Chaplain

Greater Baltimore Medical Center (GBMC); Baltimore (MD); On-site; USD 54,000 - 84,000; Full time

Job summary

GBMC HealthCare is seeking a chaplain to provide interfaith spiritual support to patients, families, and staff within our hospital. The role includes responding to referrals, assessing needs, and offering crisis intervention as part of a compassionate care team.

The candidate will demonstrate knowledge across religions, support for dying and grieving, and collaboration with multidisciplinary rounds, while pursuing board certification and maintaining confidentiality and professionalism.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in theology, divinity, pastoral ministry or spirituality from an accredited institution.
• Four units of CPE moving toward board certification within 18-24 months of hire.
• Endorsement from ecclesiastical body or equivalent designation is required.

Responsibilities

• Proactively provides Spiritual Support to patients, families and staff and responds to referrals.
• Assess spiritual needs and assist families using their faith when dealing with illness and stress.
• Documents pastoral interventions and uses spiritual resources to support patient care within hospital policies.

Skills

Interfaith knowledge

Existential support

Healthcare spiritual care

Time management

English proficiency

EPIC EMR experience

Education

Master of Theology/Divinity

Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE)

Ecclesiastical endorsement

Tools

EPIC

Job description

Under minimal supervision, provides spiritual care to the patient/family to facilitate self‑determined life closure, safe and meaningful dying and effective grieving. Service is provided to predominantly adult and geriatric patients.

Education:

Master's degree in theology, divinity, pastoral ministry or spirituality from an accredited institution; or in some instances, verification of official ordination from a religious institution or denomination if candidate is ordained.; Four units of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE), moving toward board certification within 18-24 months of hire. Endorsement from ecclesiastical body or equivalent designation is required. Flexibility with scheduling evenings and weekends.

Licensures/Certifications:

Certification as a Board‑Certified Chaplain (BCC) through one of the following certifying organizations, BCCI/APC, NACC, NAJC either at hire or within 18-24 months of hire.

Experience:

Experience in hospital Spiritual Support with teaching experience preferred.

Skills:

• Possesses a broad, interfaith theological knowledge base, familiarity with and understanding of the diversity of religious experience across cultures.
• Able to stimulate and respond to existential questioning.
• Knowledge of both the practice and management of spiritual support in a health care setting.
• Possesses time management skills and discipline required to efficiently and effectively provide spiritual support services to patients and staff.
• Able to read and write the English language in order to complete required professional documentation and correspondence.
• Knowledge and experience in EPIC electronic medical records keeping preferred
• Flexibility with scheduling on‑call, evenings and weekends.

Patient & Workplace Safety:

• Employee has knowledge and understanding of patient and workforce safety as it relates to job duties.

Patient Population:

• Demonstrates competency in the delivery of care and applies the knowledge to meet age‑specific needs if applicable.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:

• Proactively provides Spiritual Support to patients, families/friends and staff. Responds to referrals for Spiritual Support to patients, families and/or staff by pagers, intake/triage, phone, and verbal referrals
• Assess patient and family spiritual needs and assists families in using their faith in dealing with illness, trauma, and stress; visits newly admitted patients and patients with special requests in assigned area; visits critical care waiting areas each day; follows up with patients from previous visits when appropriate.
• Provides crisis intervention as necessary; responds to all Code Blue emergencies; assists in helping families remain informed of patient's condition. Documents in EPIC patient and family service provided.
• Documents pastoral interventions according to established departmental and medical center policies and procedures
• Provides proactive spiritual support on assigned units, service lines and areas as well as for individual faith tradition.
• Attends multi‑disciplinary rounds whenever possible.
• Worship or Special Event Services Leader: Provides worship services and administers the Sacraments (when and where appropriate) regularly and on special occasions.
• Provides spiritual support in such a way as to accomplish the institutional, as well as the departmental objectives.
• Functions in such a manner that reflects the mission and vision of the institution.
• Serves on staffs, boards, and committees in the GBMC as assigned by the Director of Spiritual Support Services. Participates in the programs of professional organizations and clinical conferences
• The analytical ability to assess patients' spiritual needs and sense of well‑being and find appropriate solutions to patient problems.
• May serve as advisor on appropriate religious matters of concern to one's specific faith group.
• Consults with professional staff members on patient needs and problems including recommending referrals to outside resources for follow‑up care in accordance with departmental procedures.
• Provides leadership/training opportunities consistent within the area of specialty or training and experience as assigned by the Director of Spiritual Support Services
• Serves as a resource for GBMC consistent with individual training and experience and in consultation with the Director Spiritual Support Services.
• Assists families to use their faith system in coping with dying and death; provides support to the family as appropriate when they view body; assists family in contacting funeral home release, etc.
• Supports staff in dealing with their emotion in loss of a patient.
• Serves as a resource to per diem and supplemental staff.
• Serves as a resource to the Medical Center staff providing in‑service training specific to service area.
• Actively participates in regular one on one supervisory sessions with the Director of Spiritual Support Services
• Observes established GBMC policies, procedures, objectives, safety, environmental and infection control standards
• Knowledge of theology, scripture, counseling skills, comparative religions, canon law, and church/faith practices. General knowledge of psychology and the health care field.
• Ability to handle confidential issues with the utmost integrity and discretion.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills and basic computer skills are necessary to work with various Hospital departments, employees, patients and families.

All roles must demonstrate GBMC Values:

Respect

I will treat everyone with courtesy. I will foster a healing environment.

• Treats others with fairness, kindness, and respect for personal dignity and privacy
• Listens and responds appropriately to others' needs, feelings, and capabilities

Excellence

I will strive for superior performance in every aspect of my work. I will recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of others.

• Meets and/or exceeds customer expectations
• Actively pursues learning and self-development
• Pays attention to detail; follows through

Accountability

I will be professional in the way I act, look and speak. I will take ownership to solve problems.

• Sets a positive, professional example for others
• Takes ownership of problems and does what is needed to solve them
• Appropriately plans and utilizes required resources for various job duties
• Reports to work regularly and on time

Teamwork

I will be engaged and collaborative. I will keep people informed.

• Works cooperatively and collaboratively with others for the success of the team
• Addresses and resolves conflict in a positive waySeeks out the ideas of others to reach the best solutions
• Acknowledges and celebrates the contribution of others

Ethical Behavior

I will always act with honesty and integrity. I will protect the patient.

• Demonstrates honesty, integrity and good judgment
• Respects the cultural, psychosocial, and spiritual needs of patients/families/coworkers

Results

I will set goals and measure outcomes that support organizational goals. I will give and accept help to achieve goals.

• Embraces change and improvement in the work environment
• Continuously seeks to improve the quality of products/services
• Displays flexibility in dealing with new situations or obstacles
• Achieves results on time by focusing on priorities and manages time efficiently

Pay Range

$54,214.40 - $84,032.31

Final salary offer will be based on the candidate's qualifications, education, experience and alignment with our organizational needs.

Equal Employment Opportunity

GBMC HealthCare and its affiliates are Equal Opportunity employers. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, national origin, mental or physical disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local law.