Spiritual Care Counselor (Chaplain)

For over 45 years Pathways has been a Bay Area pioneer, leader, and innovator in Hospice, Home Health and Palliative Care. We provide care at home or in settings such as assisted living, a nursing home, or the hospital. We have offices in Sunnyvale, South San Francisco, and Oakland. Patients and their families know us for our personalized, high-quality care, delivered with empathy, kindness, and respect.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Spiritual Care Counselor is responsible for providing spiritual counseling and services to patients and families either directly or indirectly through local clergy or spiritual counselors. Coordinates care with other members of the Interdisciplinary Group (IDG), including the patient’s physician.

Title: Spiritual Care Counselor
Office Location: Sunnyvale
Schedule: Full Time (32-40 Hours/Week)
Area Coverage: Atherton - Gilroy

The posted compensation range of $33.48 - $46.03/Hour is a reasonable estimate that extends from the lowest to the highest pay Pathways Home Health & Hospice in good faith believes it might pay for this particular job, based on the circumstances at the time of posting. Pathways Home Health & Hospice may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range as permitted by law.

AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY:

• Knowledgably discusses overall history, philosophy and services of Pathways Home Health and Hospice.
• Completes an in-depth spiritual assessment of patients/families assigned for follow-up care.
• Maintains the dignity of the dying patient and supports the patient’s and family’s unique spiritual and cultural beliefs.
• Develops an individualized spiritual care plan, based on the spiritual assessment and the patient’s and family’s acceptance of these services. The plan of care integrates input from the various disciplines to create a comprehensive interdisciplinary plan of care including goals, interventions, and projected visit frequencies.
• Provides counseling to assist patients/families to meet their spiritual needs in a manner consistent with the patient and family beliefs and desires. This may be done by home visits or by telephone as needed and as appropriate.
• Provides spiritual care interventions such as spiritual counseling, prayer, meditation, and sacred rituals or practices.
• Assesses the impact of patient/family’s unique cultural and spiritual beliefs on the patient’s end-of-life needs and educates the interdisciplinary team on this impact as needed.
• Conducts memorial/funeral services when requested and as staff time permits.
• Consults, collaborates, and coordinates with the IDG and others involved in the patient’s care all patient and family services based on the patient’s and family’s preference.
• Attends and actively participates in IDG meetings, presenting relevant spiritual care information concisely and professionally. Also attends and actively participates in educational in-service trainings and other agency meetings as requested by Spiritual Care Program Director.
• When in a facility, adheres to “Pathways Standards of Care and Practice in Facilities” or equivalent document.
• Adheres to all agency policies and procedures, including updates, as communicated in written, spoken, and electronic forms.
• Participates in quality improvement activities related to areas of practice as appropriate.
• Assists in development of hospice protocols, procedures and policies as requested.
• Demonstrates all skills of a hospice spiritual care counselor, including those skills required by the agency through competency testing.
• Performs other duties as assigned consistent with skills and training and the mission and goals of the agency.
• Provides spiritual support to the interdisciplinary team as desired or requested.
• Documents all patient/family/facility contact in an electronic record.
• Accesses electronic device during patient visit and documents during or immediately after the visit or per regulation, including assessments, problem charting, and clinical notes.
• Participates in educational programs and workshops for agency staff, families and the community.
• Communicates with and coordinates the involvement of local clergy and/or spiritual care resources as possible and as desired by the patient, family, or caregiver.
• Maintains an on-going program of continuing professional development that may include reading in the professional field, formal educational and training experiences, clinical supervision and peer support.
• Knowledgeably discusses and initiates non-pharmacologic interventions as appropriate to promote comfort, improve quality of life, and manage emotional, spiritual, and physical distress.
• Prints out and files visit documentation in facility (RCFE or SNF) binder or chart per facility preference at the time of the visit.
• Initiates and participates in facility patient care conferences, in coordination with other interdisciplinary team members, to discuss and clarify hospice care goals and roles of team members.
• Maintains timely communication with the patient, family, facility staff, and community clergy as appropriate regarding all aspects of patient care.
• Demonstrates awareness of and adherence to the safety, infection control and other policies of the facility.
• Promotes a culture of service when representing Pathways by at all times treating internal and external contacts with respect, remaining professional, communicating clearly, preventing conflict, following through on commitments, and actively listening. Positively promotes Pathways by offering assistance and information.
• Maintains productivity expectations as established by the manager.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• MDiv or equivalent graduate degree from an accredited training institute (minimum 72 semester hours or 108 quarter hours of credit).
• Successful completion of 4 units of clinical pastoral education (CPE) or equivalent.
• Experience providing spiritual care counseling in a health care setting.
• Expertise in HCHB (Home-care-home-base) preferred
• Ability to work independently and creatively in order to accomplish goals with a minimum of supervision.
• Experience working with the terminally ill is preferred.
• California driver’s license and automobile insurance with minimum Bodily Injury Liability Coverage Insurance per agency policy.
• Current CPR certification-American Heart Association “BLS Health Care Provider” required upon renewal.