Hospice Chaplain - PRN

Compassus•Wichita, KS

About The Position

The Chaplain is a hospice-trained individual who provides spiritual support to patients and their families. The role may be filled by a priest, minister, rabbi, or another individual with experience in spiritual support. The Chaplain complements rather than replaces a patient’s own clergy. The position models Compassus values—Compassion, Integrity, Excellence, Teamwork, and Innovation—promotes the Compassus philosophy and 6 Pillars of Success, upholds the Code of Ethical Conduct, and fosters positive working relationships across the company and with external stakeholders. The Chaplain participates in the interdisciplinary team (IDT), contributes to patient care planning, coordinates spiritual care, and supports patients and families through death, grief, and bereavement. The role also explains hospice services and Medicare benefits, completes requested consent and election documents, maintains timely documentation and comprehensive care plans, and collaborates with community clergy. The position requires a high school diploma or GED and at least one year of experience providing spiritual or pastoral support. Additional state-specific qualifications may apply.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
At least one year of experience providing spiritual or pastoral support to individuals or families.
Ability to perform basic arithmetic, including computing rates, ratios, and percentages.
Ability to read and interpret business, professional, technical, and government materials; write reports, correspondence, and procedures; and present information and respond to questions effectively.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to understand, read, write, and speak English.
Ability to understand and embrace hospice philosophy and maintain the confidentiality of patient records and other confidential information.
Strong counseling skills with terminally ill patients and their families.
Positive, compassionate, and empathetic attitude; ability to counsel patients and families and assist local clergy in providing pastoral care.
State-specific requirements apply: Florida requires at least one qualifying ministry degree, qualifying CPE documentation, or qualifying formal religious/belief-system training; Georgia requires ordination or commission by a recognized faith group and at least one unit of clinical pastoral education from a nationally recognized provider; Louisiana requires qualifying theological education or training, equivalent accredited university training, or equivalent supervised spiritual-counseling experience; Missouri requires education in counseling or a related field and additional employer-provided training within 90 days of hire; Mississippi requires a Bachelor of Divinity, Master of Divinity, or equivalent theological degree or training.
Able to meet the role’s physical demands, including regular standing and walking, manual dexterity, lifting and moving objects up to 50 pounds, and visual acuity requirements.
Able to work in a healthcare setting with expected exposure to bodily fluids, infectious diseases, and typical clinical conditions, and routinely use standard medical equipment and clinical-care tools.

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 Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE), unless required by state regulation.
At least one year of experience providing pastoral support to individuals or families 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 required documentation and paperwork to facilities after patient visits, in a timely manner and according to company policy.
Articulate the federal and applicable state regulatory framework governing the Spiritual Counselor role.
Participate in the interdisciplinary team (IDT), including the development and implementation of the plan of care.
Provide spiritual care support to patients and families and support community clergy involvement as requested.
Help identify when intervention by other IDT members is needed.
Communicate patient and family needs effectively to the IDT.
Collaborate with the IDT to coordinate appropriate, continuous, quality spiritual care for patients and families.
Maintain current, comprehensive care plans that reflect patients’ problems, goals, and interventions.
Respect families’ environments and belief systems and provide nondiscriminatory support.
Counsel patients and families in accordance with their beliefs.
Support patients and families through the stages of death, grief, and bereavement.
Liaise with the clerical community to interpret hospice patients’ and families’ needs and help recruit clerical volunteers.
Perform other duties as assigned.