Chaplain - PRN

Heart to Heart Hospice; Decatur (TX); On-site; USD 55,000 - 85,000; Part time

Job summary

Heart to Heart Hospice in Texas seeks a Chaplain - PRN to provide spiritual care to patients and families, assessing needs across faith traditions and offering crisis counseling. You will participate in IDG meetings, coordinate bereavement support, and ensure compliance with hospice regulations.

Advanced pastoral knowledge is required; pathways include formal theological education, CPE, board certification, or ordained ministry with ministry experience.

Qualifications

• Formal theological education or equivalent pathways accepted.
• CPE experience or board certification accepted as alternate routes.
• Ordination plus 3+ years pastoral ministry with bereavement experience also valid.

Responsibilities

• Independently manage assigned hospice caseload and scheduling.
• Conduct spiritual assessments for patients and families across faiths.
• Provide pastoral counseling and crisis intervention in real time.
• Participate in Interdisciplinary Group (IDG) with care team.
• Manage bereavement contacts after patient death per professional assessment.
• Collaborate to resolve spiritual, pastoral, and ethical issues in care.
• Maintain compliance with regulations and internal policies.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Independent caseload management

Crisis intervention

Interfaith care

Emotional support

English communication

Education

Bachelor of Divinity / Master of Divinity

Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE)

Board Certified Chaplain (BCC)

Ordination with ≥3 years ministry

Tools

EMR software (FireNote)

Job description

Chaplain - PRN

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.