the community. The hospice chaplain provides a minimum of one event annually promoting health care and spirituality issues with the community.
Chaplaincy Team: The hospice chaplain oversees the development and supervision of volunteer chaplaincy teams, including ordained and/or lay individuals. The chaplain supervises the assisting chaplaincy team. With the Manager of Business Development, the chaplain assists with the annual review of the volunteer chaplaincy team.
Program Development: In conjunction with both the Director of Health First Pastoral Care Services and Manager of Business Development, the hospice chaplain assists in the development and implementation of policies and procedures as pertain to hospice pastoral care services, with input from other disciplines and associates as appropriate. The hospice chaplain monitors the availability of appropriate literature and resources of spiritual encouragement as well as additional programs that would nurture spirituality.
Professional Development: The hospice chaplain attends and actively participates in ongoing education to maintain and improve current knowledge base and skills.
Pastoral Care Coverage: The hospice chaplain participates in on call availability by working in coordination with the Administrator on Call.
Professional Activities: The hospice chaplain participates in those identified and required ecclesiastical events necessary to maintain current standing as an endorsed or ordained minister. These may include participation in continuing education requirements to maintain any board certification. Professional networking both professionally and ecclesiastically keeps the hospice chaplain abreast of current resources, trends and opportunities for spiritual care within the healthcare setting.
Joint Practice/Quality Improvement: The hospice chaplain participates in Joint Practice/Quality Improvement activities to promote a safe work environment, to meet/exceed Family Evaluation of Hospice Care goals and improve those processes that support patient care. Customer Experience:
Scope of Service: The hospice chaplain operates within the scope of his/her competencies as defined by his/her ordaining body and professional credentialing organization, as well as the policies and procedures of Hospice of Health First.
Crisis Intervention: At the direction of the Director of Pastoral Care, the hospice chaplain responds as appropriate to crisis situations throughout Health First in which a patient, family, associate or entity is in need of spiritual or emotional support; i.e. hurricanes, mass casualty events, etc.
National Patient Safety Goals: The hospice chaplain incorporates into visits with patients and families the National Patient Safety Goals to incorporate patient identification, hand washing and infection control, and encouragement of patient and family participation in their care.
Bereavement Services: With the assistance of Bereavement Services, the hospice chaplain will oversee the hospice community memorial services, brick blessings services and invocations at Special Events offered throughout each year.
Ritualistic Interventions: The hospice chaplain provides requested sacrament/ritual or referral to appropriate Community of Faith in a timely manner. Hospice chaplain documents in the medical record, as appropriate.
Chapel: The hospice chaplain has access to the use of all Health First chapels and sacred space.
Stewardship: The Hospice Chaplain remains within the budget identified by the Manager of Business Development.JOB RELATIONSHIPS
Primary Customers
Patients
Patient Families
Associates
Volunteers, Managers
Physicians
Community Clergy
Health First Chaplaincy Team
Those on Whom I Depend
Director of Pastoral Care for Health First
Hospice of Health First Manager of Business Development
Hospice of Health First Associates
Hospice of Health First Management
Volunteers with Spiritual Care
QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:
Masters in Divinity, Theology or comparable degree from a properly accredited institution.
Endorsement and/or ordination by faith community to operate as a chaplain in a healthcare environment.
Successful completion of Level II fingerprint and other requirements as needed for hospice
Four units of clinical pastoral education (CPE).
Board Certified Chaplain with the Association of Professional Chaplains or cognate group preferred.
Two years’ experience in hospital or hospice pastoral/chaplaincy setting.
Minimum of five years ministry and counseling experience.
Excellent oral and written communication skills.
Excellent human and public relations skills.
Active historical leader and participant in pastoral care professional-oriented organizations.
Leadership/management skills.
Ability to provide spiritual care and counseling as an interfaith chaplain, dedicated to serving the spiritual needs of all those seeking guidance, counsel and assistance, respecting and appreciating the diversity of cultures, ethnic backgrounds, race, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, gender, age and paths to oneness.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
Ability to walk, sit and/or stand for extended periods of time
MENTAL DEMANDS:
Must be able to continuously create a positive work environment for team members.
Must be able to manage multiple complex and long-term projects to successful completion through positive collaboration with the management team and associates throughout the organization.
Must demonstrate the ability to successfully accomplish work tasks and challenges in an environment with multiple stressors.
Must be able to effectively handle and positively resolve conflicts.
Must have effective oral and written communication skills.
Must be capable of juggling multiple assignments/priorities regularly and handling a demanding work schedule.
Must be able to handle stressful situations and stressful human interaction in an effective manner.
Must be able to mentally decompress from the challenging and catastrophic experiences of those counseled.
Job: Corporate Services Organization: Hospice of Health First Inc. Title: Hospice Chaplain Location: Florida - Brevard County-Palm Bay Requisition ID: 072880