Job Summary:

This position is responsible for assisting the Director in providing emotional and spiritual support through pastoral care services to patients, their families and hospital staff as a member of the Spiritual Care Resources Team.

Essential Functions:

• Ministers to and charts each patient’s spiritual and emotional needs as warranted by initial and ongoing spiritual assessment. Keeps appropriate records for any departmental communication and performance projects.
• Provides on-call services for the department when needed and available, being responsible for time scheduled. In the event the conflict arises the he or she us unable to cover time scheduled, he or she will be responsible for arranging for another adjunct-occasional to cover the time.
• Provides pastoral crisis counseling and make referrals as deemed necessary to other members of the staff. Supports and comforts bereaved families and anxious patients who are preparing for surgery or have anxieties after surgeries.
• Communicates with hospital staff regarding patients’ needs when appropriate for fulfillment of patient care plan. Acts as a liaison between family members and staff during time and situations, facilitating communication, and assist the family and staff upon death of a patient.
• Provides spiritual care ministry in behalf of the department when needed. These services may include morning/evening prayer, interfaith services, facilitation or coordination of religion sacraments, the contacting of appropriate faith communities when requested and/or desired by the patients planning memorial services for the bereaved.
• Communicated and collaborates with the patient/caregiver’s clergy as appropriate.
• Participates in family conferences, including those involving medical ethics when appropriate.
• Supports and ministers to the nursing staff and physicians as requested or needed.
• Cooperates and participates with the Performance Improvement process with the Spiritual Care Resources Department.
• Other duties as assigned by management.

Required Education and Experience:

• Clinical Pastoral Education

Required Licensure and Certifications:

• Ordained and in good standing with a recognized Christian Church and/or certified by the National Association of Catholic Chaplains or the Association of Professional Chaplains

Required Minimum Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Communication/listening skills, non-judgmental attitudes/behaviors, sensitivity to the needs and feelings of others, ability to work cooperatively with other professional, good knowledge of theology and spirituality of the health care apostolate, positive attitude toward working with the sick, aged, suffering and dying patients and their families, ability to stay calm in stressful situations.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s in Theology
• Minimum of one (1) year unit in Clinical Pastoral Education
• Previous Spiritual Care experience in a health care institution