Bereavement Coordinator/Spiritual Counselor - Hospice

ProCare Hospice of Nevada•Paradise, NV

18h•$64,000 - $70,000

About The Position

The Bereavement Coordinator assists with grief counseling and support services for hospice patients, caregivers, and families. The role coordinates and manages the hospice pre- and post-death bereavement program, including bereavement assessments, individualized plans of care, and service delivery in accordance with applicable regulations, accreditation standards, and ProCare policy. The position also provides spiritual counseling to a designated patient caseload as a member of the Interdisciplinary Group (IDG), and serves as the qualified professional with grief or loss counseling experience or education who supervises the bereavement program. The position reports to the Lead Chaplain/Spiritual Counselor and Executive Director (RN). It includes supervising assigned bereavement staff and volunteers, supporting staff and volunteer grief needs, coordinating memorial and support activities, and overseeing documentation and compliance. The employee may drive to meetings and patients’ homes and must be available for prescheduled on-call hours, weekends, and holidays. This is a salaried, exempt position.

Requirements

Documented experience or education in grief or loss counseling sufficient to serve as the qualified professional supervising the hospice bereavement program under Medicare Hospice Conditions of Participation.
Must be able to identify and address spiritual and bereavement needs of hospice patients, families, and caregivers before and after a patient's death.
Successful completion of required background checks, pre-employment drug screening and physical, TB testing, employment and reference checks, and motor vehicle record check; education verification may be included.
Ability to read, speak, write, and understand English.
Ability to handle frequent interruptions and emotionally charged situations involving patients, families, and caregivers.
Availability for prescheduled on-call hours, weekends, and holidays.
Valid driver's license, reliable transportation, and current auto insurance.
Current CPR/BLS certification.
Ability to stand, walk, lift, bend, push, and pull consistently, including handling loads up to 20 pounds.
May need to drive to meetings with clients, healthcare professionals, or patients' homes.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's or master's degree in counseling, social work, psychology, divinity/theology, pastoral care, or a related field, and/or Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE).
Certified Grief Recovery Specialist, Certified Thanatologist (ADEC), or equivalent grief-counseling credential.
At least one year of experience as a chaplain/spiritual counselor or bereavement coordinator/specialist in hospice, palliative care, or geriatric care.

Responsibilities

Foster effective working relationships with coworkers, patients, and other professional community members.
Participate in the Interdisciplinary Group (IDG), attend meetings for assigned patients, and contribute spiritual and bereavement assessment findings, including bereavement risk, to the IDG and plans of care.
Follow the individualized plan of care established by the IDG for each patient.
Participate in initial and comprehensive patient and family assessments, including assessment of bereavement needs and social, spiritual, and cultural factors affecting coping; incorporate findings into the appropriate plans of care.
Provide pre-death grief and loss support and anticipatory-grief counseling in collaboration with the social worker and other IDG members.
After a patient's death, complete bereavement risk assessments and develop, document, and update individualized bereavement plans of care specifying services and their frequency.
Deliver bereavement services to individuals identified in the plan of care, including eligible residents and staff of care facilities, in accordance with regulations, accreditation standards, and company policy.
Ensure bereavement services reflect assessed needs and accepted standards of practice and are meaningful to families.
Coordinate bereavement outreach, including condolence contacts, follow-up calls and visits, mailings, individual support, grief support groups, and other program activities.
Plan, coordinate, and host ProCare memorial services.
Refer individuals to outside agencies or professionals when needs exceed the scope of the bereavement program, including suicidal ideation, substance abuse, emotional abuse, or complicated or prolonged grief.
Report relevant social, emotional, spiritual, and financial factors affecting patient and caregiver coping to appropriate hospice team members.
Initiate appropriate actions to help families and caregivers address loss and grief-related needs.
Provide chaplain/spiritual counselor services to an assigned caseload, including spiritual assessment and counseling, facilitating visits by local clergy or other spiritual supports when appropriate, and informing patients and families about available spiritual care.
Recruit, train, and supervise bereavement volunteers in accordance with the volunteer program.
Coordinate individual and group grief support for hospice staff and volunteers when needed.
Supervise assigned bereavement staff and volunteers, as applicable, including regular one-on-one meetings, performance and goal discussions, mentorship, and addressing barriers to productivity or compliance.
Host bereavement team meetings and educate IDG members about grief and loss theory and normal versus complicated grief.
Oversee bereavement program compliance, conduct monthly compliance audits, and promptly address deficiencies.
Maintain accurate and timely clinical documentation, including spiritual and bereavement assessments, plans of care, contacts and attempted contacts, declined services, and service completion or discharge.
Report unusual conditions, observations, and pertinent information to the nurse or appropriate clinical leader.
Apply basic hospice and palliative care principles, including comfort-focused symptom management, within the position's scope and applicable requirements.
Work with the quality and compliance team to support regulatory and accreditation compliance and participate in QAPI activities as requested.
Promote communication and collaboration among team members, complete assigned projects on time, and perform other duties as assigned.
Follow patient-rights, confidentiality, HIPAA, and abuse-reporting policies, including Nevada mandatory reporting requirements.
Attend scheduled staff meetings and in-service training; follow dress code and attendance procedures; manage time and schedules; use the proper chain of command; and maintain personal development and knowledge of mandatory requirements.
Support continuing education for team members and continue developing as a leader.
Follow workplace safety and emergency procedures, use appropriate body mechanics and PPE, and meet the physical demands of the position.