Chaplain

CommonSpirit Health; Oxnard (CA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Dignity Health - St. John’s Regional Medical Center in Oxnard, CA, is seeking a compassionate Chaplain to lead spiritual care within the hospital community.

You will provide direct pastoral counseling, oversee rituals, and advocate for patients and staff with diverse beliefs, working as part of a multidisciplinary team. The role requires clinical pastoral education, theological training, and readiness to support patients at high-stress moments, including crises and end-of-life care.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Divinity, Theology, Mission Integration, Ministry or related field.
• Master's degree in Divinity, Theology, Mission Integration, Ministry or related field.
• Equivalent evidence of study in a relevant field upon hire.
• 4 units of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) from ACPE accredited site for clinical experience.
• Catholic Chaplain within 24 months or APC/BCC board certification within 24 months.

Responsibilities

• Provide pastoral support and counseling to patients, families, and staff.
• Assess pastoral needs and make referrals for sacramental ministry as appropriate.
• Provide prayer and worship opportunities for hospital personnel and community.
• Document assessments, interventions and pastoral plans in medical records.
• Collaborate with the interdisciplinary team to integrate spiritual care into total patient care.
• Intervene pastorally during crises and serve as liaison between family and medical staff.

Skills

Pastoral care

Ethical decision-making

Multidisciplinary teamwork

Compassionate counseling

Effective communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Divinity/Theology/Ministry

Master's degree in Divinity/Theology/Spiritual Care

Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) 4 units

Equivalent evidence of study in relevant field

Job description

Job Summary and Responsibilities

As our Chaplain, you will serve as a vital spiritual leader and compassionate caregiver within our hospital community, providing essential spiritual counseling and support to patients, families, and staff. Every day, you will provide direct spiritual, religious and existential care, offering compassionate presence, support, and appropriate rituals to patients, families, and staff, especially during times of crisis or grief. You will collaborate with the healthcare team to advocate for spiritual needs and integrate holistic care, ensuring respect for diverse beliefs. To be successful in this role, you must be a highly compassionate individual, comfortable and skilled in engaging with people who may be emotional, panicked, stressed, or in pain. You'll need the proven ability to provide empathetic care, adapt to diverse spiritual needs, and communicate effectively within a multidisciplinary team.

• Provides pastoral support and counseling to patients/residents, families, personnel and medical staff, taking special note of patients newly admitted, critically ill, dying and those preparing for surgery.
• Assesses pastoral / sacramental needs of patients, families and personnel and provides follow-up as needed. Makes referrals for sacramental ministry of Catholic patients for Catholic chaplains or Eucharistic ministers.
• Provides prayer and worship opportunities for patients, hospital personnel, medical staff and local church and civic community.
• Responds in an appropriate and timely manner to all referrals for chaplain services and provides documentation in both the patient's medical record and departmental records, including assessment, intervention, pastoral plan and evaluation.
• Collaborates with members of the interdisciplinary team and medical staff to provide total patient care. Participates in patient care conferences on assigned clinical units as well as other interdisciplinary hospital meetings.
• Provides effective pastoral intervention during Code Blue/Code Pink/Code Yellow and other patient crisis. Acts as liaison between family, hospital personnel and medical staff.

Job Requirements

Required

• Bachelors Other in a relevant field (e.g. Divinity, Theology, Mission Integration, Ministry, Spiritual Care, pastoral Counseling, Bioethics), upon hire and
• Masters Other in a relevant field (e.g. Divinity, Theology, Mission Integration, Ministry, Spiritual Care, pastoral Counseling, Bioethics), upon hire or
• equivalent evidence of study in a relevant field (e.g. Divinity, Theology, Mission Integration, Ministry, Spiritual Care, pastoral Counseling, Bioethics), upon hire and
• Experience working in a clinical setting, addressing pastoral, spiritual and ethical issues, as evidence by 4 units of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) from an ACPE accredited site.
• Catholic Chaplain, within 24 - months or
• Board Certified Chaplain APC, within 24 - months or
• Certified Supervisor of Clinical Pastoral Education, within 24 - months or
• Board Certified Chaplain BCC, within 24 - months

Preferred

• Other Advance Degree in any of the following: Divinity, Theology, Mission Integration, Ministry, Spiritual Care, Pastoral Counseling, Bioethics. Two or more years of Clinical Experience providing Spiritual/Pastoral Care or Counseling in a clinical setting., upon hire

Where You'll Work

Founded in 1912, Dignity Health - St. John’s Regional Medical Center is a 265-bed, acute care, nonprofit hospital located in Oxnard, California. Serving over 85,000 patients annually, the hospital offers a full complement of services including emergency, heart, orthopedic, and cancer care. Additionally, St. John’s Regional Medical Center has been recognized as an LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality High Performer by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. It is a Joint Commission-certified Thrombectomy-Capable Stroke Center and was named one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals by Healthgrades in 2026.

One Community. One Mission. One California