PRN Chaplain/Bereavement Coordinator

The PRN Chaplain/Bereavement Coordinator is responsible for traveling to a patient/client's place of residence to provide social work services. The Chaplain/Bereavement Coordinator is a member of the Hospice Inter-Disciplinary Group (IDG) responsible for providing spiritual care services to assigned patient/clients and procuring spiritual care when appropriate for patient/clients, families and caregivers. The Chaplain/Bereavement Coordinator provides support and education to staff and team and coordinates and supervises the delivery of comprehensive bereavement care services to Hospice and community bereaved. The Chaplain/Bereavement Coordinator networks and collaborates with community groups/agencies providing bereavement services to maximize utilization of resources.

Duties and Responsibilities

Chaplain: 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. Bereavement Coordinator: 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.