After-Hours Spiritual Care Counselor, Hospice Home Care

Provides direct spiritual care services and counseling to hospice patients and their family members in collaboration with the inter-disciplinary group (IDG). Ensures that the spiritual care assists with the patients' self-determined life closure/safe, comfortable, and meaningful dying experience and family's effective grieving, in compliance with hospice standards. Works under clinical supervision. SCHEDULE: This is an after-hours position (12pm-8pm / 1pm-9pm) 1-2 weekend days & 3-4 evenings per week, totaling full-time, 36.25 hours. LOCATION: This after-hours role covers all five boroughs including Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx, & Staten Island.

$62,400.00 - $72,000.00 Annual

• Implements the Spiritual Care program in accordance with CMS Conditions of Participation.
• Assesses emotional spiritual, religious, existential status and care needs of patients and/or their family members utilizing professional skills and knowledge.
• Provides spiritual counseling and services, including crisis intervention, to meet the psycho-spiritual, religious and existential needs of patient/family in collaboration with the IDG in accordance with VNS Health policies/procedures, code of conduct and standards of practice for professional chaplains.
• Develops and updates the spiritual care component of the patient/family plan of care based on mutually acceptable goals.
• Utilizes appropriate spiritual/religious community resources and serves as a liaison between VNS Health and the community clergy directly involved with the patient/family.
• Documents spiritual care assessment, including signs of decline, interventions, and plans of care in EMR in collaboration with the IDG to ensure optimal quality care.
• Participates in the weekly IDG team meetings; develops and updates treatment plans and goals as needed. Coordinates effective approaches to develop patient and/or family care in collaboration with other team members.
• Acts as a resource to VNS Health staff for both clinical collaboration and/or interdisciplinary staff support.
• Assists interdisciplinary team members in understanding the significant psycho-spiritual, religious and existential factors related to the patient/family’s quality of life and in developing support for patient/family with regard to spiritual care.
• Assumes responsibility for continued professional growth, including attendance of in-service programs.
• Provides on-call coverage as needed.
• Travels to patients’ homes and/or facilities with varying environments (e.g. walk-ups, care facilities, single/multiple family homes, presence of pets, etc.) using approved transportation options to deliver direct spiritual care service to the patient/family.
• Participates in special projects and performs other duties as assigned.

Licenses and Certifications:
Valid driver's license may be required, as determined by operational/regional needs.

Education:
Bachelor's Degree in Humanities or other related fields required
Master's Degree in Divinity or Theology preferred
Four units of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) required
Board Certified Chaplain preferred

Work Experience:
Minimum of one year of experience as a chaplain, preferably in a hospice setting required
Effective oral and interpersonal communication skills required
Proficiency in personal computer operations including MS Office applications required
Bilingual skills may be required, as determined by operational needs