Chaplain - Per Diem

UC San Francisco (UCSF); Oakland (CA); On-site; USD 83,000 - 131,000; Full time

Job summary

UC San Francisco is seeking a Per Diem Chaplain to provide spiritual care to patients, families, and health care teams on site in Oakland. The role requires flexibility, collaboration, and strong interpersonal skills within a fast-paced clinical environment.

The chaplaincy role emphasizes responding to spiritual, emotional and existential needs, respecting diverse beliefs while maintaining confidentiality. Prior CPPE units and ACPE accreditation are preferred; onsite work in Oakland is required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related area or HS Diploma and four years of equivalent experience.
• Two (2) or more years of directly related experience.
• Completion of at least One (1) unit and preferably four (4) units of Clinical Pastoral Education, accredited by ACPE.
• Working knowledge of a variety of religious and spiritual traditions in a multi-faith setting.
• Knowledge of ethical and confidentiality issues in clinical chaplaincy.
• Ability to work onsite in Oakland or other locations as needed.

Responsibilities

• Respond to emotional, existential, spiritual and religious needs of patients and families.
• Collaborate with physicians, nurses and other health care staff to provide spiritual care.
• Maintain confidentiality and document spiritual assessments as needed.
• Demonstrate compassion and effective communication during crises or stress.

Skills

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Crisis management

Adaptability

Multifaith sensitivity

Organizational skills

Compassionate care

Health records familiarity

Education

Bachelor’s degree or HS Diploma with equivalent experience

ACPE CPPE units (1+, preferably 4)

Job description

The Per Diem Chaplain role is a fully onsite position, requiring flexibility and skillful collaboration. The Per Diem Chaplain applies acquired skills and experience as a spiritual care specialist to respond to the emotional, existential, spiritual and religious needs needs of patients and their families, faculty, staff, allied health students (as appropriate), and other health care team members.

The Per Diem Chaplain role is a fully onsite position, requiring flexibility and skillful collaboration. The Per Diem Chaplain applies acquired skills and experience as a spiritual care specialist to respond to the emotional, existential, spiritual and religious needs needs of patients and their families, faculty, staff, allied health students (as appropriate), and other health care team members.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in a related area or HS Diploma and four years of equivalent experience.

• Two (2) or more years of directly related experience.

• Completion of at least One (1) unit and preferably four (4) units of Clinical Pastoral Education, accredited by theACPE: The Standard for Spiritual Care and Education Working knowledge of the clinical environment, and of the counseling and behavioral practices used in providing spiritual care to patients and family members.

• Working knowledge of a variety of religious and spiritual traditions, and of giving appropriate spiritual care in a multi-faith clinical setting.

• Working knowledge of the ethical and confidentiality issues involved with clinical chaplaincy.

• Flexibility and adaptability to remain calm, and deal effectively with changing situations involving crises and stress.

• Interpersonal skills and ability to work with and accept people of diverse beliefs, cultures, ethnicities, ages, and health conditions, as well as with colleagues on an interdisciplinary healthcare team.

• Organizational, prioritization, and decision‑making skills.

• Written and verbal communications skills, computer proficiency, and working understanding of medical records.

• Working knowledge of spiritual assessment models, solid spiritual assessment skills, and the ability to communicate, verbally and in writing, spiritual assessments of patients and families to the health care team.

• Ability to establish connections with key people quickly and function well in crisis / trauma situations, demonstrating compassion, flexibility, sensitivity, and command when needed.

• Excellent spiritual care judgment and triage skills.

• Ability to work onsite in Oakland or other locations if/when needed.

Preferences:

• Master's degree in theology, divinity, religious studies, or its equivalent in relevant training / experience.

• Endorsement, ordination, commissioning or official recognition by one’s affiliation group to function as a professional chaplain. Maintains good standing in the affiliation group.

• Eligible for certification with the Association of Professional Chaplains (APC), National Association of Catholic Chaplains (NACC), Neshama: the Association of Jewish Chaplains (NAJC), or the Canadian Association for Spiritual Care (CASC) preferred.