Chaplain

Alameda Health System•San Leandro, CA

About The Position

Under direction, the Chaplain provides religious, spiritual, and emotional support to patients, their loved ones, and staff, and plans, conducts, and coordinates religious activities hospital-wide. The Chaplain performs related duties as required. The listed duties describe the classification; employees may perform other related duties at an equivalent level, and not every listed duty is necessarily performed by every employee.

Requirements

Board-certified Chaplain through an appropriate professional organization, or certification-eligible.
Completion of theological studies for ordination from an accredited theological school and education equivalent to college graduation, including at least 12 semester units in counseling, psychology, or a related field.
Ordination or accreditation by the Roman Catholic Church, a recognized California Rabbinical Board, or a nationally recognized Protestant or other religious denomination.
Completion of either 12 months or four quarters of an approved full-time resident clinical pastoral training program, or equivalent to one year of in-service training in case work, counseling, and guidance, or experience on the clinical staff or classification committee in a facility such as a mental hospital or guidance clinic.

Nice To Haves

One year of experience as a chaplain.
Four CPE units.
Good standing in the candidate’s faith tradition, evidenced by ecclesiastical endorsement.
Membership in a National Professional Chaplain Organization.

Responsibilities

Acts as a liaison between patients, families, and hospital staff during spiritual crises, such as illness, dying, or lengthy or difficult surgery.
Assesses and counsels employees, patients, and family members regarding moral, spiritual, domestic, and personal problems; meets with patients and employees for private spiritual counseling upon request.
Collaborates with hospital care team members to identify and address spiritual issues.
Collaborates with other hospital programs and community agencies involved with patients and families.
Completes medical chart documentation for patient and family visits, including noting specific religious rites performed by outside clergy.
Consults with the Department Leader and keeps them informed about activities, needs, and problems related to patients, families, hospital staff, and volunteers.
Consults with hospital staff regarding hospital ministry.
Evaluates patients’ needs for spiritual guidance and counseling, initiates or recommends programs and services to address those needs, and refers patients or families to community spiritual support as needed; provides monthly activity statistics to the Department Leader.
Serves on the Bioethics Committee and other committees as appropriate; participates in daily interdisciplinary rounds in medical/surgical units, rounds regularly in the ICU, and participates in family conferences.
Participates in special projects as directed or requested, including representing the hospital at interfaith meetings and community events.
Performs other chaplain duties related to religious matters, maintains a supply of religious literature, and prepares chaplain activity reports.
Provides liaison work between AHS facilities and social organizations as appropriate and may speak to those organizations about the work and purpose of AHS.