Spiritual Counselor

Riverside Health System; Newport News (VA); On-site; USD 54,000 - 74,000; Full time

Job summary

Riverside Health System in Newport News, Virginia seeks a Spiritual Counselor to provide emotional and spiritual support to patients, families, and caregivers as part of the interdisciplinary team. You will develop personalized care plans in collaboration with local clergy when desired and document all counseling in the patient’s chart per RHS standards.

Responsibilities include responding to care changes, coordinating with physicians, and supporting ethical discussions while training and

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Pastoral Care or Theological Studies from an accredited university.
• 1 year hospice experience (preferred).
• ACPE Educator Certification within 2 years (preferred).
• Board Certified Chaplain (preferred).
• American Council of Pastoral Education 1 unit upon hire (required).

Responsibilities

• Provide emotional and spiritual support to patients, families, and caregivers as part of the interdisciplinary team.
• Develop an individualized spiritual/pastoral plan of care in collaboration with local clergy as desired.
• Document counseling in the patient’s clinical record per RHS standards.
• Attend multidisciplinary team meetings and participate in care planning and quality discussions.
• Respond to changes in patient needs and communicate with the physician and team promptly.
• Offer services across different religious beliefs and support ethical discussions when needed.
• Assist in training and support of team members and supervise hospice spiritual counselors as assigned.

Skills

Emotional support

Interdisciplinary teamwork

Communication skills

Customer-focused care

Education

Master's Degree in Pastoral Care or Theological Studies

Job description

Newport News, Virginia

Hiring Range

$53,900.00 - $74,150.00/AnnualActual pay is determined based on job-related factors such as relevant experience, education, credentials, skills, internal equity, and business needs.
Overview
The Spiritual Counselor provides emotional and spiritual support to patients/families/caregivers. He/She participates as a member of the interdisciplinary team and supports the mission and philosophy of Riverside Hospice Agencies.

What you will do

• Provides assessment as indicated and appropriate as soon as possible after admission and support is provided in accordance with on-going wishes and needs of the patient/family. Completes required continuing education classes/in-service programs applicable to Home Care as assigned in a timely manner and stays current in regard to clinical knowledge. Participates in inter-disciplinary team meetings and discussions regarding quality and outcomes. Develops an individualized spiritual/pastoral plan of care which demonstrates and effort to work in close collaboration with local clergy whenever desired by the patient and provides spiritual support as needed and defined by the patient/family
• Recognizes and responds to variances of patient care/ condition and informs the physician and other personnel of changes in the patient’s needs and outcomes of interventions. Communicates information using current process and technology available to the organization. Appropriately notifies physician and team in a timely manner, utilizing the latest CHAP standards per departmental policy.
• Strives to exceed the customers/patients expectations by demonstrating the flexibility and sensitivity necessary to respond to customers needs.
• Ability to delegate and prioritize tasks to facilitate quality patient care and ensure all patient care needs are met. Able to recognize and respond to emergency situations. Evaluates own needs for support and using identified systems to meet need.
• Documents counseling provided in the patient’s clinical record. Accurately completes all required clinical documentation consistently per RHS standards
• Assists in the development and updating of the plan of care. Conducts religious services of prayer, worship and rituals for patients/families as appropriate. Offers patients/families of different philosophies and religious beliefs opportunities to discuss and share their thoughts, feelings, beliefs and values. Works with other professionals in resolving spiritual/pastoral/ethical issues. Assessing patient/family response to and satisfaction with care.
• Employee’s individual productivity measures are satisfactory based on FTE/status and average number of assigned patients in case load.
• Demonstrates the ability to build trusting collaborative relationships with a multi-disciplinary team to support patient care needs. Actively participates in multi-disciplinary team meetings and attends when plan of care is reviewed. Working in a team approach with members of the IDT and other qualified professionals, as determined by the hospice to evaluate patient/family response to care
• Participates positively in training and support of all team members, volunteers and students as needed
• Provides collaboration with other Spiritual Coordinators/Counselors within Hospice as needed. Will supervise Hospice Spiritual Counselors, as assigned, and complete requirements for supervisory visits to be a part of those employee’s annual performance review.

Qualifications

Education

• Masters Degree, Master of Pastoral Care or Master of Theological Studies from accredited university (Required)

Experience

• 1 year Related Hospice experience (Preferred)

Licenses and Certifications

• ACPE Educator Certification - Association for Clinical Pastoral Education within 2 Years(Preferred)
• Board Certified Chaplain - The Association of Professional Chaplains (Preferred)
• American Council of Pastoral Education - American Council of Pastoral Education 1 Unit Upon Hire(Required)
• Drives personal vehicle for RHS business 25% or more of the time to perform essential functions of the job
• Valid Drivers License Required
  Other Requirements
• Call Rotation
• Weekend Shifts
• Work/Float in more than one work location

To learn more about being a team member with Riverside Health System visit us at https://www.riversideonline.com/careers.