Hospice Chaplain

Paradigm Health•Mishawaka, IN

About The Position

Paradigm Health is hiring a full-time Hospice Chaplain to serve a territory of one to two counties surrounding the office. The chaplain responds to the mental, spiritual, social, and emotional needs of terminally ill patients and their families, providing nondenominational spiritual counseling at their request. The role includes spiritual assessment, care coordination, communication with the healthcare team, and serving as a liaison between hospice and the spiritual community. The chaplain supports patient and family involvement in care planning, respects cultural practices, and helps families understand grief and end-of-life issues. The chaplain also participates in the bereavement program as requested, which may include facilitating grief support groups, participating in celebrations of life, leading funeral services, providing counseling, sending bereavement mailings, and notifying hospice staff about funeral services. The role participates in an on-call rotation and may perform religious duties related to the chaplain’s faith and ordination.

Requirements

Master’s degree in Ministry, Counseling, or a required related field.
Current driver’s license.
Reliable transportation and insurance.

Nice To Haves

One year of hospice experience is preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

Complete accurate and comprehensive spiritual assessments within five days of the start-of-care date.
Communicate changes in patients’ clinical status to healthcare team members and office staff verbally and in writing in a timely manner.
Coordinate care planning and delivery with physicians, patients and families, healthcare team members, and hospice staff.
Act as a liaison between hospice and the spiritual community.
Respond to the mental, spiritual, social, and emotional needs of terminally ill patients and their families.
Provide nondenominational spiritual counseling at the request of patients or families.
Interact professionally with patients and families and involve them in forming the plan of care.
Communicate clearly and appropriately with physicians, staff, the Clinical Nurse Manager, and the administrative team.
Assist families in understanding the grief process.
Participate in the bereavement program as requested, including facilitating grief support groups, participating in celebrations of life, leading funeral services, providing bereavement counseling by phone or in person, sending bereavement mailings, and notifying hospice staff of funeral services.
Refer families to community grief support groups.
Allow patients and families to express concerns, fears, and feelings, and respond to patients’ desires and condition.
Address and support cultural practices when they do not harm others.
Support a culture of safety and quality.
Perform specific religious duties related to the faith in which the chaplain is ordained, when applicable.
Comply with hospice policies regarding timely documentation and applicable laws, regulations, and professional standards.
Help physicians and hospice team members understand spiritual, emotional, and social factors affecting patients’ health so care plans foster spiritual well-being and human dignity.
Treat patients and their families with respect and dignity.
Participate in the on-call rotation.