Chaplain, Interfaith, 16 Hours, Weekends

UMass Memorial Health•Worcester, MA

2d•$26 - $48•Onsite

About The Position

Responsible for delivering pastoral and spiritual care to patients, their loved ones, and staff across all campuses of the Medical Center. The Chaplain offers a multi-faith presence responsive to the cultural, religious, and spiritual diversity of patients and their loved ones. The position is scheduled for 16 hours on weekends, Saturday and Sunday, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., on the day shift. Work is sedentary and performed indoors in a patient-care or normal office environment. The role includes assessing spiritual needs and developing pastoral care plans; responding to emergencies and consultations, including participating in 24-hour coverage and disaster response; documenting care; collaborating with interpreter services, Medical Center staff, and interdisciplinary teams; providing spiritual support through illness, grief, trauma, stress, and death; and supporting palliative and end-of-life care. The Chaplain also facilitates worship and spiritual practices, contributes to institutional committees and education, helps maintain religious-affiliation information and connections with area spiritual leaders, and may coordinate pastoral care volunteers. Applicants must have a master’s degree in Divinity or a related degree from a CHEA-accredited school, current ordination or commission and faith-group endorsement for pastoral care, and certification by a recognized professional chaplaincy organization or eligibility for certification within three years. A valid driver’s license is required. Preferred qualifications include at least five years in professional ministry, including three years as a hospital chaplain, and bilingual ability.

Requirements

Master’s degree in Divinity or a related degree from a school accredited by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
Current ordination or commission to function in a ministry of pastoral care, and current endorsement by a recognized faith group for ministry as a chaplain.
Certification by the Association of Professional Chaplains, National Association of Catholic Chaplains, Neshama Association of Jewish Chaplains, or Canadian Association for Pastoral Practice and Education; or eligibility for certification within three years.
Valid driver’s license.
Excellent oral and written communication skills.
Ability to effectively manage high levels of stress.
Knowledge of Microsoft Office products.

Nice To Haves

At least five years in professional ministry, including at least three years of experience as a chaplain in a hospital setting.
Bilingual ability.

Responsibilities

Assess patients’ and families’ spiritual needs and develop pastoral care plans in response.
Respond promptly to pastoral care emergencies and consultations; participate in 24-hour coverage and Medical Center responses to disasters, community traumas, and related situations.
Document pastoral care assessments, visits, and interventions in patient records.
Collaborate with interpreter services and Medical Center staff to provide culturally competent care sensitive to patients’ spiritual, religious, and cultural values.
Provide spiritual care to patients, loved ones, staff, and students coping with illness, grief, trauma, stress, and death, including sacraments, rituals, memorial services, crisis intervention, and end-of-life care.
Collaborate with the interdisciplinary Palliative Care team and counsel patients and loved ones on ethical decision-making, goals of care, and incorporating spiritual, religious, and cultural values; participate in interdisciplinary family meetings.
Develop, coordinate, and facilitate public worship and spiritual practices appropriate to the Medical Center’s diverse setting.
Promote integration of pastoral and spiritual care into institutional services; provide leadership on committees and initiatives and education on diversity, grief, loss, and wellness.
Work with Patient Access Services to maintain accurate patient religious-affiliation information and a notification system for area spiritual leaders.
Participate in Medical Center committees and initiatives and provide education to staff, students, and community groups on faith, religious systems, wellness, grief, and loss.
Assist in coordinating pastoral care volunteers, including Eucharistic ministers, as assigned.
Maintain good standing in the chaplain’s faith group and certification with a professional cognate group.
Comply with departmental policies, procedures, objectives, health and safety requirements, and quality-improvement practices; attend required meetings and maintain reliable attendance.
Perform other similar and related duties as required or directed.