Hospice Chaplain

Lower Cape Fear LifeCare•Bolivia, NC

9d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Hospice Chaplain provides emotional and spiritual support to patients and families navigating serious illness and end-of-life experiences. This role involves visiting patients in various settings, facilitating conversations about life experiences and spiritual needs, and providing prayer or spiritual practices as requested. The chaplain also supports caregivers through grief and end-of-life challenges, assesses emotional and spiritual needs, and collaborates with the care team. Additionally, the role includes care coordination and advocacy, working with community clergy and other spiritual leaders, and communicating with nurses, social workers, and facility staff. Documentation and communication responsibilities are managed through EMR, phone calls, and email. The chaplain is an active member of the Interdisciplinary Team (IDT), attending meetings and providing centering moments. The role requires flexibility in managing travel, patient visits, documentation, and schedule adjustments to meet urgent needs.

Requirements

Ability to speak clearly to communicate with patients and families regarding spiritual care needs.
Literate in the English language.
Basic counseling skills, including the ability to listen and assist severely distressed individuals on a daily basis.
Ability to safely travel throughout the geographic area.
Ability to learn computerized documentation requirements, using the laptop on a daily basis.
Strong team interaction skills.
Strong verbal and written communication skills and listening skills.
Ability to develop positive interactions with team, clients, and the general public within a short period of time.
Highly motivated.
Self-disciplined, flexible, and positive attitude.
Ability to assess client’s needs for chaplain services, formulate care plans, select appropriate interventions, evaluate the family’s response to interventions.
Ability to maintain active attention and to maintain short and long term memory.
Ability to utilize basic mathematics skills.
Ability to organize and complete work assignments within the agency time requirements.
Hearing and sight needed for driving to/from and accessing homes of clients.
Ability to withstand allergens such as dust, smoke, cigarette/cigar smoke, fumes.
May be exposed to blood or body fluids.
May be exposed to dangerous animals and traffic hazards while home visiting.
May encounter temperature extremes and weather extremes.
Will be required to drive.
Must have reliable transportation.
Will be subject to the Safe Driver Policy.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in theology or divinity
At least one unit of Clinical Pastoral education or its equivalent
Counseling education is desirable.
Professional license/certification preferred, but not required upon employment.
At least 2 years of experience in pastoral care, counseling, or the ministry, preferably in a health care setting.

Responsibilities

Provide emotional and spiritual support to patients and families navigating serious illness and end-of-life experiences.
Visit patients in homes, assisted living facilities, skilled nursing facilities, independent living communities, and hospice care settings.
Facilitate conversations about life experiences, spiritual needs, personal values, and end-of-life journeys.
Provide prayer, scripture, religious readings, music, or spiritual practices when requested.
Support caregivers and family members through difficult conversations, anticipatory grief, and end-of-life care challenges.
Assess emotional, spiritual, and psychosocial needs and communicate findings to the care team.
Participate in memorial services or bereavement support activities.
Collaborate with community clergy, priests, rabbis, pastors, and other spiritual leaders.
Communicate and collaborate with nurses, social workers, facility staff, and caregivers.
Serve as a resource and advocate for patients by sharing observations, addressing concerns, and supporting care planning.
Review the EMR for patient updates, referrals, tasks, and information needed to schedule visits.
Manage communication and documentation through phone calls, email, EMR charting, facility communication logs, and coordination with the care team.
Communicate patient updates, concerns, and bereavement follow-up to the care team and families.
Participate as an active member of the Interdisciplinary Team (IDT).
Attend required IDT meetings and agency meetings.
Provide centering moments through prayer, reflection, poems, or remembrance activities.
Collaborate with nurses, social workers, physicians, CNAs, and volunteers to coordinate patient care.
Support team members during challenging situations and losses.
Manage travel between locations.
Balance patient visits, phone calls, documentation, and schedule adjustments to meet urgent patient needs.
Coordinate multiple requests from patients, families, facilities, and team members.