Chaplain

Trinity Health•Livonia, MI

About The Position

Provides spiritual care within the local ministry, addressing the spiritual needs of patients, participants, residents, families, colleagues, and the communities served. The role focuses particularly on spiritual distress, grief support, crisis intervention, and support during significant life changes. As an integrated member of the healthcare team, the Chaplain brings professional expertise in spiritual care and responds to the spiritual needs of those served. The position develops and participates in spiritual care programs that promote healthy communities and sacred environments, and facilitates appropriate involvement of faith leaders from churches, synagogues, mosques, and other communities. The Chaplain reports directly to the Manager of Spiritual Care and may also report to an immediate ministry site supervisor, as appropriate. The position makes spiritual care available across the healthcare continuum, assesses religious and spiritual needs, provides interventions or referrals, documents assessments and care in the electronic medical record, and evaluates outcomes. It collaborates with the healthcare team and Spiritual Care Manager to improve care processes, educate colleagues, support workplace spirituality, and facilitate interfaith or faith-specific practices. The Chaplain also maintains personal self-care and formation practices and follows applicable laws, organizational integrity standards, and policies. This is a full-time, weekday afternoon-shift position, 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The role may require travel to Trinity Health sites across the local community and continuum of care (10–50%) as needed.

Requirements

Master’s degree in theology, religion, spiritual care, or spirituality, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
One to three years of spiritual care experience, including Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) training.
Ability to plan, develop, and implement programs that meet patients’ and families’ spiritual needs across the care continuum and life cycle.
Strong oral and written English communication skills, excellent interpersonal skills, and ability to present effectively to groups.
Ability to communicate effectively using clinical and medical terminology.
Ability to learn and proficiently use Microsoft Office Suite and other relevant software.
Comfort operating in a collaborative, shared-leadership environment.
Personal presence characterized by honesty, integrity, and caring, with the ability to inspire.
Ability to organize work priorities and adapt to frequent changes; manage concurrent tasks and projects in a potentially stressful environment with people of diverse personalities and work styles.
Ability to travel to various Trinity Health sites as needed (10–50%).
Ability to comply with Trinity Health policies and procedures.

Nice To Haves

Chaplaincy or spiritual care ministry experience is preferred; an equivalent combination of experience may be considered.
Board Certified Chaplain (BCC) is strongly preferred through APC, CASC, NACC, or NAJC. Certification includes a master’s degree as required by a certifying agency from a CHEA-accredited institution, completion of four units (1,600 hours) of ACPE-accredited Spiritual Care education, and faith-based endorsement recognized by a certifying agency.

Responsibilities

Demonstrate Trinity Health’s Mission, Vision, and Values in behaviors, practices, and decisions.
Provide and facilitate spiritual care for patients, residents, participants, visitors, colleagues, and communities, honoring their religious beliefs, practices, and values.
Assess religious and spiritual needs, including needs for ethics consultation, and provide appropriate interventions or referrals.
Observe and document spiritual care assessments, interventions, outcomes, and plans of care in the electronic medical record; adjust ongoing care as needed.
Integrate spiritual care into the inter-professional healthcare team as a full clinical member.
Collaborate with the Spiritual Care Manager to measure, evaluate, and improve spiritual care processes in alignment with approved strategies and priorities.
Educate and model spiritual care practices for non-Spiritual Care colleagues, including screening for and responding to spiritual distress.
Promote and implement workplace spirituality programs with the Spiritual Care Manager and Mission Leader.
Facilitate interfaith or specific-faith meditation, prayer, worship, and, as appropriate, religious sacraments; help maintain appropriate sacred space.
Plan and implement ongoing personal self-care and formation to support work-life balance and resiliency.
Maintain working knowledge of applicable laws, regulations, organizational integrity standards, and policies, and adhere to them with honest, ethical, and professional behavior.
Travel to local Trinity Health sites across the continuum of care as needed.