Palliative Care Chaplain

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Job description

Overview

Mercy San Juan Medical Center, a Dignity Health member, is a nationally recognized not-for-profit hospital located in Carmichael, California, serving the areas of north Sacramento County and south Placer County. The 370-bed facility is one of the region's largest and most comprehensive medical centers, caring for more than 150,000 people each year and contains the only Comprehensive Stroke Center in the greater Sacramento region.

Responsibilities

Position Summary:

The Chaplain provides spiritual/religious counseling and ministry to palliative care patients and their families, demonstrating competency in spiritual support and pastoral counseling, as well as dealing with grief, death and the dying process. The Chaplain recognizes that during illness and suffering, individuals rely on their spiritual resources to cope and seek meaning. Through the use of prayer, pastoral counseling, sacraments, crisis intervention, active listening and referrals, a Chaplain is empowered to heal, sustain, guide, and to reconcile patients, family members and significant others. The Chaplain also provides a listening, supportive presence to staff, including physicians, and refers them to appropriate resources when necessary.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:

* Demonstrates effective Spiritual Assessment, patient/family needs interventions, and written communication skills by clear and appropriate documenting in the patient record as assessed by departmental Chart Review process. Exceeds by an overall Chart Review score of 90% or above. Meets expectations with an overall score of 70% or above.
* Provides Clinical Spiritual care in accordance with the diversity of cultural traditions that present in the Medical Center by attending yearly departmental Cultural awareness in-service training and/or other Cultural Needs awareness training as approved by department manager. Exceeds by presenting training or case presentation in departmental in-service meeting, or by completing additional Cultural Needs awareness training in addition to departmental training as approved by department manager.
* Exhibits competency in the provision of Spiritual Care for all age groups by attending yearly departmental age-competency in-service training and/or completing other age-specific training as approved by department manager. Successfully completes Age Specific Competency exam yearly. Exceeds by presenting training or case presentation in departmental in-service meeting, or completing additional age specific training in addition to departmental training as approved by department manager.
* Provides appropriate interfaith spiritual care to diverse religious and spiritual traditions as indicated by participation in yearly departmental Spiritual Traditions in-service training, and/or completing other comparable training as approved by department manager. Exceeds by presenting training or case presentation in departmental in-service meeting, or by completing additional Religious or Spiritual Traditions awareness training as approved by department manager.
* Demonstrates patient and family advocacy including patient rights as evidenced by: 1)maintaining confidentiality of patient information 2)actively participating in discussions with patients/families regarding withholding/withdrawing of life support 3)respecting freedom of conscience of patient/family regarding refusal of spiritual support 4)giving information to patients/families (when requested) on patient rights or DPAHC 5)acting as resource for the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Healthcare Services 6)advocating for patient in regard to Code Status and/or DPAHC 7)makes appropriate referrals to Ethics committee, bioethics specialist, Communications department, or Risk Management department. Exceeds by presenting 2 in-services per year on ethical issues relating to patient rights or withdrawing/withholding life support.
* Promotes collaboration by: 1)participating at patient care rounds and family conferences 2)assisting manager in running department and the promotion of spiritual care (e.g. contributing at meetings, taking minutes) 3)working as liaison between parish or congregation and patient/family 4)working cooperatively with Spiritual Care volunteers (e.g. provide patient list, follow up on referrals from volunteers) 5)making appropriate referrals to community clergy, nurses, social services, ethics committee, palliative care 6)coaching staff informally on ways to provide spiritual care. Exceeds by doing 2 of the following: 1)supervising or developing volunteer program, or 2)preparing program for the Spiritual Care

department to work more effectively with another department or outside organization, or 3)developing program to teach staff to effectively address patient's/families' spiritual needs, or 4)participating in 2 or more defusing/debriefings at MSJMC under leadership of CISM Team Coordinator
* Interacts in a supportive, professional manner with department members and with other health care team members, patients, family members and other customers (especially in conflicts situations and crises). 1)treats everyone with dignity and respect regardless of cultural differences, race, religion, gender, medical circumstances, geographic location, education, sexual orientation or physical attributes and capabilities and models this respect for other staff members. 2)Exercises courtesy promptly and professionally with no more than 2 -3 valid complaints per year. 3)Utilizes conflict reduction skills by discussion of problems with appropriate individual by helping to resolve problems between patients/families with staff and/or doctors. 4)Encourages, accepts, provides feedback in a positive and constructive manner. Exceeds by accomplishing 2 of the following: 1)manager receives 4 or more positive validations of ministry from staff or patient/families that would reflect ability to maintain composure and help others do the same when resolving conflicting situations or assisting others in dealing with emotional, spiritual and/or physical crises 2)Taking training on Conflict Resolution and/or communication skills 3)Providing in-service to Spiritual Care staff on Diversity issues in culture,

religion, gender, or other focus as approved by department manager. 4)Receives no valid complaints for the year

* Represents the Spiritual Care department and promotes the spiritual identity of MSJMC by: 1)Providing spiritual ritual and services for patients, families and staff as needed, including planning and participating in departmental Memorial services, or other special services of ritual, blessing or prayer as a representative of Spiritual Care Services. 2)Assuming responsibility for religious/spiritual environment by participating in the care of the chapel and regularly occurring chapel duties. Exceeds by contributing in 2 of the following: 1)actively preparing and participating in hospital-based memorial service, 2) holding interfaith prayer service for staff or patients, 3)planning and participating in other related liturgical/interfaith services
* Participates in integrating and implementing the MSJMC program of spiritual care with the spiritual care standards of Dignity Health and Joint Commission by: 1)Actively participating in committees, sharing status of activities with coworkers/ managers on a monthly basis. 2)Participating in the conceiving, planning and implementing of Spiritual Care Department projects as approved by manager. 3)Participating in departmental communication, record-keeping and documenting procedures. Exceeds by actively participating in committees related to Joint Commission/Dignity Health or by effectively overseeing manager approved departmental project.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

* Certification, or eligible for certification, as a chaplain with APC or NACC
* Bachelor's degree
* Four (4) units in Clinical Pastoral Education

Preferred Qualifications:

* Chaplain certification
* Master's degree in Theology or Divinity
* Certification in Palliative Care
* One (1) year of chaplaincy experience in the hospital setting preferred
* Knowledge of
* Hospice care
* Principles of Death & Dying
* Effective communication skills to work with interdisciplinary team
* Beliefs and rituals of major religions
* Mission, Philosophy, Values of Dignity Health and Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services, Common Values for Community Sponsorship
* Spiritual assessment
* Ministry to sick in all age groups