Chaplain (MHO)

Beacon Health Options; South Bend (IN); On-site; USD 52,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Beacon Health System seeks a Chaplain to provide spiritual and pastoral care to patients and families during crises, trauma, or critical illness. The role includes arranging for religious support aligned with individual beliefs, collaborating with care teams, and offering bereavement support.

The chaplain will document care activities, participate in multidisciplinary planning, and engage with area clergy to enhance access to spiritual services.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; Master of Theology preferred.
• Minimum one unit of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) completed within two years of hire.
• Strong inter-personal and cross-cultural communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct spiritual and pastoral care to patients and families.
• Arrange or provide religious or sacramental support per patient beliefs.
• Maintain documentation in patient charts and participate in care planning.
• Offer bereavement support and follow-up as needed.
• Counsel patients, families, and staff in spiritual care matters.
• Collaborate with chaplain colleagues and area clergy as needed.
• Support staff and volunteers through training and education.

Skills

Pastoral care

Crisis counseling

Multi-faith sensitivity

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master of Theology preferred

Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE)

Job description

• Schedule Full-time - Night - varied - mainly weekends

ChaplainReports to the Coordinator, Spiritual Care Services. Provides spiritual and pastoral care to patients and families (and, at times, staff or others from the community-at-large) in times of stress, crisis, trauma or critical illness. Provides or arranges for religious support appropriate to the individual's own belief or faith system as needed. May act as a liaison between the patient and their faith community or local pastor. May provide short-term pastoral counseling and bereavement follow-up. Offers excellence in spiritual care services in support of Beacon Health System's mission to enhance the health of the community and the health status of the citizens served by the system.

MISSION, VALUES and SERVICE GOALS

• MISSION: We deliver outstanding care, inspire health, and connect with heart.
• VALUES: Trust. Respect. Integrity. Compassion.
• SERVICE GOALS: Personally connect. Keep everyone informed. Be on their team.

Provides spiritual and pastoral care to patients and their families during periods of health crises and provides (or arranges for) religious or sacramental support appropriate to the individual's beliefs, as needed, by:

• Providing direct spiritual and pastoral care to patients and families throughout the hospital according to agreed prioritization system.
• Providing documentation in the patient's chart regarding spiritual care and participation in multi-disciplinary team planning. May also be providing an initial assessment (formally and informally) of the patient's spiritual needs and documenting this assessment in the patient's chart.
• Providing spiritual and/or religious counseling and guidance to patients and family members as a part of the patient's continuum of care; also providing this to Beacon Health System staff when requested.
• Conducting follow-up visits based on a professional assessment of the situation or by referral from the clinical staff or at the request of the patient.
• Providing support and assisting families at the time of the death of a loved one or in other crisis situations. Also providing appropriate follow-up bereavement support in the event of a death.
• Arranging for sacramental or other religious ministry appropriate to the patient's beliefs, as requested by the patient (or, at times, the patient's family or a person legally authorized to speak on the patient's behalf).
• Strictly adhering to the Hospital's policy on confidentiality (for example, when acting as a liaison with area clergy) at all times.
• Working with area clergy to enhance their access to visit and provide spiritual support to patients who are members of their congregation and have requested that their clergy visit them while they are patients.
• Working closely with Palliative Care staff, Hospice, Social Work or other services as required for in-depth continuation of patient care in specific situations as needed.
• Offering religious services to patients (and their families) confined to the Hospital; or for the benefit of staff; or assisting in the planning and execution of religious services.
• Assisting in conducting training programs for Spiritual Care Services volunteers, graduate students in theology and chaplain interns.
• Assisting with the orientation of new professional and non-professional staff members joining the Spiritual Care department.

Performs other functions to maintain personal competence and contribute to the overall effectiveness of the department by:

• Maintaining accountability to Hospital staff and other members of the Spiritual Care team through prompt responses to voice-mail, email messages or telephone calls. Also responds promptly to priority referrals within five minutes of receiving a page (during scheduled hours).
• Maintaining accountability for time used in the execution of one's duties and responsibilities.
• Participating in weekly multi-disciplinary meetings of assigned nursing units.
• Making appropriate referrals to other clinical staff based on a professional assessment of the patient's needs.
• Assists in providing ongoing and seasonal worship (in the Hospital Interfaith Chapel) as appropriate.
• Providing appropriate development and compilation of spiritual care data. Also assisting with the Advanced Health Care Directives.
• In addition to providing spiritual care; also performing assessments or providing rudimentary counseling related to domestic violence, financial assistance and/or helping with transportation.
• Providing cognate services on request, such as physical massage or Healing Touch therapy or Critical Incident Stress Management; also maintaining all appropriate certifications with respect to those functions.
• Completing other job-related assignments and special projects as assigned.

ORGANIZATIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Associate complies with the following organizational requirements:

• Attends and participates in department meetings and is accountable for all information shared.
• Completes mandatory education, annual competencies and department specific education within established timeframes.
• Completes annual employee health requirements within established timeframes.
• Maintains license/certification, registration in good standing throughout fiscal year.
• Direct patient care providers are required to maintain current BCLS (CPR) and other certifications as required by position/department.
• Consistently utilizes appropriate universal precautions, protective equipment, and ergonomic techniques to protect patient and self.
• Adheres to regulatory agency requirements, survey process and compliance.
• Complies with established organization and department policies.
• Available to work overtime in addition to working additional or other shifts and schedules when required.

Education and Experience

• The knowledge, skills and abilities as indicated below are normally acquired through the successful completion of a Bachelor's degree (with preference for a Master of Theology or Ministry degree). Prefer candidates from an accredited seminary or university. Minimum of one unit of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) successfully completed in a clinical setting within two years of hire date.

Knowledge & Skills

• Demonstrates the interpersonal skills and sufficient multi-cultural sensitivity that is necessary to work tactfully and effectively with patients, families and staff of various socioeconomic, cultural, educational and/or religious backgrounds.
• Demonstrates the verbal communication skills necessary for effective leadership in group or liturgical situations and for in-depth counseling for patients and families concerning spiritual and religious needs.
• Demonstrates the analytical abilities and sufficient knowledge base with which to assess patient and family needs and to provide appropriate (and in certain instances, outcomes-based) spiritual care and support.
• Requires broad knowledge of spirituality, including various liturgical and sacramental offices, and the functions and beliefs of the diverse spiritual and religious traditions commonly found in our geographic area.
• Demonstrates and maintains a high degree of integrity and ethical conduct in all aspects of the position, with particular emphasis on sensitivity to varying patient needs with respect to race, sexual orientation, culture, socioeconomic class or religious beliefs, confidentiality, documentation of services, patient self-determination and professional accountability. Also will adhere to the professional Code of Ethics of the Association of Professional Chaplains.

Working Conditions

• Works in an office and patient care environment with occasional changes in job demands and possible exposure to bio-hazards.
• Certain situations involve patients and families who may be under considerable stress.

Physical Demands

• Requires the physical ability and stamina to perform the essential functions of the position.

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