Hospice Chaplain: Independent Caseload & Bereavement Care

Heart to Heart Hospice; Indianapolis (IN); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Heart to Heart Hospice in Indianapolis, IN seeks a Chaplain to provide spiritual care across all faith traditions. The role requires advanced pastoral knowledge and demonstrated crisis counseling within a healthcare setting, with independence in caseload management and bereavement support.

Responsibilities include conducting spiritual assessments, offering pastoral counseling in real time, and collaborating with IDG members to shape care plans.

Qualifications

• Minimum one year of experience in a healthcare setting or with death and dying.
• Comfort working in an interfaith setting without imposing personal beliefs.
• Current State Driver's License and reliable transportation with valid auto liability insurance.
• Proficiency with EMR systems; FireNote experience preferred.
• Strong written and verbal English communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to manage an independent caseload with minimal supervision.

Responsibilities

• 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.

Skills

Pastoral care

Crisis counseling

Interdisciplinary teamwork

English communication

Education

Bachelor of Divinity / Master of Divinity

CPE (ACPE) unit

Board Certification (BCC)

Ordination with pastoral ministry experience

Job description

Heart to Heart Hospice in Indianapolis, IN seeks a Chaplain to provide spiritual care across all faith traditions. The role requires advanced pastoral knowledge and demonstrated crisis counseling within a healthcare setting, with independence in caseload management and bereavement support.

Responsibilities include conducting spiritual assessments, offering pastoral counseling in real time, and collaborating with IDG members to shape care plans.