Trinity Health·Muskegon, Michigan
Provides spiritual care, crisis intervention, and grief support to patients, families, and colleagues within a healthcare setting. Collaborates with inter-professional teams to integrate spiritual healing and facilitates interfaith worship and meditation.
Employment type: Full time
Provides Spiritual Care within his/her local ministry, addressing the spiritual needs of patients, participants, residents, families, and colleagues, with a particular focus on spiritual distress, grief support, crisis intervention, and support during significant life changes.
As a fully integrated member of the health care team with professional expertise in Spiritual Care, works alongside other care givers, responding specifically to the spiritual needs of those served.
Develops, conducts, and participates in programs of spiritual care to promote healthy communities and sacred environments while facilitating the inclusion of faith leaders from churches, synagogues, and mosques, etc. in the provision of Spiritual Care for their members, as appropriate.
Reports directly to the Manager of Spiritual Care and in some cases may also report to an immediate ministry site supervisor as appropriate.
The following essential functions do not preclude the possible addition of other duties as well.
Provides Spiritual Care within his/her local ministry, addressing the spiritual needs of patients, participants, residents, families, and colleagues, with a particular focus on spiritual distress, grief support, crisis intervention, and support during significant life changes.
As a fully integrated member of the health care team with professional expertise in Spiritual Care, works alongside other care givers, responding specifically to the spiritual needs of those served.
Develops, conducts, and participates in programs of spiritual care to promote healthy communities and sacred environments while facilitating the inclusion of faith leaders from churches, synagogues, and mosques, etc. in the provision of Spiritual Care for their members, as appropriate.
Reports directly to the Manager of Spiritual Care and in some cases may also report to an immediate ministry site supervisor as appropriate.
The following essential functions do not preclude the possible addition of other duties as well.
Knows, understands, incorporates, and demonstrates the Trinity Health Mission, Vision, and Values in behaviors, practices, and decisions.
Makes available, delivers, and facilitates transformative Spiritual Care experiences to patients, residents, participants, visitors, and all colleagues across the healthcare continuum, and the communities served. Ensures that the religious beliefs, practices, and values of those served are honored and respected within the total healing process.
Implements systems and processes to assess religious and spiritual needs, including needs for ethics consultation, and provides interventions or referrals based on the assessed needs.
Makes timely, professional observations of apparent outcomes of Spiritual Care provided and adjusts the continued provision of Spiritual Care as needed.
Documents in the electronic medical record professional Spiritual Care assessments (e.g., assessment of "spiritual distress") as determined, interventions as provided, and outcomes as observed with appropriate plans of care.
Integrates the Spiritual Care dimension of healing of those served as a full, clinical member of the inter-professional healthcare team.
In collaboration with the Spiritual Care Manager, measures, evaluates, and improves functional processes of Spiritual Care for effectiveness in accordance with approved Mission Integration strategy and tactics connected to achieving system-wide priority objectives.
Fosters the provision of generalized Spiritual Care to those served (e.g., screening for Spiritual Distress and responding to signs of spiritual distress, etc.) by non-Spiritual Care colleagues via programs of Spiritual Care education and direct modeling of Spiritual Care practices.
Promotes and implements programs of workplace spirituality for and with colleagues in collaboration with the Spiritual Care Manager and the Mission Leader.
Facilitates opportunities for interfaith or specific faith meditation, prayer, worship, and as appropriate participation in religious sacraments, sometime in collaboration with clergy or ministers from outside communities. Contributes to maintaining appropriate sacred space.
Plans and implements programs of ongoing personal self-care and formation to achieve and maintain a healthy work-life balance and resiliency.
Maintains a working knowledge of applicable Federal, State, and local laws and regulations, Trinity Health’s Organizational Integrity Program, Standards of Conduct, with other policies and procedures in order to ensure adherence in a manner that reflects honest, ethical, and professional behavior.
Master's degree in Theology, Religion, Spiritual Care or Spirituality, and/or equivalent combination of education and experience.
One (1) to three (3) years of Spiritual Care experience, including CPE training, is required. Chaplaincy or Spiritual Care ministry experience is preferred. An equivalent combination of experience may be considered.
Board Certified Chaplain (BCC) strongly preferred via one of the following licensing groups: APC, CASC, NACC, and NAJC, which includes completion of a master’s degree as required by one of the certifying agencies from a Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) academic institution with completion of 4 units (1600 hours) of ACPE accredited Spiritual Care education, and faith-based endorsement as recognized by one of the certifying agencies.
Ability to plan, develop, and implement programs for fulfilling the departmental objectives in meeting the spiritual needs of patients/families throughout the care continuum and life cycle for improving the health of our communities.
Strong oral and written communication skills in the primary language of the workplace (English) with evidence of excellent interpersonal skills as well as the ability to present effectively before groups. Must be able to communicate effectively using clinical/medical terminology.
Ability to learn and proficiently utilize Microsoft Office suite and other relevant software programs.
Must be comfortable operating in a collaborative, shared leadership environment.
Must possess a personal presence that is characterized by a sense of honesty, integrity, and caring with the ability to inspire
Must be able to set and organize own work priorities and adapt to them as they change frequently. Must be able to work concurrently on a variety of tasks/projects in an environment that may be stressful with individuals having diverse personalities and work styles.
Must be able to travel with a local community across a continuum of care to the various Trinity Health sites (10-50%) as needed.
Must possess the ability to comply with Trinity Health policies and procedures.
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by persons assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of duties so assigned.
Rooted in our Mission and Core Values, we honor the dignity of every person and recognize the unique perspectives, experiences, and talents each colleague brings. By finding common ground and embracing our differences, we grow stronger together and deliver more compassionate, person-centered care. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local law.
Market context
In Michigan, chaplain openings are often tied to hospitals, senior care, and other healthcare settings that need candidates with both spiritual care training and clinical readiness. This role is competitive because employers usually look for a Master of Divinity, parish pastoral experience or equivalent, and CPE preparation, along with strong communication and problem-solving skills. Review the AI-summarized requirements and benefits on this platform to save research time, then compare your CPE and pastoral background against the posting before applying.