Chaplain/Bereavement Coordinator

The Chaplain/Bereavement Coordinator is responsible for traveling to a patient/client's place of residence to provide social work services. The Chaplain/Bereavement Coordinator is a member of the Hospice Inter\-Disciplinary Group (IDG) responsible for providing spiritual care services to assigned patient/clients and procuring spiritual care when appropriate for patient/clients, families and caregivers. The Chaplain/Bereavement Coordinator provides support and education to staff and team and coordinates and supervises the delivery of comprehensive bereavement care services to Hospice and community bereaved. The Chaplain/Bereavement Coordinator networks and collaborates with community groups/agencies providing bereavement services to maximize utilization of resources. **DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:** **Chaplain:** * Actively participate in spiritual component of hospice and palliative care. * Provide consultation to Hospice IDG regarding spiritual care assessment and plan of care and bereavement tools. * Develop and maintain relationship with professional clergy or other appropriately qualified spiritual care providers to allow access to spiritual resources. * Educate professional clergy about hospice and palliative care and learn about various faith belief systems regarding hospice and palliative care. * Provide direct spiritual care and support to Hospice patient/clients, families and caregivers in accordance with individual needs and preferences, including bereavement services. * Follow up with families/caregivers during bereavement. * Facilitate communication with faith community when unable to access spiritual provider identified by patient/client or family. * Participate in meeting with Hospice Manager and psychosocial team to assist with program evaluation and improvement. * Serve as a resource to staff for spiritual care; provide spiritual support to staff; provide support for staff addressing their own personal and professional grief and loss issues. * Provide education opportunities to staff to enhance their sensitivity to the spiritual concerns of patient/clients, families and caregivers experiencing terminal illness and loss. * Participate in volunteer training and provide support to volunteers when appropriate. * Collaborate with patient/client, family, caregiver and Hospice team to ensure the delivery of safe and efficient quality hospice services. * Report patient/client status to Hospice Manager. * Document all patient/client, family and caregiver contacts in the medical record. * Demonstrate concern and support of the mission and philosophy of hospice in daily work performance and in interactions with staff members. * Assist with community awareness and marketing activities for Hospice. **Bereavement Coordinator:** * Coordinate the delivery of comprehensive bereavement services tailored to the needs of the bereaved person through collaboration with the Hospice patient/client caregiver, social worker and other Hospice interdisciplinary group members for up to 13 months following patient/client death. * Collaborate with Hospice team members as appropriate to ensure condolence call is made and documented. * Contact the bereaved to introduce components of bereavement program. * Complete bereavement assessment and initiate bereavement plan of care. * Assist with carrying out the plan of care according to the time frame identified in the plan of care. * Provide or refer to appropriate staff or mental health professional for intermittent or on\-going individual/family counseling for identified issues affecting adjustment to loss as needed by Hospice and community bereaved. * Ensure linkage of bereaved with appropriate community resources for concrete needs. * Assign and monitor bereavement activities carried out by other staff members and volunteers. * Plan, coordinate and carry out any other bereavement support activities, e.g.; memorial/funeral services, holiday gatherings, etc. and bereavement education of the community. * Maintain and upgrade skill and knowledge by participating in clinical case consultation with colleagues and continuing education; remain current with literature and integrate knowledge into bereavement counseling. * Facilitate bereavement support group(s) or connect bereaved to appropriate groups in the community. **QUALIFICATIONS** * Graduate of theological education or its equivalency with a minimum of two years experience in related field. * Certified Professional Chaplain and Master of Divinity and denominational endorsement with current license in field. * Completion of at least 2 units of clinical pastoral education or experience as a hospital chaplain/hospice chaplain or experience in clergy leadership. **EXPERIENCE** * Basic level knowledge of EMR (electronical medical records) and email functions. * Endorsement or connection to recognized religious community. * Comfort in interfaith setting; ability to provide spiritual care across wide spectrum of individual, family and staff needs. * Experience in providing grief counseling or group facilitation. * Knowledge of bereavement theories. * Training specific to the provision of pastoral/spiritual care. * Training and experience with death/dying, end of life and medical issues. **BENEFITS** * Dental insurance * Vision insurance * Life insurance * Employee assistance program * Flex spending account * 401k * 401k matching