Hospice Chaplain

Americas Thrift Stores; Worcester (MA); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible scheduling

Mileage reimbursement

Continuing education opportunities

Competitive compensation

Job summary

Comfortia Hospice in Massachusetts is seeking a compassionate Hospice Chaplain to join our interdisciplinary team, providing individualized spiritual care that honors each patient's beliefs, culture, and wishes.

You will assess and develop care plans, offer counseling, prayer, and rituals, coordinate with community faith leaders, and document care in the medical record in accordance with Medicare and Massachusetts hospice regulations.

Qualifications

• Graduate degree in Divinity, Theology, Pastoral Care, Religious Studies, or a closely related field from an accredited institution; or equivalent theological education recognized by the applicant's faith tradition; or qualifications consistent with the standards of the applicant's religious denomination or faith group to provide professional spiritual care.

Responsibilities

• Complete comprehensive spiritual assessments for hospice patients and families.
• Develop and implement individualized spiritual care plans.
• Provide spiritual counseling, emotional support, prayer, rituals, sacraments (when appropriate), and compassionate presence based on patient preference.
• Respect each patient's faith tradition, personal beliefs, cultural practices, or decision to decline spiritual care.
• Coordinate with community clergy, faith leaders, and religious organizations at the patient's request.
• Participate as an active member of the Hospice Interdisciplinary Group (IDG).
• Collaborate with physicians, nurses, social workers, hospice aides, volunteers, and bereavement staff to ensure coordinated care.
• Document all assessments, visits, interventions, patient responses, and care plan updates in the electronic medical record in accordance with Medicare and Massachusetts hospice regulations.
• Participate in care conferences and ongoing plan of care reviews.
• Provide spiritual support during actively dying and end-of-life transitions.
• Offer grief support and participate in bereavement services as appropriate.
• Assist patients and families with advance care planning, legacy work, life review, forgiveness, reconciliation, and meaning-centered conversations.
• Respond to urgent spiritual care needs during evenings, weekends, or holidays as assigned.
• Educate staff regarding spiritual issues impacting patient care.
• Maintain confidentiality and comply with HIPAA requirements.
• Participate in agency orientation, continuing education, quality improvement activities, and mandatory in-service training.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Active listening

Written communication

Verbal communication

Organizational skills

Documentation

Professional boundaries

Confidentiality

Compassion

Empathy

Cultural sensitivity

Team collaboration

Education

Graduate degree in Divinity/Theology/Religious Studies

Equivalent theological education

Denominational qualifications for professional spiritual care

Job description

Make a Meaningful Difference

At Comfortia Hospice, we believe that exceptional end-of-life care addresses not only physical needs but also the emotional and spiritual well-being of every patient and family we serve. We are seeking a compassionate, experienced Hospice Chaplain to join our interdisciplinary team and provide individualized spiritual care that honors each patient's beliefs, values, culture, and wishes.

If you are called to walk alongside patients and families during one of life's most sacred journeys, we invite you to become part of our mission.

Position Summary

The Hospice Chaplain is responsible for assessing, planning, implementing, and documenting spiritual care services for hospice patients, families, caregivers, and bereaved individuals. The Chaplain serves as an integral member of the interdisciplinary group (IDG), collaborating with physicians, nurses, social workers, hospice aides, volunteers, and other team members to ensure holistic, patient-centered care.

The Chaplain respects the patient's right to choose or decline spiritual services and provides care without discrimination based on religion, culture, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, or personal beliefs.

Essential Responsibilities

• Complete comprehensive spiritual assessments for hospice patients and families.
• Develop and implement individualized spiritual care plans.
• Provide spiritual counseling, emotional support, prayer, rituals, sacraments (when appropriate), and compassionate presence based on patient preference.
• Respect each patient's faith tradition, personal beliefs, cultural practices, or decision to decline spiritual care.
• Coordinate with community clergy, faith leaders, and religious organizations at the patient's request.
• Participate as an active member of the Hospice Interdisciplinary Group (IDG).
• Collaborate with physicians, nurses, social workers, hospice aides, volunteers, and bereavement staff to ensure coordinated care.
• Document all assessments, visits, interventions, patient responses, and care plan updates in the electronic medical record in accordance with Medicare and Massachusetts hospice regulations.
• Participate in care conferences and ongoing plan of care reviews.
• Provide spiritual support during actively dying and end-of-life transitions.
• Offer grief support and participate in bereavement services as appropriate.
• Assist patients and families with advance care planning, legacy work, life review, forgiveness, reconciliation, and meaning-centered conversations.
• Respond to urgent spiritual care needs during evenings, weekends, or holidays as assigned.
• Educate staff regarding spiritual issues impacting patient care.
• Maintain confidentiality and comply with HIPAA requirements.
• Participate in agency orientation, continuing education, quality improvement activities, and mandatory in-service training.

Education

One of the following is required:

• Graduate degree in Divinity, Theology, Pastoral Care, Religious Studies, or a closely related field from an accredited institution; or
• Equivalent theological education recognized by the applicant's faith tradition; or
• Qualifications consistent with the standards of the applicant's religious denomination or faith group to provide professional spiritual care.

Experience

• Minimum of one (1) year of experience providing spiritual or pastoral care in healthcare, hospice, hospital, palliative care, long-term care, or similar setting preferred.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Strong interpersonal and active listening skills.
• Ability to support individuals from all faiths and those with no religious affiliation.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently while functioning collaboratively within an interdisciplinary team.
• Strong organizational and documentation skills.
• Ability to maintain professional boundaries and confidentiality.
• Compassion, empathy, emotional resilience, and cultural sensitivity.

Why Join Comfortia Hospice?

• Meaningful one-on-one patient care
• Supportive interdisciplinary team environment
• Flexible scheduling
• Competitive compensation
• Mileage reimbursement
• Continuing education opportunities
• Mission-driven organization focused on dignity, compassion, and excellence
• Opportunity to make a lasting impact on patients and families during life's most meaningful moments

Comfortia Hospice is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.