Chaplain (PRN)

Hospice Foundation of Greater Baton Rouge; Baton Rouge (LA); On-site; USD 52,000 - 72,000; Full time

Job summary

Hospice Foundation of Greater Baton Rouge seeks a chaplain to provide spiritual care, lead permissive pastoral visits, and support patients and families within a multidisciplinary hospice team.

You will coordinate with clergy, educate communities, and participate in policy development while maintaining accurate records and a 40–50 patient caseload.

Qualifications

• Church based theological education minimum Bachelor of Divinity, MDiv or equivalent theological training or degree.
• Appropriate credentials as a member of the clergy/CPE experience preferred.
• Experience in pastoral care that is health related.
• Previous experience with Hospice is preferred or thorough understanding of the Hospice concept of care or service.

Responsibilities

• Meets regularly with the Hospice team, and assists with developing and revising the patient/family care plan.
• Initiates the portion of the care plan pertaining to pastoral care and obtains feedback on intervention effectiveness.
• With patient/family permission, contacts the patient's church pastor to acquaint them with Hospice care and chaplain role.
• Expedites pastoral visits for patient/family when church home is lacking or in addition to their own church support.
• Facilitates use of community resources and documents involvement in spiritual care.
• Provides loss and grief counseling to families as needed.
• Educates the community, Hospice volunteers, clergy and others about Hospice philosophy of care.
• Serves as a consultant on spiritual matters for Hospice team.
• Maintains relationships with community clergy and churches and keeps records of assessments and follow-ups.
• Manages a caseload of 40–50 patients and families; hours may vary for PRN chaplains.
• Complies with state and federal regulations; supports hospice staff; participates in policy development.
• Available to perform memorial or funeral services when needed.
• Performs liturgical assignments like memorial services and attends IDT team weekly meetings.

Job description

ESSENTIAL•Meets regularly with the Hospice team, and assists with developing and revising the patient/family care plan. Also, initiates the part of the care plan that pertains to pastoral care and receives feedback from other team members on effectiveness of interventions.•With patient’s or family’s permission, calls pastor or minister of patient’s/family’s church to acquaint him/her with Hospice care and role of Hospice chaplain. Encourages spiritual support from home church.•Visits or plans for another pastoral counselor to visit with patient/ family if requested by them, when the patient/family has no church home or would like Hospice Chaplain service in addition to their own church support.MARGINAL•Facilitates patient and family use of existing community resources available to them and documents their involvement in patient/family spiritual care.•Provides loss and grief counseling to families on a limited basis.•Educates the community, Hospice volunteers, area clergy and individuals in Hospice philosophy and care, especially as it relates to spiritual care of the dying patient and family.•Serves as a consultant on spiritual matters for other members of the Hospice team.•Establishes and maintains ongoing relationships, including letters, calls and visits, with community clergy and churches.•Maintains accurate, up-to-date records of assessment and follow-up visits and contacts made with patients and families.•Manages a caseload of 40–50 patients and their families full time or as determined by management.•For PRN chaplains, hours worked and patient caseloads are not guaranteed and may vary based on patient needs, census, staffing needs, and organizational requirements.•PRN chaplains may be required to visit patients in the Inpatient Unit (IPU) as part of their chaplain responsibilities and patient/family spiritual care needs.•Complies with all State and Federal regulations.•Provides Hospice staff support, either individually or in support groups, as needed.•Engages in the development, review and revision of policies and procedures as needed.•Available as needed and appropriate to perform memorial or funeral services for patients and families.The Hospice of Baton Rouge•Performs occasional liturgical assignments such as the annual memorial service and monthly/weekly memorials with the staff.•Takes call as needed.•Attends IDT team weekly and Care Plan update meeting.•Facilitates support groups for the Bereavement Department.PRIMARY QUALIFICATIONSEducation:Church based theological education/ minimum Bachelor of Divinity, MDiv or equivalent theological training or degree.Certification:Appropriate credentials as a member of the clergy/CPE experience preferred.Work Experience:Experience in pastoral care that is health related.Previous experience with Hospice is preferred or thorough understanding of the Hospice concept of care or service.Special Skills:Willingness to coordinate with multidisciplinary approach to the care of the dying patient/family.Expertise in interpersonal relationships.Sensitivity and openness to spiritual needs/ concerns of the patient and family use of existing spiritual support.Organization/administrative ability in facilitating patient and family use of existing spiritual support.Other Requirements:Must have own transportation and provide proof of liability insurance which meets state requirements.Must be able to travel to and from all patient homes unassisted.Must have good communication skills and techniques with facilities, patients, families, office staff, and physicians.Installation of company communication application on cellular device.