Chaplain/Bereavement Coordinator - PRN
Douglas County Visiting Nurses
- Lawrence, KS
- Permanent
- Full-time
- Actively participate in spiritual component of hospice and palliative care.
- Provide consultation to Hospice IDG regarding spiritual care assessment and plan of care and bereavement tools.
- Develop and maintain relationship with professional clergy or other appropriately qualified spiritual care providers to allow access to spiritual resources.
- Educate professional clergy about hospice and palliative care and learn about various faith belief systems regarding hospice and palliative care.
- Provide direct spiritual care and support to Hospice patient/clients, families and caregivers in accordance with individual needs and preferences, including bereavement services.
- Follow up with families/caregivers during bereavement.
- Facilitate communication with faith community when unable to access spiritual provider identified by patient/client or family.
- Participate in meeting with Hospice Manager and psychosocial team to assist with program evaluation and improvement.
- Serve as a resource to staff for spiritual care; provide spiritual support to staff; provide support for staff addressing their own personal and professional grief and loss issues.
- Provide education opportunities to staff to enhance their sensitivity to the spiritual concerns of patient/clients, families and caregivers experiencing terminal illness and loss.
- Participate in volunteer training and provide support to volunteers when appropriate.
- Collaborate with patient/client, family, caregiver and Hospice team to ensure the delivery of safe and efficient quality hospice services.
- Report patient/client status to Hospice Manager.
- Document all patient/client, family and caregiver contacts in the medical record.
- Demonstrate concern and support of the mission and philosophy of hospice in daily work performance and in interactions with staff members.
- Assist with community awareness and marketing activities for Hospice.
- Coordinate the delivery of comprehensive bereavement services tailored to the needs of the bereaved person through collaboration with the Hospice patient/client caregiver, social worker and other Hospice interdisciplinary group members for up to 13 months following patient/client death.
- Collaborate with Hospice team members as appropriate to ensure condolence call is made and documented.
- Contact the bereaved to introduce components of bereavement program.
- Complete bereavement assessment and initiate bereavement plan of care.
- Assist with carrying out the plan of care according to the time frame identified in the plan of care.
- Provide or refer to appropriate staff or mental health professional for intermittent or on-going individual/family counseling for identified issues affecting adjustment to loss as needed by Hospice and community bereaved.
- Ensure linkage of bereaved with appropriate community resources for concrete needs.
- Assign and monitor bereavement activities carried out by other staff members and volunteers.
- Plan, coordinate and carry out any other bereavement support activities, e.g.; memorial/funeral services, holiday gatherings, etc. and bereavement education of the community.
- Maintain and upgrade skill and knowledge by participating in clinical case consultation with colleagues and continuing education; remain current with literature and integrate knowledge into bereavement counseling.
- Facilitate bereavement support group(s) or connect bereaved to appropriate groups in the community.
- Graduate of theological education or its equivalency with a minimum of two years experience in related field.
- Certified Professional Chaplain and Master of Divinity and denominational endorsement with current license in field.
- Completion of at least 2 units of clinical pastoral education or experience as a hospital chaplain/hospice chaplain or experience in clergy leadership.
- Basic level knowledge of EMR (electronical medical records) and email functions.
- Endorsement or connection to recognized religious community.
- Comfort in interfaith setting; ability to provide spiritual care across wide spectrum of individual, family and staff needs.
- Experience in providing grief counseling or group facilitation.
- Knowledge of bereavement theories.
- Training specific to the provision of pastoral/spiritual care.
- Training and experience with death/dying, end of life and medical issues.
- Dental insurance
- Vision insurance
- Life insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Flex spending account
- 401k
- 401k matching