Palliative Chaplin

• 1. Departmental Goal: Patient Care:
  Demonstrates excellence in the completion of initial and ongoing spiritual assessments and plans of care for those on the Palliative Care service. Specific to Palliative Care: provides assessment and interventions for spiritual contributions of distressing symptoms, participates in goals of care discussions, participates in facilitation family meetings and interdisciplinary conferences, and attends to all ways of alleviating distress and suffering for patients, families, and staff.
• 1.1 Performs spiritual care in inpatient and outpatient settings for patients on the Palliative Care Consult service.
• 2. Assists the palliative care team with facilitating patient-family meetings for goal setting and care planning. Attends, participates, documents, and initiates when necessary, treatment team review.
• 3. Provides individual or group pastoral care and counseling for patients and families/significant others responding to spiritual needs.
• 4. Works in consult with other chaplains and community clergy to provide continuity of care and education regarding the palliation of a patient.
• 5. Attends palliative care team and committee meetings for the operational and administrative functions of the palliative care service.
• 6. Is responsible for demonstrating leadership by setting priorities, collaborative problem solving, and constructive feedback, and is a supportive team member utilizing learned skills to promote service excellence.
• 7. Is responsible for communicating with the director and peers in a collaborative manner in order to enhance patient care, program development, identifying needs and sharing progress.
• 8. Works as a team member embracing shared goals, actively cooperating, seeking to understand others priorities and processes, and openly sharing potentially useful information, recognizing importance of team dependency and helping to others to meet the caseload.
• 9. Attends, participates, documents, and initiates when necessary, treatment team review.
• 10. Provides spiritual/emotional support, care and counseling to staff on an ongoing and 'per need' basis; promoting employee morale and encouraging excellence in service to patients, loved ones and significant others.
• 11. Demonstrates leadership and utilizes skills to assist palliative care team and other staff in assisting patients and families and significant others to set goals and priorities, resolve conflict, collaborate in problem solving, to promote quality service care.
• 12. Continues to develop knowledge and skills to meet the standards set forth by the Association of Professional Chaplains. Maintains professional affiliation especially with denomination and Association of Professional Chaplains (APC). Furthers professional growth through continuing education.

EDUCATION

Undergraduate degree required. Masters degree in theology, religious studies or related area preferred. Prefer Masters of Religion or Masters of Divinity degree from an accredited school with A.A.T.A. or requisite national academic accrediting body. Good standing with denomination or faith group; ordained, lay or professed. Must be eligible for certification or certifiable by the Assoc. of Professional Chaplains.
Board Certification in Palliative Care or Board Eligible with expectation of completion of Board Certification within a reasonable time frame.

EXPERIENCE

Minimum (2) years chaplaincy experience with palliative/hospice and/or chronic illness and end of life care.
Case management experience required

LICENSURE

Be ordained and/or have endorsement from religious judicatory to work as chaplain. Certification by National Association of Professional Chaplains or be a candidate for certification.

SPECIAL SKILLS

Relates competently to people with diverse religious, cultural and racial backgrounds. Has a functional knowledge of pastoral role in institutional setting and of principles/practices of major faith groups. Functions effectively with all disciplines interpreting issues regarding spirituality, providing spiritual counsel and care for specific needs especially in regards to chronic illness and end of life crisis. Preferred bilingual Spanish/English. Has basic computer skills.

PHYSICAL DEMAND

May be exposed to infectious diseases. High to moderate stress. Need to work harmoniously with different people.