Bereavement Services Specialist

Hospice Of San Joaquin•Stockton, CA

13d

About The Position

Hospice of San Joaquin is a not-for-profit hospice serving San Joaquin and Stanislaus Counties. The Bereavement Services Specialist provides grief support and counseling to families of hospice patients and to community members. This is a full-time position reporting to the Bereavement Manager. The specialist assesses bereavement needs, develops and manages plans of care in collaboration with the interdisciplinary team (IDT), and provides ongoing support to hospice families for up to one year after a patient’s death. The role also includes facilitating support groups, workshops, and community-based grief support; coordinating resources and referrals; supporting bereaved children; and coordinating Camp Caterpillar. The specialist documents services, participates in team meetings, and performs related administrative duties, including processing patient death information and preparing reports and correspondence. Some evening and weekend work is required. The position requires use of the employee’s own vehicle for community travel, with a valid California driver’s license and automobile insurance. Physical requirements include sitting for long periods, maneuvering throughout the community, adequate visual and hearing ability, manual dexterity for computer and office tasks, and the ability to carry and move materials for workshops and support groups.

Requirements

BA/BS degree in a Human Services field, or an AA degree plus one year of work experience in a Human Services or Bereavement field.
Knowledge and understanding of individual, child, and family development, human behavior, communication, and the influence of culture and values in bereavement support.
Knowledge of group process and peer counseling.
Ability and willingness to drive a personal vehicle for work and hold a valid California driver’s license and automobile insurance meeting state standards.
Ability to sit for long periods and maneuver throughout the community.
Visual and hearing ability sufficient to comprehend written and verbal communication.
Manual dexterity for computer use, filing, and telephone work.
Ability to carry and move training items and materials for workshops and support groups.

Nice To Haves

Fluency in Spanish.

Responsibilities

Provide bereavement counseling and appropriate referrals for adults, children, families, and community clients.
Assess hospice families three to four weeks after a patient’s death and develop bereavement plans of care using IDT assessment information.
Manage bereavement plans of care in collaboration with the IDT, including plans for bereaved children.
Provide ongoing bereavement support to hospice families by phone or in person for up to one year after a patient’s death.
Assess community clients at referral and develop plans for internal or off-site support.
Identify and coordinate referral resources needed to support clients’ bereavement plans.
Facilitate regularly scheduled adult bereavement support groups and workshops, including web-based workshops, as assigned.
Facilitate off-site, community-based grief support as assigned.
Coordinate and plan Camp Caterpillar.
Protect client confidentiality and follow generally accepted ethical standards.
Document services according to Hospice of San Joaquin policies and procedures, including appropriate IDT meeting notes in patient records.
Consult with the Bereavement Manager or Director of Social Services when complicated bereavement is suspected.
Attend bereavement team meetings and participate in discussions about patient and family care and grief and bereavement issues.
Stay informed about family dynamics before a patient’s death, help IDT members understand grief and loss issues, and support continuity of bereavement services.
Review MSW pre-bereavement assessments and social work notes and discuss concerns with the social worker.
Process registration forms for adult and children’s support groups, workshops, and special events.
Process patient deaths daily, including updating medical-record plans of care, reviewing assessments, and gathering caregiver demographic information.
Prepare weekly reports of initial deaths, one-year anniversary deaths, and Kaiser patient deaths.
Prepare weekly condolence and closing letters to bereaved families.

Benefits

Competitive hospice industry compensation.
Benefits package with multiple plan offerings and generous employer contribution.
401(k) retirement plan with employer match.
AFLAC insurance plans.
Flexible Spending Account (FSA).
Fitness Center membership discount.
Employee Assistance Programs.
Supportive work culture encouraging work-life balance.
Paid Time Off (PTO).
Monthly mileage reimbursement.
Employee Referral Program.