Spiritual Counselor Hospice
About The Position
The Spiritual Counselor provides emotional and spiritual support to hospice patients, families, and caregivers. As a member of the interdisciplinary team, the counselor supports the mission and philosophy of Riverside Hospice Agencies. The role involves assessing and responding to patient and family spiritual needs, developing individualized spiritual or pastoral plans of care, collaborating with local clergy when desired, and documenting counseling and other clinical care in the patient's record. The counselor works with the hospice team and other professionals to address spiritual, pastoral, and ethical matters; assess patient and family responses to care; and support quality and outcomes. The role also includes conducting religious services as appropriate, participating in team meetings and training, and potentially supervising hospice spiritual counselors as assigned. The position requires call rotation, weekend shifts, and work or floating across more than one location. It involves driving a personal vehicle for RHS business at least 25% of the time to perform essential job functions.
Requirements
- Master's Degree in Master of Pastoral Care or Master of Theological Studies from an accredited university.
- American Council of Pastoral Education: 1 unit upon hire.
- Valid driver's license.
- Drives a personal vehicle for RHS business 25% or more of the time to perform essential job functions.
- Participate in call rotation.
- Work weekend shifts.
- Work or float in more than one work location.
Nice To Haves
- One year of related hospice experience.
- ACPE Educator Certification from the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education within two years.
- Board Certified Chaplain certification from the Association of Professional Chaplains.
Responsibilities
- Assess patients' and families' spiritual needs as indicated and appropriate, and provide support in accordance with their ongoing wishes and needs.
- Develop individualized spiritual or pastoral plans of care, collaborating closely with local clergy when desired by the patient.
- Recognize and respond to changes in patient condition or care needs, and notify the physician and other personnel in a timely manner.
- Communicate information using the organization's available processes and technology, following applicable CHAP standards and departmental policy.
- Prioritize and delegate tasks to support quality patient care and meet patient care needs; recognize and respond to emergencies.
- Evaluate personal support needs and use identified systems to address them.
- Document counseling in the patient's clinical record and complete required clinical documentation according to RHS standards.
- Assist in developing and updating plans of care; conduct religious services, prayer, worship, and rituals as appropriate.
- Offer patients and families opportunities to discuss and share thoughts, feelings, beliefs, and values, including across different philosophies and religious beliefs.
- Collaborate with other professionals to resolve spiritual, pastoral, and ethical issues, and assess patient and family responses to and satisfaction with care.
- Participate in interdisciplinary team meetings and discussions about quality, outcomes, and plans of care; collaborate with team members to evaluate patient and family responses to care.
- Participate positively in training and supporting team members, volunteers, and students as needed.
- Collaborate with other Hospice Spiritual Coordinators and Counselors as needed.
- Supervise Hospice Spiritual Counselors when assigned and complete supervisory visits required for their annual performance reviews.
- Complete assigned continuing education and in-service programs in a timely manner and maintain current clinical knowledge.
- Meet individual productivity measures based on FTE/status and the average number of assigned patients in the caseload.
- Demonstrate flexibility and sensitivity in responding to customer and patient needs and build trusting, collaborative relationships with the multidisciplinary team.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
