Chaplain

Heart to Heart Hospice; San Antonio (TX); On-site; USD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Heart to Heart Hospice is seeking a Chaplain to provide professional spiritual care to patients and families in a hospice setting in Texas. You will assess spiritual needs, offer counseling, and participate in the IDG to align care with patient values.

This role requires advanced pastoral knowledge, ability to navigate interfaith contexts, and a track record in bereavement support. A valid Texas driver’s license and EMR proficiency are expected.

Qualifications

• Minimum one year of experience in a healthcare setting or with death and dying.
• Demonstrates comfort working in an interfaith and multi-belief setting; provide spiritual care without imposing beliefs.
• Current State Driver’s License and reliable transportation with valid auto liability insurance.
• Proficiency with computer systems including EMR software; experience with FireNote preferred.
• Strong written and verbal English communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to manage an independent caseload with minimal supervision.

Responsibilities

• Independently manage an assigned caseload of hospice patients, determining visit frequency and pastoral approach.
• Conduct individualized spiritual assessments for patients and families across faith traditions.
• Provide professional pastoral counseling, crisis intervention, and emotional support in real time.
• Participate in the Interdisciplinary Group (IDG) with nursing, social work, and leadership.
• Manage bereavement support with families after patient death, tailoring duration and content of contacts.

Skills

Pastoral counseling

Crisis intervention

Interdisciplinary teamwork

Spiritual assessment

English communication

Education

Formal theological education

Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE)

Board Certification (BCC)

Ordination with ministry experience

Tools

EMR software

FireNote

Job description

Chaplain

Advanced pastoral knowledge and competency are required, and this organization recognizes that this knowledge is acquired through multiple pathways. Any one of the following pathways satisfies the qualifications requirement for this position:

• (1) Formal Theological Education: Bachelor of Divinity, Master of Divinity, or equivalent graduate theological degree from an accredited seminary or school of theology; OR
• (2) Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE): Minimum one (1) unit of CPE (400 supervised hours) from an ACPE-accredited program. Four units preferred; OR
• (3) Board Certification: Board Certified Chaplain (BCC) or equivalent credential through APC, NACC, NAJC, or ACPE; OR
• (4) Ordained Ministry with Demonstrated Pastoral Competency: Ordination by a recognized religious body AND a minimum of three (3) years of active pastoral ministry with demonstrated grief, bereavement, or death and dying ministry experience. Documented pastoral leadership, crisis counseling, or hospice/healthcare chaplaincy experience satisfies this pathway. No academic degree is required under this pathway.

Additional Requirements (all pathways):

• Minimum one (1) year of experience in a healthcare setting or with death and dying. Hospice or home health experience strongly preferred.
• Demonstrates comfort working in an interfaith and multi-belief setting; ability to provide spiritual care without imposing personal religious beliefs.
• Current State Driver’s License and reliable transportation with valid auto liability insurance required.
• Proficiency with computer systems including EMR software; experience with FireNote preferred.
• Strong written and verbal English communication skills required.
• Demonstrated ability to manage an independent caseload with minimal supervision.

What You Will Do:

• Independently manage an assigned caseload of hospice patients, determining visit frequency, scheduling, and pastoral approach for each patient and family based on autonomous spiritual and clinical assessment.
• Conduct individualized spiritual assessments for each patient and family to identify spiritual needs, distress, strengths, and resources across all faith traditions and belief systems.
• Provide professional pastoral counseling, crisis intervention, and emotional support to patients and families in real time, applying independent judgment to determine the appropriate pastoral modality and response for each situation.
• Participate as a peer-level professional contributor in the Interdisciplinary Group (IDG), presenting independent spiritual care assessments and plan of care updates alongside nursing, social work, and clinical leadership.
• Independently manage the bereavement support relationship with families following patient death, determining duration, frequency, and content of bereavement contacts based on own professional assessment of each family’s grief trajectory.
• Collaborate with other clinical team members to resolve spiritual, pastoral, and ethical issues affecting patient care.
• Maintain compliance with all federal and state regulations, Medicare Conditions of Participation, and Heart to Heart internal policies.
• Perform other duties as assigned.