SSM Health·Wisconsin
Provides spiritual assessment and pastoral counseling to palliative care patients, families, and staff to address existential and spiritual needs. Collaborates with the clinical team to develop care plans and facilitates complex goals-of-care discussions.
It's more than a career, it's a calling.
WI-St.
Agnes Hospital Home Care & Hospice Worker Type: Regular Job Highlights: Department: Hospice Schedule: 32 hours per week - day shift Location: St.
Agnes Hospital Home Care and Hospice Job Summary: Provides expertise in assessing and addressing the spiritual and existential needs of patients, families, and staff through the provision of comprehensive spiritual screening, assessment and interventions, including pastoral counseling and crisis intervention, consultation, education, and support.
Provides supportive services such as debriefings and education for staff.
Models and collaborates with treating teams in respecting and providing cultural, emotional and spiritual/religious competent patient and family-centered care.
Serves as a consultant to the clinical team, service lines, and other departments and participates in program development and quality improvement initiatives.
Maintains an important link to the pastoral care department for support and collaborates with the pastoral care team as needed to meet the sacramental and other needs of patients, families, and staff.
Practices evidence-based care and takes responsibility for continued professional development.
Job Responsibilities and Requirements: PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES Provides spiritual assessment to palliative care patients and their families, including spiritual distress and wounding, identifying sources of strength and meaning, forgiveness and reconciliation, closure and EOL concerns, pain and suffering, life review, preparation for death and grief support.
Develops, describes and advances the plan of care specific to spiritual/emotional issues with the palliative care team; acts as spiritual care leader to other members of the team.
Chooses and utilizes appropriate pastoral care interventions and counseling techniques targeted to intended outcomes.
Supports and prepares caregivers and families for their role in the care of the patient and addresses conflicts if appropriate.
Provides grief counseling and bereavement support to patients and families experiencing end-of-life and loss.
Help to identify and interpret cultures and faith traditions that impact health care practice and decisions.
Provides and/or coordinates the provision of religious resources including prayer, sacramental ministry, rituals, and linkages to community clergy when appropriate.
Facilitates or assists in complex goals of care discussions, family meetings and other conversations about goals, values, and emotional/spiritual/cultural needs.
Provides education on sustainable practice and spiritual needs of palliative care patients and families to fellows, residents, medical students, nurses and chaplains rotating with the palliative care service as well as throughout the hospital.
Complies with standards for timely submission, accuracy, and completeness of documentation in the medical record and collects all required statistical data.
Works in a constant state of alertness and safe manner.
Performs other duties as assigned.
EDUCATION Master's degree in Divinity or related field
EXPERIENCE One year experience in hospice or palliative care chaplaincy settings, including care of the imminently dying and their families PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS Frequent lifting/carrying and pushing/pulling objects weighing 0-25 lbs.
Frequent sitting, standing, walking, reaching and repetitive foot/leg and hand/arm movements.
Frequent use of vision and depth perception for distances near (20 inches or less) and far (20 feet or more) and to identify and distinguish colors.
Frequent use of hearing and speech to share information through oral communication.
Ability to hear alarms, malfunctioning machinery, etc.
Frequent keyboard use/data entry.
Occasional bending, stooping, kneeling, squatting, twisting and gripping.
Occasional lifting/carrying and pushing/pulling objects weighing 25-50 lbs.
Rare climbing.
REQUIRED PROFESSIONAL LICENSE AND/OR CERTIFICATIONS None Department: 1902000116 HOSPICE FDL Work Shift: Day Shift (United States of America) Scheduled Weekly Hours: 32
SSM Health values our exceptional employees by offering a comprehensive benefits package to fit their needs. Paid Parental Leave: we offer eligible team members one week of paid parental leave for newborns or newly adopted children (pro-rated based on FTE). Flexible Payment Options: our voluntary benefit offered through DailyPay offers eligible hourly team members instant access to their earned, unpaid base pay (fees may apply) before payday. Upfront Tuition Coverage: we provide upfront tuition coverage through FlexPath Funded for eligible team members. Explore All Benefits SSM Health is an equal opportunity employer. SSM Health does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Click here to learn more.
Requires a Master's degree in Divinity or a related field and at least one year of experience in hospice or palliative care chaplaincy. Candidates must be able to perform physical tasks such as lifting and walking as part of the daily hospital routine.
Market context
Wisconsin hospice and palliative care teams often look for chaplains who can support patients and families through end-of-life care, especially in settings serving the imminently dying. This role is competitive because employers typically want a master’s degree in Divinity or a related field plus at least one year of hospice or palliative care chaplaincy experience. Review the AI-summarized requirements and benefits here to save research time, and tailor your application to show direct end-of-life ministry experience and comfort with interdisciplinary care.
