Hospice Chaplain

America's Home Health Services; Worcester (MA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Patient care

Interdisciplinary team

Flexible scheduling

Competitive pay

Mileage reimbursement

Continuing education

Mission-driven

Lasting impact

Job summary

Comfortia Hospice seeks a compassionate Hospice Chaplain to join an interdisciplinary team and provide individualized spiritual care honoring each patient’s beliefs, culture, and wishes.

The Chaplain will assess, plan, implement, and document spiritual care for patients, families, and bereaved individuals, coordinating with physicians, nurses, social workers, and volunteers to ensure holistic, patient-centered care.

Qualifications

• Graduate degree in Divinity, Theology, Pastoral Care, Religious Studies, or related field.
• Equivalent theological education recognized by faith tradition.
• Qualifications consistent with denomination standards for professional spiritual care.

Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive spiritual assessments for hospice patients and families.
• Develop and implement individualized spiritual care plans.
• Provide spiritual counseling, prayer, rituals, and compassionate presence.
• Respect patients' faith traditions and personal beliefs; support declines when requested.
• Coordinate with community clergy and faith leaders as requested.
• Participate as an active member of the Hospice Interdisciplinary Group (IDG).
• Collaborate with IDG and care teams to ensure coordinated care.
• Document assessments and care plans in the EMR per regulations.
• Participate in care conferences and plan of care reviews.
• Provide spiritual support during end-of-life transitions and dying processes.
• Offer bereavement support and/or referrals as appropriate.
• Assist with advance care planning, legacy work, and meaning-centered discussions.
• Respond to urgent spiritual needs during evenings, weekends, or holidays.
• Educate staff on spiritual issues impacting patient care.
• Maintain confidentiality and HIPAA compliance; participate in training.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Active listening

Written and verbal communication

Independent with team collaboration

Organizational and documentation

Confidentiality and boundaries

Compassion and cultural sensitivity

Education

Graduate theology degree

Equivalent theological education

Denominational qualifications

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.