Spiritual Care Counselor, Hospice Home Care

Overview
Provides direct spiritual care services and counseling to hospice patients and their family members in collaboration with the inter-disciplinary group (IDG). Ensures that the spiritual care assists with the patients' self-determined life closure/safe, comfortable, and meaningful dying experience and family's effective grieving, in compliance with hospice standards. Works under clinical supervision.

• Implements the Spiritual Care program in accordance with CMS Conditions of Participation.

• Assesses emotional spiritual, religious, existential status and care needs of patients and/or their family members utilizing professional skills and knowledge.

• Provides spiritual counseling and services, including crisis intervention, to meet the psycho-spiritual, religious and existential needs of patient/family in collaboration with the IDG in accordance with VNS Health policies/procedures, code of conduct and standards of practice for professional chaplains.

• Develops and updates the spiritual care component of the patient/family plan of care based on mutually acceptable goals.

• Utilizes appropriate spiritual/religious community resources and serves as a liaison between VNS Health and the community clergy directly involved with the patient/family.

• Documents spiritual care assessment, including signs of decline, interventions, and plans of care in EMR in collaboration with the IDG to ensure optimal quality care.

• Participates in the weekly IDG team meetings; develops and updates treatment plans and goals as needed. Coordinates effective approaches to develop patient and/or family care in collaboration with other team members.

• Acts as a resource to VNS Health staff for both clinical collaboration and/or interdisciplinary staff support.

• Assists interdisciplinary team members in understanding the significant psycho-spiritual, religious and existential factors related to the patient/family’s quality of life and in developing support for patient/family with regard to spiritual care.

• Assumes responsibility for continued professional growth, including attendance of in-service programs.

• Provides on-call coverage as needed.

• Travels to patients’ homes and/or facilities with varying environments (e.g. walk-ups, care facilities, single/multiple family homes, presence of pets, etc.) using approved transportation options to deliver direct spiritual care service to the patient/family.

• Participates in special projects and performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications
Licenses and Certifications:

Valid driver's license required, as determined by operational/regional needs.

Education:

Bachelor's Degree in Humanities or other related fields required

Master's Degree in Divinity or Theology preferred

Four units of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) required

Board Certified Chaplain preferred

Work Experience:

Minimum of one year of experience as a chaplain, preferably in a hospice setting required

Effective oral and interpersonal communication skills required

Proficiency in personal computer operations including MS Office applications required