Chaplain

Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver; Vancouver; On-site; CAD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Louis Brier Home & Hospital in Vancouver, BC seeks a Chaplain to provide non-denominational spiritual care for residents, families, and staff, guided by Jewish traditions and person-centred care.

Reporting to the Manager, Allied Health Services, the Chaplain will develop individualized support, coordinate rituals and memorials, and collaborate with an interdisciplinary team to support dignity, meaning, and emotional well-being in the final years of life.

Qualifications

• 5 years’ experience in pastoral care in a religious context.
• 2+ years of training in Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE).
• Post-secondary education in counseling, psychology, social work or theology.
• A foundation in Judaism.

Responsibilities

• Develops spiritual care relationships with residents and their families in their faith tradition.
• Develops programs to enhance meaning and spiritual opportunities for residents.
• Provides religious and cultural information for maintaining Jewish values in the facility.
• Provides or arranges pastoral care support for all residents, staff, and care providers.
• Supports conflict resolution/crisis intervention/critical incident stress debriefing.
• Conducts ongoing spiritual assessment of residents to determine needs.
• Acts as a liaison to families to communicate policies and decisions.
• Facilitates or co‑facilitates Schwartz Rounds or reflective practice groups.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Counseling

Crisis intervention

Communication skills

Jewish knowledge

Education

Counseling degree

Psychology degree

Social work degree

Theology degree

Job description

WHO ARE WE

Located in the Oakridge area of Vancouver, B.C., Louis Brier Home & Hospital is a 215-bed accredited long-term care facility situated next to the Weinberg Residence, which is home to 40 Assisted Living and 20 Multi-level Care residents.

Our Mission at Louis Brier Home & Hospital and Weinberg Residence (LBHH & WR) is to provide compassionate and person-centred care, prioritizing quality, safety, and innovation, guided by Jewish traditions and values.

Our Vision is to be recognized as a centre of excellence and leaders in healthcare.

Our Values – “CHAI” Hebrew word for LIFE.

Caring

We ‘Show It.’

Health, Safety, and Wellness.

We ‘Do It Right.’
Accountability

We ‘Own It.’
Integrity

We ‘Do What’s Right.’

PURPOSE OF THE POSITION

Louis Brier Home & Hospital is home to the Jewish Aged of Vancouver and is the only Jewish long-term care facility west of Winnipeg. In accordance with the mission of Louis Brier Home & Hospital and the Weinberg Residence, the Chaplain is the spiritual leader, guiding religious and spiritual support for residents, families, and staff in accordance with Jewish values and person-centred care principles. Spiritual Care is the attention to the non-physical needs of the resident, including the need to make meaning and purpose, address emotional distress, and connect to the transcendent through faith and prayer. The Chaplain’s role is non-denominational, working with each resident within their faith tradition to improve their quality of life. Often, this means facilitating prayer and rituals in their religion, but it also means identifying avenues of spiritual engagement which enliven and give meaning to one’s life outside of religion. By using specific skills for listening, assessing, and exploring with each individual, the Chaplain enables each individual to journey, on their own terms, without judgment, to resolve distress or find a path to joy. The Chaplain upholds values that ensure residents can live their final years with spiritual dignity and continuity of identity. Reporting directly to the Manager, Allied Health Services, this role contributes meaningfully to staff resiliency, end‑of‑life care, equity practices, and Louis Brier’s aspiration to be a recognized as a Centre of Excellence in Jewish eldercare.

RESPONSIBILITIES
Provides Supportive Spiritual Care

• Develops spiritual care relationships with residents and their families in their faith tradition in order to provide individualized support.
• Develops programs to enhance meaning and spiritual opportunities for residents.
• Provides religious and cultural information for maintaining Jewish values in the facility.
• Provides or arranges pastoral care support for all residents, fellow staff members, and care providers, including end of life support for residents, families, companions, and staff.
• Supports conflict resolution/crisis intervention/critical incident stress debriefing.
• Conducts ongoing spiritual assessment of residents to determine individual needs, which may also be used as an evaluative tool for programs and services offered.
• Acts as a liaison to families to communicate organizational policies and decision making (e.g. MAiD).
• Refers to internal and external resources as appropriate.
• Assists families with decision making and communication regarding family and spiritual issues.
• Facilitates or co‑facilitates Schwartz Rounds or similar reflective practice groups to support staff emotional well‑being and ethical decision making.

Serves as member of the interdisciplinary healthcare team

• As a front‑line worker, the Chaplain may be asked to participate in medical rounds and resident care conferences, offering insight and perspectives on the spiritual status and needs of residents.
• Acts as an advocate for resident autonomy.
• Leads promotion and maintenance of the Ethical Framework.
• Documents information pertinent to holistic care in a resident’s chart.
• Performs life cycle transition activities.
• Assists and counsels residents and families as they prepare for end of life or late‑stage living.
• Leads and plans onsite memorial services.
• Participates/attends in funerals as appropriate.

Educates the healthcare team, residents, and the community by providing training, education, and support

• Provides support as needed to community religious representatives and congregation members,
• Collaborates with the Recreation Department regarding recreation or volunteer‑based programs that enhance the spiritual care provided to the residents.
• Provides educational resources to staff regarding new methods and ideas related to the provision of spiritual care programs.
• Liaises with the affiliated religious denominations and their programs of visiting and worship services
• Develops or contributes to cultural competency modules for onboarding and annual training (e.g. "Caring for Holocaust Survivors", "Jewish End‑of‑Life Practices").

Communications & Community Engagement:

• Serves as an organizational ambassador to the broader Jewish and interfaith community.
• Collaborate with communications team to develop messaging related to Jewish holidays, events, and organizational identity.

Diversity & Interfaith Inclusion:

• Supports residents and staff of diverse religious backgrounds while preserving Jewish rituals as the institutional norm.
• Guides interfaith volunteers and visitors in understanding protocols related to Jewish observance.

Institutional Representation & Advocacy:

• Represent Louis Brier in community services, memorials, or inter‑agency religious events.
• Support advocacy efforts related to Jewish eldercare and long‑term care policy.

QUALIFICATIONS

The successful candidate will have the following qualifications:

• 5 years’ experience in pastoral care in a religious context.
• 2+ years of training in Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE).
• Post‑secondary education in counseling, psychology, social work or theology.
• A foundation in Judaism.

Preferred:

• Experience working in long‑term or elder/geriatric care setting.
• Experience with trauma‑informed care and Holocaust survivor support.
• Knowledge of Schwartz Rounds or staff wellness programs.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Demonstrates excellent interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills.
• Possess exceptional counseling and problem‑solving skills.
• Be skilled in conflict resolution, crisis intervention, and critical skill debriefing.
• Understand and relate to residents and families with disparate spiritual, religious, and cultural experiences and preferences.
• Knowledge of and ability to work with the geriatric population, in particular those with cognitive deficits, mental health issues, and health‑related challenges.
• Knowledge of and ability to work with residents and families with sensitive historical backgrounds (e.g. Holocaust survivors).
• Ability to work collaboratively within a diverse and vibrant interdisciplinary team.
• Ability to keep confidential all matters discussed and follow PHIA (Personal Health Information Act) requirements.
• Demonstrate an understanding of Jewish culture.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:30 - 16:30