Chaplain - Hospice

Interim Healthcare Hospice, owned and operated by Saint Andrew’s Abbey, is a new hospice agency operating in Palmdale, CA looking to build a team of compassionate caregivers who will join us in our mission. We recognize all people are created in the image of Christ and we are committed to serving the dying and their families by offering love, compassion, and dignity on the journey home to God.

We have a unique opportunity in our Hospice as a Per Diem Chaplain. We are looking for individuals who are interested in providing compassionate spiritual care to our patients and their loved ones.

General Purpose:

Responsible for providing spiritual services to patients/families of Interim HealthCare Hospice, either directly or through effective coordination with the patient’s/family’s clergy and/or other community clergy/spiritual counselors.  Pay rate is $30/hr which includes patient care time as well as charting time.  Mileage reimbursement. 

Essential Functions:

• Conducts assessments of hospice patients/families spiritual needs.
• Ensures that appropriate spiritual services are provided in a timely manner by either providing such to the patient/family or coordinating the provision of services with community clergy or spiritual counselors.
• Provides direct spiritual services to patients/families according to their belief system and practice.
• Participates in the development of the interdisciplinary group (IDG) plan of care to meet identified spiritual needs.
• Conducts religious services for patients/families as well as hospice and facility staff as requested.
• Serves as a liaison and support to community clergy and spiritual counselors.
• Documents services provided and/or ongoing communication with community clergy and spiritual counselors in a timely manner.
• Maintains records of spiritual services utilization and related activities as directed for quality assessment and performance improvement (QAPI), hospice program development, and policies and procedures review and revision.
• Actively participates in patient/family care conferences and IDG meetings.
• Provides consultation, education, and support regarding spiritual issues and care to the IDG members and facility staff.
• Recruits an adequate number of community clergy and/or spiritual counselors to meet patient/family needs.
• Acts as the hospice spiritual services community liaison by developing community contacts and offering hospice education to a variety of clergy, counselors and congregations.
• Provides funeral or memorial services for patients as requested.
• Plans periodic memorial services to meet the needs of IDG members, volunteers, facility staff and community clergy/spiritual counselors working with the IDG.
• Primarily responsible for conducting or arranging the memorial service associated with the hospice bereavement program as requested.
• Assists in supervision of spiritual care volunteers when assigned to patients/families.
• Completes other assignments as requested and assigned.
• May have access to personal health information (“PHI”) necessary to fulfill the above duties and responsibilities. Access to use and ability to disclose PHI is further defined by each organization/department.

Minimum Education & Experience Requirements:

• Graduate of accredited seminary or school of theology (BD, MDiv or equivalent theological degree).
• Experience working with death and dying, terminal individuals and their families or caregivers.
• Hospice experience preferred.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required: 

• Knowledge of the hospice philosophy of care.
• Good verbal and written communication, and organizational skills.
• Able to work as a member of the IDG.
• Able to effectively communicate with clinical and non-clinical employees, patients and family/caregivers.
• Able to perform and prioritize multiple functions or tasks.
• Able to effectively deal with change.
• Able to provide proof of valid driver’s license, if applicable to hospice policy.
• Able to provide proof of valid auto liability insurance if assignment includes driving own vehicle.
• Meets applicable federal and state health requirements to provide services to patients as appropriate.
• Meets the requirements of federal and state criminal and abuse background checks as applicable.

Working Conditions & Physical Requirements: 

• Work is normally performed in the patient’s home and/or inpatient setting such as a hospital or nursing home.
• Occasional exposure to communicable diseases, bloodborne pathogens and/or potentially infectious or hazardous materials and situations that require following extensive safety precautions which may include the use of protective equipment (e.g. face masks, goggles, latex and/or non-latex gloves).
• Able to constantly travel locally from assignment to assignment.
• Able to constantly stand, walk, bend, stoop, squat, kneel and reach freely.
• Sufficient endurance to perform the required physical and mental tasks over long periods of time.
• Able to constantly grasp with thumb in opposition to fingers of palm, i.e. manipulate pen, knobs, or objects.
• Visual acuity, dexterity and hearing to perform required skills.
• Able to work flexible schedule and/or evening/weekend hours as needed.
• Light physical activity that may require occasional lifting, carrying, pushing or pulling up to 20 lbs in order to carry out daily job functions and related activities that may be required.