Staff Chaplain

Yale New Haven Health•New Haven, CT

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Chaplain II is responsible for the direct ministry to patients, their families and caregivers via spiritual assessment and support, pastoral and sacramental care. The chaplain II is also responsible for initiating and implementing new methods of addressing patients' and family members' emotional and spiritual needs and for collaborating with other members of the health care team to communicate and coordinate care. As time permits, the chaplain also assists in educational programming within the department, hospital and wider community. Also responsible for additional leadership responsibilities as assigned and/or negotiated. The Chaplain II has the capability to function as a team leader in a service line or subsection of a large hospital.

Requirements

Bachelor's Degree and a Masters of Divinity degree or its equivalent
Official recognition of ministry, such as ordination or certification in Religious Vocation that is acceptable to The Association of Professional Chaplains (APC), The Association of Catholic Chaplains (NACC), or The Association of Jewish Chaplains (NAJC) or comparable national chaplain certification agencies
Endorsement for institutional ministry by ecclesiastical authority
Four (4) units (1600 hours) of ACPE, Inc. accredited Clinical Pastoral Education
Board certification by APC, NACC or NAJC
Graduate theological education, formal clinical pastoral education and demonstrated pastoral and conceptual competence
A minimum of two (2) years as Board Certified Chaplain
Two (2) years in a coded YNHHS chaplain position
Successful review for Chaplain II status
Board Certification from APC, NACC or NAJC
Demonstrated excellence in spiritual care and leadership
Noted initiative for new programs or protocols

Nice To Haves

Advance Practice Certification (Such as APC's Palliative Care Certification or ACPE CEC Status) is strongly preferred and is required to assume a Team Leader Function as a Chaplain II.

Responsibilities

Responsible for direct ministry to patients and families and support for staff on particular services and in-patient units or for a portion of the patient population such as a faith group, including assuming periodic on-call coverage for the entire hospital.
Provide for all aspects of ministry including: spiritual assessment and the provision of pastoral care, administration of the sacraments, pastoral visitation and counseling on own initiative and in response to referrals, with particular attention to ministry to persons in crisis, with life-threatening illness, near end-of-life and at the time of death, and to their families and friends.
Carry out duties in collaboration with other hospital staff and participate in interdisciplinary communication and coordination of care by attending team meetings and patient/family care conferences, and through appropriate verbal and written reports on patient care.
Document spiritual assessments, goals and interventions in the Medical Record (electronic and/or hard copy) and contribute to department record-keeping in terms of responses to referrals, on-call encounters, baptisms, etc.
Provide, assist, and/or arrange for hospital-wide worship services on Sundays, holidays and for special occasions, and provide for service or unit level memorial and other services for staff on request.
Assist in hospital educational programs, including those within the department such as orientation programs, clinical conferences, pastoral care institutes, or sessions involving religious and health matters (ie faith group practices, age-specific spiritual needs, clinical ethics, etc.).
Mentor Clinical Pastoral Education students and supervise volunteers, trainees or staff, who are assisting in the provision of pastoral care in particular patient care areas.
Assist in developing policies and procedures, with particular attention to the assigned section of the Hospital or to that faith group, that will foster high quality patient and family care, good interdisciplinary team relationships and religious community relationships.
Maintain ecclesiastical and professional cognate group relationships and maintain professional competence by participating in continuing education programs and peer review.
As required, perform other pastoral and administrative duties necessary to provide religious guidance relating to total patient care and staff support.
Leadership of the department in the absence of management.
Committee leadership.
Serve as Preceptor for newly hired staff chaplains.
Mentor others in one's medical specialty.