Hospice Chaplain

Beth Israel Lahey Health

3d•$62,400 - $83,982

About The Position

The Hospice Chaplain implements and coordinates spiritual care activities for the hospice program and serves as a consultant to the hospice house team, contributing a spiritual component to overall case management. As a member of the interdisciplinary team, the chaplain provides spiritual support to patients and families in accordance with their wishes and belief systems while fulfilling hospice policies. The position includes daily travel to patients’ homes in surrounding communities and occasional local travel to meetings, seminars, or training programs. Travel to off-site meetings may involve exposure to outside weather conditions.

Requirements

Graduate of an accredited seminary or school of theology, or appropriate master’s degree training in hospital or pastoral ministry.
At least two years of experience working with the unique spiritual needs of the terminally ill.
Familiarity with interfaith practices and ability to work in an interfaith setting with interfaith colleagues.

Responsibilities

Assess the spiritual needs of hospice patients, families, and caregivers, and ensure appropriate services are provided in a timely manner.
Guide and educate hospice workers about patients’ potential spiritual needs and their choice of spiritual resources.
Encourage patients and families to make advance arrangements regarding funerals, wills, requests, obituaries, and interment; officiate at funeral services when requested.
Report potential spiritual needs and interventions at Inter-Disciplinary Team meetings.
Provide direct spiritual counsel, prayer, and sacraments when invited by patients or families.
Coordinate with patients’ or families’ own clergy or congregations when requested.
Be present at the time of death when requested.
Provide literature and spiritual resources that may assist patients and families.
Complete Bereavement Risk Assessments according to procedural guidelines.
Participate in the weekend rotation for Supportive Services coverage, taking calls and working with the weekend triage nurse to address urgent supportive service needs.
Travel daily to surrounding communities to provide care to patients at home, and occasionally travel locally to meetings, seminars, or training programs.