Chaplain/Bereavement Coordinator

About the position

The Chaplain/Bereavement Coordinator is responsible for modeling the Compassus values of Compassion, Integrity, Excellence, Teamwork, and Innovation and for promoting the Compassus philosophy, using the 6 Pillars of Success as the foundation. S/he is responsible for upholding the Code of Ethical Conduct and for promoting positive working relationships within the company, among all departments, and all external stakeholders. The Chaplain/Bereavement Coordinator is a hospice-trained individual who provides spiritual support to patients and the members of the family. S/he may be a priest, minister, rabbi, or other individual with experience in spiritual support. S/he is not intended to replace the patient's own clergy, but to provide spiritual support and help. Additionally, s/he is a hospice-trained interdisciplinary team member who oversees an organized program to ensure grief counseling for the bereaved. S/he is responsible to develop and deliver a program of bereavement support and counseling that is available to patients during their hospice care and to the bereaved family members of patients for at least one (1) year after the death of the patient.

Responsibilities

• Explains hospice services and Medicare benefits to patients and families; obtains Informed Consent and Election of Benefits documents as requested.
• Submits appropriate documentation and paperwork to facilities at the completion of patient visits; documentation is completed and submitted timely according to company policy.
• Articulates the regulatory framework governing the role of the Spiritual Counselor (federal and state, if applicable).
• Participates as a member of the IDT, including development and implementation of the plan of care.
• Provides spiritual care support to the patient and family; supports the involvement of community clergy as the patient/family request.
• Assists in identifying the need for intervention of other IDT members.
• Effectively communicates patient and family needs to IDT.
• Collaborates with IDT to coordinate spiritual care support for the patient and family to ensure appropriateness, continuity, and quality of care.
• Maintains updated, comprehensive care plans which reflect current problems, goals and interventions for patients.
• Maintains respect for the family's environment and belief systems, and remains nondiscriminatory regarding age, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, physical or mental disability, and other personal matters.
• Counsels in accordance with patient's and family's beliefs.
• Supports the patient and family in working through the stages of death, grief, and bereavement.
• Acts as liaison with the clerical community to interpret the needs of the hospice patient and family, and helps recruit clerical volunteers for the hospice.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Works with the hospice Social Worker in the completion and analysis of the pre-bereavement risk assessment and care plan development for the patient and the family.
• Promotes and supports assessment of bereavement risk factors at admission and throughout the hospice patient's care.
• Develops and implements the bereavement plan of care after the death of the patient.
• Identifies the needs of non-family caregivers, including staff and residents at nursing facilities where the patient may have resided, and ensures bereavement support for them.
• Provides education about bereavement services to members of the IDT.
• Delivers high quality bereavement support, either with internal resources or through outreach to community resources when needed.
• Develops, organizes and delivers grief support groups either independently or in association with other grief support resources in the community.
• Maintains a resource library of materials appropriate to various bereaved individuals, including those with high-risk or disenfranchised grief - provides materials as part of routine bereavement contacts and upon request.
• Documents care and services provided according to state and/or federal requirements.
• Works with Volunteer Coordinator to identify opportunities for volunteers to participate in bereavement support activities.
• Attends and participates in community events, promoting Compassus and the universal need for grief and bereavement support.
• Develops and performs public service announcements regarding grief and bereavement.
• Promotes hospice philosophy.
• Provides bereavement counseling and support, based on personal qualifications, when needed.
• Develops and delivers memorial services for program patients.
• Develops and supports delivery of memorial services for patients of nursing facilities served by the program.
• Participates in funeral or other memorial services if requested by family.
• Works with all members of the hospice team to promote Compassus in the community.
• Operates within established budgetary guidelines.
• Manages expenses of bereavement program.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Bachelor's degree in Divinity, Social Sciences, or other related field preferred, unless required per state regulation.
• Completion of at least one (1) unit of CPE preferred, unless required per state regulation.
• Minimum of one (1) year of experience in the provision of spiritual/ pastoral support to individuals or families required.
• Minimum of two (2) years of experience in the provision of grief, loss and/or bereavement support for individuals and families required.
• Minimum of one (1) year of experience in the provision of pastoral support to individuals/ families related to loss, grief, bereavement, or trauma preferred.

Nice-to-haves

• Evidence of experience and/or education in dealing with issues of grief and loss (California).
• Evidence of experience or education in counseling individuals dealing with issues of grief and loss (Connecticut).
• Has a degree in ministry from a college, university, or divinity school; or has documentation of completing one (1) unit of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) with a focus on health care ministry; or has documentation certifying completed formal training in his/her religious or belief system and is qualified to perform pastoral services (Florida).
• Documentation of ordination or commission by a recognized faith group; completed at least one (1) unit of clinical pastoral education from a nationally recognized provider (Georgia).
• Bachelor of Divinity, Master of Divinity or equivalent theological degree or training; or equivalent training from an accredited university; or equivalent experience with training/supervision in spiritual counseling from an individual who possesses required education (Louisiana).
• Bachelor of Divinity, Master of Divinity or equivalent theological degree or training. In addition, bereavement coordinator minimum requirements: Bachelor's degree in psychology; or Bachelor's degree from a school of social work accredited by the Council on Social Work Education; or Bachelor's degree in counseling; or evidence of equivalent of any of the above in education, plus training in the spiritual care of the dying and end of life issues (Mississippi).
• Completed education in counseling or related field such as mental health, psychology, addiction, comparative religions and spiritual practices, or thanatology (bachelor's degree preferred) required (Missouri).
• Minimum requirements: Bachelor's degree in an applicable field such as theology of education, psychology, or counseling, AND completed eight (8) additional hours in death, dying, grief, or bereavement (New Hampshire).