Hospice Chaplain

Amedisys; Chesapeake (VA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Amedisys is seeking a Chaplain to provide spiritual care for patients and families within a hospice setting. The role involves coordinating with hospice team, offering prayers and sacraments, and addressing diverse religious needs.

The chaplain will document spiritual resources in patient charts, engage with clergy as requested, and support advance funeral planning and bereavement care as needed.

Qualifications

• Ordained minister or endorsed religious leader; lay person with pastoral training may be considered.
• One or more years of healthcare or death/dying experience preferred.
• Comfort working in an interfaith setting.

Responsibilities

• Provide spiritual care to patients and families, directly or through coordination with other counselors.
• Document religious/spiritual needs and update progress notes in patient charts.
• Offer direct spiritual counsel, prayer and sacraments when invited.
• Interface with patient/family clergy or congregation as requested.
• Encourage advance funeral planning and officiate if requested.
• Present at time of death if requested, and provide literature for spiritual resources.
• Participate in the patient/family care plan and collaborate with hospice team.

Skills

Pastoral care

Interfaith communication

Team collaboration

Education

Seminary/Theology degree

Job description

Overview

Responsible for the provision of spiritual care services to patients/families/caregivers, either directly or through the coordination of care with other spiritual counselors.

Responsibilities

1. Represents a spiritual presence and connection with the religious/spiritual roots of the hospice movement.


2. Provides a constant reminder to hospice workers that, beyond the physical and emotional support given, patients may desire to have spiritual resources of their choosing.


3. Serves as a spiritual resource to team members and assists them in their growth or in dealing with their grief.


4. Documents the patient and/or family's religious/spiritual needs and resources on the intake/assessment form and completes progress notes in the patient's chart following each contact.


5. Raises, when appropriate in a patient care conference, the possibility of spiritual needs of the patient and family and reports interventions.


6. Provides, when invited, direct spiritual counsel, prayer and sacraments to patients and their families.


7. Interfaces with the patient/family's own clergyman, rabbi or congregation, if requested.


8. Encourages patients and families to plan the funeral, wills, requests, obituaries and interment in advance. Remains available to officiate at funeral services if requested.


9. Present at time of death, if requested.


10. Provides literature and spiritual resources that may be of assistance to patients and families.


11. Participates in the patient/family problem-oriented care plan.


12. Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Required

• Ordained and endorsed minister, priest, rabbi or a member of a religious order preferred or lay person with certified training in pastoral care. Professional experience in a religious agency or institution may be considered in lieu of a formalized education.


• One (1+) year of experience in a health care setting or with death and dying.


• Comfort working in an interfaith setting.


• Must be familiar with general use an functions of the computer, such as user names and password concepts; internet; email; navigation of computer desktop, including starting programs, using files, and windows, effectively use navigation buttons and tool bars; ability to self-manage online HR services and online training programs.

Preferred

• Graduate of accredited seminary or school of theology (Bachelor of Divinity, Master of Divinity or equivalent theological degree or training).

Amedisys is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified employees and applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, pregnancy, marital status, national origin, citizenship status, disability, military status, sexual orientation, genetic predisposition or carrier status or any other legally protected characteristic.