Chaplain/Bereavement Coordinator Full-time

Compassus•Ellijay, GA

18h

About The Position

The Chaplain/Bereavement Coordinator models Compassus values and promotes its philosophy while upholding its Code of Ethical Conduct and fostering positive working relationships with company departments and external stakeholders. This hospice-trained interdisciplinary team member provides spiritual support to patients and families, while respecting their beliefs and supporting involvement of their own clergy. The role also oversees an organized bereavement program, developing and delivering grief counseling and support for patients during hospice care and for bereaved family members for at least one year after a patient's death. The position participates in interdisciplinary care planning, communicates patient and family needs, coordinates spiritual care, and maintains appropriate documentation and care plans. It also assesses bereavement risks, develops post-death plans of care, delivers counseling and support, organizes grief groups and memorial services, educates team members, and coordinates with volunteers and community resources. The role promotes hospice and grief support in the community, manages program expenses within budget, and performs other duties as assigned. The role requires a high school diploma or GED, at least one year of experience providing spiritual or pastoral support, and at least two years of experience providing grief, loss, or bereavement support. A bachelor's degree in Divinity, Social Sciences, or a related field and at least one unit of CPE are preferred unless required by state regulation. Georgia-specific requirements include documentation of ordination or commission by a recognized faith group, at least one unit of clinical pastoral education from a nationally recognized provider, and applicable counseling licensure or education/experience specific to grief and loss counseling. The work involves regular standing, walking, and manual dexterity; lifting and moving objects up to 50 pounds; and potential exposure to bodily fluids, infectious diseases, and typical healthcare conditions. Standard medical equipment and clinical-care tools are routinely used. The position requires travel and a flexible schedule that may include nights and weekends.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
At least one year of experience providing spiritual or pastoral support to individuals or families.
At least two years of experience providing grief, loss, or bereavement support to individuals and families.
Ability to work a flexible schedule, including nights and weekends, and to travel.
Ability to understand, read, write, and speak English.
Strong written and verbal communication, organizational, interpersonal, and time-management skills.
Ability to read and interpret business, professional, technical, or governmental materials; write reports and correspondence; present information; and respond to questions.
Ability to perform basic arithmetic, including calculating rates, ratios, and percentages.
Understanding and acceptance of hospice philosophy; ability to articulate and embrace it.
High integrity and ability to maintain confidentiality, including for patient records.
Clinical experience or training related to death, dying, and bereavement.
Ability to provide grief counseling and counsel terminally ill patients and their families, and to assist local clergy in rendering pastoral care.
Positive, compassionate, and empathetic attitude.
Regular standing, walking, and manual dexterity; ability to lift and move objects up to 50 pounds; required visual acuity and ability to adjust focus.
Ability to work in a healthcare setting with expected exposure to bodily fluids, infectious diseases, and typical healthcare conditions, using standard medical equipment and clinical-care tools.
Georgia-specific: documentation of ordination or commission by a recognized faith group; at least one unit of clinical pastoral education from a nationally recognized provider; and applicable LPC or LMSW/LCSW licensure, or education/experience specific to counseling individuals dealing with grief and loss.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's degree in Divinity, Social Sciences, or another related field, unless required by state regulation.
Completion of at least one unit of CPE, unless required by state regulation.
At least one year of experience providing pastoral support related to loss, grief, bereavement, or trauma.

Responsibilities

Explain hospice services and Medicare benefits to patients and families, and obtain informed consent and election-of-benefits documents as requested.
Submit visit documentation and paperwork to facilities promptly and according to company policy.
Understand and articulate the federal and applicable state regulatory framework for the Spiritual Counselor role.
Participate in the interdisciplinary team (IDT), including developing and implementing plans of care.
Provide spiritual care to patients and families, support involvement of community clergy as requested, and counsel in accordance with the patient's and family's beliefs.
Identify when other IDT members should intervene and communicate patient and family needs to the IDT.
Coordinate spiritual care with the IDT to support appropriate, continuous, quality care, and maintain current, comprehensive patient care plans.
Respect family environments and belief systems and remain nondiscriminatory regarding personal characteristics and matters.
Support patients and families through death, grief, and bereavement; serve as a liaison with the clergy community and help recruit clerical volunteers.
Work with the hospice Social Worker to complete and analyze pre-bereavement risk assessments and develop care plans.
Promote assessment of bereavement risk factors at admission and throughout hospice care, and develop and implement bereavement plans after a patient's death.
Identify bereavement needs of non-family caregivers, including staff and nursing-facility residents, and ensure they receive support.
Educate IDT members about bereavement services and collaborate with the hospice team to promote hospice values.
Prepare reports, in-services, and other documents demonstrating the bereavement program's value and effectiveness when requested.
Deliver bereavement support using internal resources or community resources as needed, and provide grief counseling based on personal qualifications.
Develop, organize, and lead grief support groups independently or with community resources.
Maintain a bereavement resource library for people with varied needs, including high-risk or disenfranchised grief, and provide materials during routine contacts or upon request.
Document care and services according to state and federal requirements.
Work with the Volunteer Coordinator to identify opportunities for volunteers to participate in bereavement support.
Recognize concerns and escalate them appropriately.
Attend community events, create public service announcements, and use community events, professional contacts, and volunteers to promote Compassus, hospice, and grief support.
Develop and deliver memorial services for program patients, support memorial services for nursing-facility patients, and participate in funeral or memorial services when requested by families.
Operate within budget guidelines and manage bereavement program expenses.
Perform other duties as assigned.