JOB TITLE: Chaplain

DEPARTMENT: Counseling Services

REPORTS TO: VP of Counseling & Advocacy Services

POSITION SUMMARY:

Reporting to the VP of Counseling & Advocacy Services, the Chaplain is responsible for the spiritual care component of hospice services. The Chaplain is available to patients and families in a timely and consistent manner. The Chaplain functions in a manner that reflects the mission and vision of Gulfside Hospice & Pasco Palliative Care. All duties will be performed in compliance with published Gulfside Hospice & Pasco Palliative Care policies and procedures. EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS:

• Minimum requirements include Master's Degree in Divinity, or equivalent, Professional certification and/or ordination, Minimum of one year in health care chaplaincy, with hospice or palliative care experience preferred.• Deep and abiding compassion for those with life limiting illnesses, their families, and caregivers is required. • Demonstrated success in working collaboratively as an integral part of an Interdisciplinary Team• Ability to provide pastoral care as an interfaith chaplain.• Must be proficient in a variety of computer software applications including word processing and electronic medical records

ESSENTIAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Complete initial spiritual care assessment for all patients admitted to Hospice care within four calendar days.• Assesses spiritual care needs of the patient and family. If the patient and/or family desire spiritual counseling, determine whether hospice chaplain will provide spiritual care or will facilitate visits by local clergy, pastoral counselors or others.• Assists patients, families, and staff in using their spirituality to deal with life-limiting illness, death, and grief.• Develops an individualized spiritual care plan for patients and their families.• Supports the diverse belief systems and cultural needs of patients, their families, and staff, respecting the dignity and privacy of all.• Acts as a resource and liaison for patients and families and their local congregations as needed and/or requested.• Performs crisis intervention independently or with other members of the inter-disciplinary team working towards achieving the goals of the patient’s plan of care. • Provides faith affirmation, theological development, and hears confession or amends of patient and/or family.• Performs a religious rite or ritual as requested by the patient and/or family.• Provides religious items for the patient and/or family.• Offers a blessing and/or prayer for the patient and/or family.• Knowledgeable about the major religions of the world and provides the inter-disciplinary team with information and insight as to how the patient and/or families religion(s) might interface with the plan of care.• Documents to the spiritual plan of care.• Documents how the spiritual needs/concerns of the patients and/or families are addressed. • Assists with the completion of Advanced Directives, final arrangements, organ donations, evacuation plans, Medicare non-recertification, etc, as requested by administration.• Networks with community clergy and faith communities.• Participates in departmental meetings, on call rotation, and other tasks and projects as requested by the Director of Spiritual Care.• The Chaplain adheres to the code of ethics of the Association of Professional Chaplains.• Provides appropriate documentation of activities in a timely and consistent manner.• Assists with spiritual care education for volunteers and community.

SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES:

AUDITING/COMPLIANCE:• Establishes and maintains an effective system of peer review related to patient documentation• Possesses ability to multi-task; exhibits adaptability and flexibility in meeting Gulfside Hospice & Pasco Palliative Care objectives• Ensures compliance with all patient care and documentation standards and regulations• Assists in the implementation and maintenance of the policies and procedures of the spiritual care department; adheres to and assists in the evaluation of the same• Assists in maintaining federal and state regulatory complianceMENTORING/EDUCATION• Develops, interprets, implements, and supports policies and procedures• Functions as a resource person; provides mentoring and guidance for co-workersCUSTOMER SERVICE• Maintains positive working relationships and frequent liaison with other disciplines• Attends to patient/family complaints and concerns• Creates and promotes initiatives to develop and strengthen relationships with care facility partners• Takes a proactive approach to identifying and resolving potential issues• Educates the community regarding hospice care, philosophy, and concept through individual consultation with persons in the community.

COMPANY STANDARDS:

• Demonstrates courtesy, respect, sound judgment, and professionalism.• Listens with patience and respect for the other person.• Takes responsibility for own actions and decisions.• Demonstrates honesty and integrity in all dealings.• Maintains a positive attitude and caring spirit.• Makes effective use of work time to accomplish tasks, keeping person business, breaks and socializing to a minimum.• Dependable, trustworthy, and demonstrates appropriate attendance pattern.• Demonstrates concern for the rights, opinions, privacy and confidentiality of others. • Willingly seeks new assignments, assumes additional duties when necessary, and takes independent action to identify problems. • Seeks management involvement when necessary.• Demonstrates prudent use of company resources.• Practices Gulfside’s Mission Statement, Vision Statement, and Core Philosophy in both words and actions.

PHYSICAL DEMAND:

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.• While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be required to stand, walk, sit, use hands to finger, handle or feel objects/tools/controls, reach with hands/arms, climb stairs, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl, talk, hear, taste, or smell. This employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required for this position include close vision, distance vision, color vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.